The Locarno Film Festival has formed an advisory board for its industry side and recruited a roster of top indie industry figures including former Amazon Studios film executive Ted Hope, Bobby Allen, who is senior VP of content at Mubi, and former European Film Market chief Beki Probst as members.
Locarno’s industry advisory board will be headed by Nadia Dresti, the former head of the prominent Swiss indie cinema event’s market side who has been with Locarno intermittently for roughly 30 years with an interlude for a few years as head of marketing for Fox Switzerland.
“I am delighted that in this ever-changing audiovisual landscape, the Locarno Film Festival has decided to initiate an ongoing conversation with industry professionals who will advise the board of directors on issues concerning the festival’s future,” Dresti said in a statement. “Together we will tackle relevant issues with the aim of providing invaluable industry insights.”
The board’s other members comprise Edna Epelbaum, CEO of prominent Swiss cinemas chain Cinevital and president of the Swiss Cinema Association; Marion Klotz, formerly with Paris based sales company Memento International and currently head of the Locarno Industry Academy training program; Emmanuel Cuénod, former director of the Geneva International Film Festival and now head of the Swiss Digital Creation Hub; and Gerardo Michelin, founder of the LatAm cinema trade website for Latin American cinema.
Last July Swiss arts patron Maja Hoffman, founder of the LUMA Foundation, succeed Marco Solari to become the event’s first female president in its 70-plus years of existence.
The 77th Locarno Film Festival will run Aug. 7-17.
