Thanks to its prestigious history, wide-ranging program of full-length and short features as world premieres, large audience and the presence of numerous industry professionals, the Locarno Film Festival is recognised as one of the most important film events in the world.

At the end of 2022 the organisers of the festival held an international graphic competition to design the visual image for the 2023 edition.

The idea stems from the evocation of stories and imagery linked to the festival. The leopard, the iconic symbol of the event, is interpreted in different forms and positions, embodying dynamism and cultural vitality.

The different shapes created by subtraction from the spaces give way to portraits of some of the characters that have made the history of the festival. The choice of working on visual perception and on the negative and positive of forms is intended to recall the diverse point of views of the director and the spectator. Finally, the illustration represents the continuous dialogue and exchange between forms and people.