Locarno Academy

Critics Academy

The Locarno Critics Academy is an extensive workshop in film criticism that gives young writers a crucial entry point into the world of film festivals. During the 10 days of the Critics Academy, the participants will cover the Festival for a variety of international outlets, participate in workshops with writers, critics, curators, festival directors, and filmmakers, and serve on the MUBI Jury, awarding a cash prize to films in Cineasti del Presente.

©Carlo Pisani / SWI swissinfo.ch

The application process for the Critics Academy 2025 is now open.
Applications must be made by 20 April 2025.

Apply now

“In 2024, the work of selecting 10 participants for the Critics Academy was even more herculean than before. No doubt thanks to a new editorial partnership with MUBI Notebook, we received more than twice as many applications than in any other year. Our selection will bring diverse writers from Argentina to China, from the Dominican Republic to Romania, from Singapore to Switzerland to Locarno in August. These writers have varied interests and styles, writing diaristically, historically, academically, commercially—but always, crucially, with imaginative flair and critical rigor. Many are also involved in the production of their own publications as editors, an act that insures a future for film criticism, however modest and against whatever seemingly impossible odds”.

Christopher Small, Critics Academy Project Manager

Before applying, please read carefully the information given below, which will give you many useful pointers towards making a successful application.

What is the Critics Academy?

A training program from the Locarno Film Festival dedicated to young film critics.
A place for encounters and intellectual exchange, where new ideas about cinema take shape and critical collaborations get off the ground.
A unique opportunity to experience the Locarno Film Festival hands-on and close-up, taking part in a specially created program of roundtables and workshops with Festival guests, international film critics, and industry attendees in Locarno.
• Serve on a jury composed of Critics Academy participants to award a cash prize of 10,000 CHF to a film playing in the section Concorso Cineasti del Presente.
In the past few years alone, Locarno Critics Academy participants have had the chance to interact directly with major figures from the world of festivals and criticism: from legendary writers and thinkers like Laura Mulvey, Bernard Eisenschitz, and Miguel Marías, to festival directors like Giona Nazzaro (Artistic Director, Locarno Film Festival), Carlo Chatrian (Artistic Director, Berlinale), and Eva Sangiorgi (Artistic Director, Viennale), to working critics and editors like Jessica Kiang (Variety), Devika Girish (Film Comment), and Daniel Kasman (MUBI), or some of the key filmmakers of our time, such as Bong Joon-ho, Kelly Reichardt, Tsai Ming-Liang, John Waters, Charlotte Wells, Harmony Korine and Todd Haynes and Pedro Costa. In addition, participants will have a chance to publish their articles on aspects of the Festival program in leading international journals, newspapers, magazines, as well as the Festival’s printed publication, Pardo Daily. The Critics Academy provides an opportunity to hone your skills in covering the ongoing edition of the Festival, reviewing films in the official selection, writing features on ancillary events or in-depth analysis on individual sections and sidebars, or interviewing major guests attending Locarno.

Am I the right kind of candidate for the Critics Academy?

What is the perfect candidate profile?

Age from 18 to 35.
Fluent knowledge of spoken and written English – you will need this to write about the Festival and interact with all the other Academy participants and guests at Locarno.
Passionate about cinema and, at the same time, keen to engage with the other participants in exploring new forms for writing about and discussing film.
Demonstrated interest in writing about movies, even if only in self-published criticism online.

What documentation should be included with my application?

In addition to your personal data you will be asked to supply:

Your CV in English.
A portfolio of your experience as a critic to date, with samples and links to articles, publications and/or other media in which you have talked about film.
A motivational letter explaining your commitment to cinema and your reasons for being a candidate. What are your objectives, interests and expectations, and what will you bring to the Academy?
An ID photo for your accreditation, should you be selected.

How much does it cost to participate in the Critics Academy?

The application submission fee is CHF 10.-. If your application is unsuccessful, the fee will not be refunded. It is not possible to give feedback to all applicants.

In cases where you are unable to pay the fee, you can send a request for a waiver to: locarnoacademy@locarnofestival.ch, stating your reason.

If selected, your own expenses will be limited to travel to and from Locarno, as well as meals. Accommodation, accreditation, and participation in screenings, masterclasses, and Festival events are free of charge. Additionally, daily meal vouchers worth CHF 10 will be provided to help cover some expenses.

Which dates do I need to put in my diary and keep free if selected?

18 March 2025 – application process opens
20 April 2025 – deadline for sending in your application
26 May 2025 – after this date you will receive an answer in respect of your application
6-16 August 2025 – participation in the Locarno Film Festival

If I am selected, what can I expect in Locarno?

We can tell you right now it will be a unique experience, and we’re also confident that you’ll enjoy it.

The Festival offers you:

Accommodation with breakfast at the Locarno Youth Hostel, from Tuesday 5 (check-in) to Saturday 16 August (check-out), in a twin-bedded room. Every participant will have to share a twin room with one other participant.
Press accreditation that gives admission to all official screenings at the Locarno Film Festival, plus dedicated press screenings, press conferences, and other activities for journalists.
Participation in the program of meetings and workshops organized by the Critics Academy.
Food vouchers to be used at participating restaurants.
Access to networking events and parties during the Festival.

Travel to and from the Festival will be payable by the participants themselves.  Food vouchers cover a fixed amount of CHF 10 per day, so participants will have to pay the outstanding balance for each meal.

If all of the above meets your expectations, then you’re ready to fill in the application form and become a candidate.

Apply now

For any further information please email us c/o locarnoacademy@locarnofestival.ch.

This year's Academy will feature MUBI's international film publication Notebook as its main publication partner. The Academy's co-organizers, Locarno’s Christopher Small and Notebook’s Chloe Lizotte, will mentor invited writers and work closely with them as they craft their festival coverage, from pitching to publication. The online Notebook will be a home for the critics' writing from the Locarno Film Festival, alongside other participating outlets.

Publication Partner

Past Editions

Critics Academy

What is the Critics Academy?

Am I the right kind of candidate for the Critics Academy?

What documentation should be included with my application?

How much does it cost to participate in the Critics Academy?

Which dates do I need to put in my diary and keep free if selected?

If I am selected, what can I expect in Locarno?

Publication Partner

Past Editions

Critics Academy 2024

Critics Academy 2023

Critics Academy 2022

Critics Academy 2021