Polish-Italian actress Kasia Smutniak, described by artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro as “a skilled, very personal actress” will receive the Leopard Club Award at the 74th Locarno Film Festival.

After a career as a model Kasia Smutniak began acting in Italy, working both with established directors, such as the Taviani brothers (Wondrous Boccaccio, 2015) and Paolo Sorrentino (Loro, 2018), and with acknowledged comedy drama specialists such as Paolo Genovese (Perfect Strangers, 2016). She has also been a high-profile star of TV series – In Treatment, (Saverio Costanzo, 2013-2017); Devils (Nick Hurran, Jan Michelini, 2020); Domina (David Evans, Claire McCarthy, Debs Paterson, 2021) – and left her mark on international cinema (From Paris With Love, Pierre Morel, 2010; Dolittle, Stephen Gaghan, 2020).

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival: “As a skilled, very personal actress who carefully manages her presence and her performing choices, Kasia Smutniak’s talent is plain to all. Her ability to move between committed cinema, drama, comedy and television, always flexible and refined in finding the right register, has allowed her to establish herself as one of the most interesting and exciting names in Italian and European cinema. Her already rich and diversified filmography bears witness to the efforts of a performer who has ceaselessly queried the nature of her role as actress, while maintaining a dialogue with her public. Kasia Smutniak is a modern talent and we are pleased to be able to celebrate her at a time when she is yet again taking on fresh challenges in her career.”

The award ceremony, slated for the evening of Friday August 6 in Piazza Grande, will be followed on Saturday August 7 by a conversation with the audience, moderated by Piera Detassis, at the Forum @Rotonda by la Mobiliare, plus a screening of the film Nelle tue mani by Peter Del Monte. The screening of this film will also commemorate the death last May of its director.