The film screenings on Piazza Grande are one of Locarno's attractions. Against this spectacular historical backdrop, 17 films will be shown on the world's largest screen. Nine of them are competing for the coveted audience award. Films will also be vying for the Piazza Grande Award given by Variety, the renowned US film magazine, as well as the Swatch First Feature Award.

Les Beaux Esprits, a feature film by French director Vianney Lebasque, is based on a true story: a few mentally impaired athletes drop out of a French basketball team, and the coach fears losing a grant for his team. He decides on a scam - and travels to the Sydney Paralympics with a team of healthy players pretending to be mentally disabled.

Already successful, the American director, screenwriter and producer came up with the idea of Stan Laurel (r.) and Oliver Hardy as a comedy duo in 1926. Leo McCarey (1898-1969) had an unprecedented Hollywood career. The 1929 film "Liberty" (above) is just one of 109 films shown at the McCarey retrospective in Locarno.

Seeking nationwide attention, a trio of right-wing terrorists carries out a series of brutal attacks in this film by German director Jan Bonny. A Winter's Tale is disturbingly topical in light of the recent trial of the NSU neo-Nazi gang in Germany. The film is not only about right-wing extremism however. As it says in the press release: "Love turns into hate, desire into murder."

A psychotherapist and divorced father, Maximilian worries about his patients, his daughters, his ex-wife and his melancholy dog. Max's predictable world is shaken when he meets Sophie, a foley artist. Sandra Nettelbeck'a tragicomedy tells the story of a man facing a midlife crisis.

Nothing is good in Eva Trobisch's film "All good," a movie about rape and its impact. Trobisch and her team of actors, above all leading actress Aenne Schwarz (l.), tread carefully with this sensitive topic. For this film, Schwarz won the new talent award for best actress, and Trobisch won the new talent award for best director at the 2018 Munich Film Festival.

Flashes of subtle irony and witty humor in dreamy, innocent characters: The Locarno Film Festival gives the Leopard Club Award in tribute to American actress Meg Ryan, known the world over for romantic comedies including the "When Harry met Sally" from 1989 (above). American actor Ethan Hawke receives the Excellence Award and presents his new film ,"Blaze", in Locarno.

This year's festival, which gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy open air movies on the Piazza Grande square from August 1 to 11, is the last one at Locarno for artistic director Carlo Chatrian. In 2019 he takes over the management of the renowned Berlin Film Festival along with Mariette Rissenbeek.

For 10 days in August, the charming city of Locarno in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland becomes the center of the international film world. Locarno is one of the most significant film festivals in Europe - following Cannes, Berlin and Venice. Here, visitors can enjoy the unique experience of watching movies outside, such as on the Piazza Grande shown above.

Though fewer in numbers than at festivals like Cannes or Venice, big-name stars do make an appearance in Locarno each year. Among the celebrities walking across the red carpet this year were US actor Adrien Brody and film icon Nastassja Kinski, both of whom received an honorary award. The Golden Leopard for best film is shared equally by the winning director and producer.

After the city's Grand Hotel was considered too small, the Piazza Grande became the heart of the festival in 1971. Heavy rains forced organizers back then to drill holes in the plastic chairs that had been set up for the viewers. Since summer storms are common in the region, festival regulars know to bring raincoats along.

Particularly popular at the Locarno festival are films that were directed and produced by one and the same person. Quite a few filmmakers started their career here, among them Spike Lee. When Jim Jarmusch (pictured) was invited to Locarno in 1984, he was already a famous filmmaker. His "Stranger than Paradise" won best debut film in Cannes, and was also awarded the Golden Leopard.

In its 70th anniversary year, a new location has been added to the festival - the so-called PalaCinema, a modern movie theater right next to the medieval Castello. The festival tries to attract young people from the region with a street fair. LaRotonda is particularly popular - even though it's located in the middle of a roundabout.

German contributions enjoy a good reputation at the festival, with several German films usually running in both the jury and the audience competitions. Among the German filmmakers who have been awarded a Golden Leopard are Wolfgang Becker, Werner Herzog and Wim Wenders, who dressed up as a leopard himself when he received an honorary leopard in 2005.

This year, fans are a particularly trendy accessory, including those with a festival-appropriate leopard design. Summer temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celcius during the first half of the festival, making the fans not just stylish but also very practical.

Another way of cooling down in Locarno is to jump into the Lago Maggiore or the Maggia River between screenings. The region in Switzerland is a popular destination for tourists in the summer.