LOCARNO - The 79th Locarno Film Festival closed on 15 August after 11 days of screenings on the Piazza Grande and in the halls behind it. Sunday was for packing screens, counting hotel nights, and arguing about the Golden Leopard in the shade.
City officials said occupancy had behaved like a strong edition. Residents said the last night-time crowds could now go home. Both were describing the same week.
A lakeside industry
Locarno's festival is one of the few national cultural machines that still sits entirely in a small city. The trains from Bellinzona did the rest. Ticino's harder labour story is here.