Press Release  ·  14 | 07 | 2023

Statement by Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, on the SAG-AFTRA strike

The Locarno Film Festival takes note of the motives and demands of the current strike.

© Locarno Film Festival

We have always recognized and celebrated the fundamental value and importance of the work of all professionals in the film industry, and we understand and support the need to demand their union rights and raise awareness of current working conditions and distribution of benefits. The SAG-AFTRA strike is an unmistakable signal that draws attention to the problems plaguing the film world today.

 

One of the core values of the Locarno Film Festival has always been to promote and enhance the work of all the professionals involved in the production of a film.

 

At a time when the film industry is facing epochal challenges and changes, it is crucial that all professional categories of the industry are adequately represented and supported. We look forward to a satisfactory agreement that takes into account the legitimate concerns of all parties involved and allows for the promotion of a healthy, safe and sustainable working environment with full respect for work, creativity and the benefits derived from it.

 

The Locarno Film Festival has always been committed to being an international platform that celebrates talent and encourages encounters between artists from different cultures and backgrounds. Throughout our history, the Locarno Film Festival has been and will continue to be a place and a platform for discussing the economic and contractual implications of filmmaking. We will continue to provide a stage for films and artists committed to promoting creativity, diversity and innovation in cinema in all its forms, with full respect for union agreements and the individual.

 

We trust in a constructive confrontation and in the search for all sustainable solutions that can overcome the current challenges and ensure a better future for all professional categories.