🔸Tribute to Isabelle Rossellini at the Locarno Film Festival with the Honorary Leopard

The Locarno Film Festival awarded its Honorary Leopard award to Isabelle Rossellini, the well-known Italian-American actress, in recognition of her lifetime of artistic and cinematic activity.

Giuna Natzaro, during the presentation of this award, described Rossellini as “a contemporary cinema legend” who has artistic courage and the ability to portray different roles.

Isabelle Rossellini first came to prominence in the 1980s for her performance in the film “Blue Velvet,” directed by David Lynch. “The Conclave,” which was one of the successful films of 2024, is one of the works that, through her performance, once again drew praise from critics.

Upon receiving the award, Rossellini, in an emotional speech, said: “The award I’m receiving tonight is extremely valuable. So I’m very honored—and more importantly, I’m moved by the fact that my father [Roberto Rossellini] received this award for the film ‘Germany, Year Zero’ in 1948.”

The famous actress continued by referring to the fact that her brother, “Renzo Rossellini,” received another honorary award from Locarno in 2023, saying: “Being on par with my father and my older brother fills me with emotion.”

When Ingrid Bergman went from America to Europe in 1949 to act in the film “Stromboli,” she was regarded as one of the most successful Hollywood actresses—having won the Oscar for Best Actress three years earlier. She took a step that transformed her life by accepting Roberto Rossellini’s invitation.