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The 79th Locarno Film Festival is set to honor Italian-American actress, model, and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini with its prestigious Excellence Award. Celebrated for her boundary-pushing artistic endeavors and remarkable talent, Rossellini will be recognized on the festival's opening night, Wednesday, August 5, in the iconic Piazza Grande of Locarno, Switzerland. This accolade acknowledges her profound and multifaceted impact on the worlds of cinema, television, and fashion, marking her as a truly unique and influential figure.

Organizers of the Locarno Film Festival describe Rossellini as an icon of contemporary cinema, noting her career as a fusion of Hollywood's technical mastery and European artistic audacity. Her journey began with a significant cultural footprint as a model before she indelibly etched herself into public consciousness with her portrayal of Dorothy Vallens in David Lynch’s 1986 masterpiece, 'Blue Velvet.' This role famously intertwined glamour with raw vulnerability, delivering an intensity that captivated audiences worldwide.

The festival further highlighted Rossellini's distinctive mark on film history, forged through collaborations with an array of renowned filmmakers. Her work with visionaries such as Robert Zemeckis, David O. Russell, and most notably, David Lynch, showcases her ability to embody diverse artistic visions with powerful and often enigmatic performances. From her classic roles to recent critically acclaimed films like Alice Rohrwacher’s 'La Chimera' (2023) and Edward Berger’s 'Conclave' (2024), which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 97th Academy Awards, Rossellini's composed yet vibrant screen presence remains an essential component of modern cinema.

Beyond her acting career, Rossellini's diverse interests extend into animal behavior and conservation, a field in which she holds a master's degree from Hunter College in New York. At the Locarno Film Festival, she is scheduled to participate in a public conversation and will present her insightful, self-directed web series, 'Green Porno' (2008-2009). This series, where she humorously depicted animal mating rituals in costume, exemplifies her witty and unconventional approach to storytelling. She will also showcase other self-produced works, including 'My Dad Is 100 Years Old' (2005), 'Seduce Me' (2010), 'Mammas' (2013), 'Darwin, What?' and 'Darwin, What? What?' (both 2020), and a segment from 'Animals Distract Me' (2011).

Giona A. Nazzaro, the artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, lauded Rossellini as a genuine legend of contemporary cinema, praising her singular talent, her embrace of artistic risks, and her fearless creative transformations. He characterized her artistic signature as one of joyous unconventionality and consistent brilliance in her characterizations and choices, emphasizing her ultimate unpredictability. Nazzaro concluded by affirming her as a visionary and unparalleled performer, whose profound presence and boundless talent have left an enduring mark on contemporary cinema, underscored by her deep humanity.

This year's festival also sees acclaimed U.S. filmmaker Darren Aronofsky receiving the Honorary Leopard, adding to a distinguished list of past Excellence Award recipients. Previous honorees include luminaries such as Susan Sarandon, John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Isabelle Huppert, and Edward Norton. The 79th Locarno Film Festival is scheduled to run from August 5 to August 15, promising a celebration of cinematic artistry and talent.