Locarno Festival Director Giona A. Nazzaro Says 2026 Program Will Lean Into “Era of Algorithms” and Community

Locarno Festival director Giona A. Nazzaro outlined his approach to the festival’s 2026 slate in a preview published July 30 by The Hollywood Reporter, framing the program as an effort to counter the way modern audiences discover culture through algorithm-driven feeds. Nazzaro said he wanted the lineup to feel “adventurous,” emphasizing curation that invites viewers to look beyond predictable viewing patterns.

Nazzaro also linked the festival’s artistic direction to a theme of community, describing it as a “sense of community” that should connect filmmakers and audiences as they share a common viewing experience. In the preview, he positioned the Locarno selection as more than a collection of titles, but as a public gathering where cinema can still create conversation and collective attention in a digital environment.

A central part of Nazzaro’s remarks focused on the role of performers and creators in shaping what films mean over time. He characterized actors as a “living history of cinema,” arguing that the most enduring draw is often the craft and presence that performers bring to the screen rather than the external visibility that comes with celebrity status.

The director said that his programming priorities reflect a decision to focus on talent instead of what he described as a “celebrity factor.” He suggested that a festival context gives programmers a different kind of responsibility: to spotlight artists for what they do and what their work adds to film culture, not to simply capitalize on fame that can dominate attention elsewhere.

Nazzaro emphasized wonder as another guiding principle behind the selection, describing it as a quality that he wants the festival experience to preserve for audiences. The preview characterizes the 2026 program as including “select films” chosen to sustain that sense of discovery, rather than relying on market-tested familiarity.

While the preview does not detail a specific film-by-film list in the information provided, it situates Nazzaro’s statements within the broader challenge facing cultural events: audience exposure is increasingly shaped by ranking systems and recommendation engines. In that context, his description of an “era of algorithms” positions Locarno as making an explicit programming choice to keep discovery and variety at the center of the festival model.

The next step for audiences will be the official publication and rollout of Locarno’s full 2026 program, which will determine how the director’s stated goals translate into the festival’s schedule and lineup. For artists and distributors, the announcement indicates what kind of films and talent the festival is likely to elevate, while for viewers it points to a curated experience intended to feel more human and communal than algorithmic.

For media watchers, Nazzaro’s preview underscores how festivals continue to defend their editorial role. As recommendation systems reshape how people find movies, Locarno’s leadership is describing the festival’s value proposition in terms of curation, audience shared experience, and a focus on craft-focused recognition of actors and filmmakers.