Press Releases  ·  11 | 04 | 2017

Locarno Festival Annual General Meeting

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The Locarno Festival's Annual General Meeting, chaired by Festival President Marco Solari, was held today in Locarno. The 70th edition of the Festival, set to take place August  2 – 12, will be the last for Operational Director Mario Timbal, who will be succeeded by the current Deputy Operational Director Raphaël Brunschwig. The Annual General Meeting also approved the accounts for 2016 and the budget for 2017 and voted for Roberta Pantani, National Council member and President of the Ticino Deputation at the Federal Parliament, to become a member of the Festival's Board of Governors.

Festival President Marco Solari opened the Annual General Meeting with the announcement of the departure of Operational Director Mario Timbal who, after 9 years work with the Festival, will see it through to the end of the 70th edition, and will then take up a new post within a cultural institution abroad.

A presentation was given outlining the new operational organization: Nominated by the Board of Governors, current Deputy Chief Operating Officer Raphaël Brunschwig will assume his post as Chief Operating Officer from September 1, 2017; with Mattia Storni as Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Amel Soudani, currently Head of the Press Office and Digital Communication as Head of Communication and member of the Board of Directors.

From May 1 Andrea Zanetti will be Head of Business Development Food&Beverage, responsible for the operational organization of laRotonda.

“A festival like Locarno requires zealous commitment and high level skills on the part of its Chief Operating Officer to maintain its growth and development. That Locarno Festival is now world renowned is something we owe in no small part to Mario Timbal's management skills. We are all greatly indebted to him and the work he has accomplished. That task now falls to the next generation who will, alongside the Artistic Directorate, continue to work to maintain and consolidate the international status of our Festival”, comments Marco Solari, President of the Locarno Festival.

The Annual General Meeting's agenda covered approval of the accounts for the 2016 edition, leaving the Festival in a broadly balanced budgetary position, with a final balance of 13,15 million CHF. The Chief Operating Officer also presented the budget for the 70th edition, set at 13,6 million CHF.

Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian, reported on numerous projects for Locarno70, including #movieofmylife, a digital competition intended to give the audience a voice, calling on them to talk about films that have changed their lives.

The Annual General Meeting also ratified a change within the Board of Governors. After 20 of years with the Festival, Marco Blaser has tendered his resignation and in recognition of his enormous contribution to the event was designated an Honorary Member of the Festival. Roberta Pantani, National Council member and current President of the Ticino Deputation at the Federal Parliament, was elected as a new member of the Board.

The 70th edition of the Locarno Festival will take place 2 – 12 August 2017.

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