Joslyn Barnes, Carlos Reygadas Join Rithy Panh

New York-based indie producer Joslyn Barnes (“Nickel Boys”), Mexican multi-hyphenate Carlos Reygadas (“Our Time”) and Swiss stage-and-screen actor Ursina Lardi (“The White Ribbon”) have been set as members of the upcoming Locarno Film Festival‘s main jury.

As previously announced, Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh will preside over the Swiss indie festival’s competition panel. The jury also includes Dutch actor Renée Soutendijk, winner of the event’s female actor prize in 2023 for her role in Ena Sendijarević’s “Sweet Dreams.”

Locarno titles in the Cineasti del Presente competition, dedicated to emerging directors at their first or second feature, will be judged by Indonesian actor Asmara Abigail, known to Locarno audiences for her performance in Malaysian director Ming Jin Woo’s “Stone Turtle” (2022); La Frances Hui, who is the curator of film at New York’s MoMA and co-chair of the museum’s New Directors/New Films festival; and Indian actor Kani Kusruti, who starred in Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light.”

The jury of the Pardi di Domani (Leopards of Tomorrow) section, dedicated to shorts, includes Franco-Egyptian film producer and director Jihan El Tahri; Lesotho-born filmmaker and visual artist Lemohang Mosese; and Italian actor Sara Serraiocco (“Vermiglio”).

The Swatch First Feature Award will be decided by Emmy-winning U.S. cinematographer James Hawkinson (“The Man in the High Castle”); French producer Judith Lou Lévy, who has shepherded feature films by the likes of Mati Diop and Nadav Lapid; and French director Patricia Mazuy (“Saturn Bowling”).

The fest’s Pardo Verde jury, honoring films that make a significant contribution to environmental awareness, comprises U.S. director and producer Michael Almereyda (“Cybeline”); Italian director Martina Parenti (“Spira Mirabilis”); and Seta Thakur, who is head of communications and social innovation at the University of Bern’s Wyss Academy for Nature.

The 78th Locarno Film Festival will run Aug. 6-16.