The Canadian short film Will, directed by Clara Altimas, achieved significant success at the Movie & Short Festival’s International Stars Edition in Locarno. The production took home awards for best film, screenplay, direction, and soundtrack.
Lead actor Ed Pinker, known for roles in The Handmaid’s Tale and Murdoch Mysteries, was named Best Actor. The film follows a chaotic children’s entertainer who arrives at a prestigious charity fundraiser wearing medieval armour due to a misunderstanding regarding the dress code.
Imogen Whist won the Best Actress award for her performance in Sprout, a film centred on a mother and daughter facing the loss of their farm. Directed by Allie Yonick and Mara Da Costa Reis, Sprout also received the online audience award following a vote on the Dailybloid portal.
The Best Cinematography award was shared between Mauro Nigro for Amigdala and the production of Will. Additionally, the Fellini Foundation awarded its Maestro Prize to Raul Quagliata for La prima spiaggia, citing its humanistic and poetic qualities. A Special Mention was also granted to Marcel Büchi for the film The Truth.
The festival featured several high-profile participants, including works starring Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney. The judging panel comprised industry figures such as actor Marco Calvani, writer Glenn Cooper, and Nicole Muji, the founder of the French Riviera Film Festival. The ceremony was hosted by actor Elijah Knight and organised by Dailybloid.
