Locarno Film Festival will no longer present gender-based acting awards, but instead refer to new, gender-neutral performance categories.

At the close of the 76th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, slated for August 2 to 12, 2023, the two major competitions, the Concorso internazionale and Concorso Cineasti del presente, will each present two Pardo awards for the best performances. This amendment to the Festival’s regulations will allow every performer, irrespective of their gender identity, to compete for the awards.

Giona A. Nazzaro, artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival: “We believe that the choice we have made will further enhance our efforts to showcase and reward talent and creativity, transcending individual categories that are now obsolete. The world is moving forward on a path that is most definitely non-binary.”

Locarno Film Festival President Marco Solari: “As President I welcome this proposal from the Artistic Director and his team, which is perfectly in tune with the changing sensibilities that are necessary today.”