American director Alexander Payne, known for his films such as “Election”, “About Schmidt”, “Sideways”, and “The Holdovers”, is among those being honored at this year’s 78th Locarno Film Festival. He will be receiving the Honorary Leopard, or Pardo d’Onore, which is presented by Manor, on August 15th. Alongside him are Lucy Liu, Emma Thompson, and Jackie Chan who are also being honored at the festival.
Apart from that, he’ll showcase his movies “The Descendants” (2011) and “Nebraska” (2013). Additionally, he’ll engage in an open conversation with the festival attendees and enthusiasts.
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He’ll not only screen his films “The Descendants” from 2011 and “Nebraska” from 2013, but also take part in a lively Q&A session with the festival spectators and admirers.
As a gamer, I’ve always been captivated by the unique humor and timeless appeal of movies directed by Alexander Payne. This guy is one of those rare filmmakers whose work truly embodies the essence of 21st-century American cinema. His films have garnered an impressive number of accolades, with three Academy Awards, three BAFTAs, and eight Golden Globes under his belt, all in different categories and often recognizing outstanding performances.
Payne’s movies are a testament to the joy of mid-budget filmmaking for adults, a genre that’s constantly under attack but desperately needs defense. It’s like playing a game where the odds are stacked against you, but you still manage to outsmart your opponents and emerge victorious. That’s the kind of magic Alexander Payne brings to the table.
Alexander Payne was born in Nebraska in 1961, honed his filmmaking skills at UCLA where his student projects caught the eye of Hollywood. By 1996, he had written and directed the comedy “Citizen Ruth” (1996), starring Laura Dern, which debuted at Sundance. As noted by Locarno, following this, Payne went on to create an impressive collection of seven more feature films, each marked by their sophisticated structure, sharp wit, and exceptional tragicomic performances from a diverse array of esteemed actors.
Giona A. Nazzaro, director of the Locarno Film Festival, praised Payne as “a learned filmmaker with extensive cinematic knowledge” and “the writer of a distinctive body of work that consistently tackles the intricacies of the human experience with a smile.
He went on to say: “With an innate knack for capturing the subtle sweet-and-sour aspects of human humor, he is a filmmaker whose style seamlessly blends the timeless elegance of classical cinema with contemporary sensibilities. A highly skilled director who has collaborated with talents like Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Matt Damon, Bruce Dern, and Paul Giamatti, Payne demonstrates a deep understanding of Hollywood’s craft, its poetic essence, and its distinctive character.
Since 2017, the Pardo d’Onore has been bestowed upon various recipients. Notable among them are Manoel de Oliveira, Bernardo Bertolucci, Ken Loach, Jean-Luc Godard, Abbas Kiarostami, Terry Gilliam, Alexander Sokurov, William Friedkin, Alain Tanner, Jia Zhang-ke, Leos Carax, Werner Herzog, Agnès Varda, Michael Cimino, Marco Bellocchio, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jean-Marie Straub, Todd Haynes, Bruno Dumont, John Waters, John Landis, Kelly Reichardt, Harmony Korine, and Jane Campion. [In simpler terms, the Pardo d’Onore has been given to these filmmakers since 2017.]
The 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival will take place Aug. 6-16.
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2025-06-12 08:24