"Will" Starring Ed Pinker Triumphs at the International Stars Edition

2026-08-13 07:52:42 Art & Entertainment

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The short film directed by Clara Altimas wins the inaugural edition of the Locarno festival. Competing shorts feature Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and Allegra Fulton.

The award ceremony for the Movie & Short Festival took place on August 9th at Locarno's Spazio Elle, hosted by actor Elijah Knight. The winner in the categories of Film, Screenplay, Direction, and Soundtrack was the Canadian short Will by Clara Altimas. The story follows Will, a lovable but chaotic children's entertainer who arrives at his girlfriend's prestigious charity fundraiser dressed in medieval armor due to a misunderstanding about the dress code. A quarrel ensues, revealing that the couple may no longer be right for each other.

Ed Pinker, the lead actor in the short, also received the Best Actor award. Pinker has appeared in TV series such as Murdoch Mysteries, Locke & Key, and The Handmaid's Tale. The Best Actress award went to Imogen Whist for Sprout, which also stars Allegra Fulton. The film depicts a mother (Maggie) and daughter (Jules) grappling with the loss of their sprout farm.

Mauro Nigro won Best Cinematography for Amigdala, a short about a young woman revisiting memories of her late sister, who refuses to leave her mind. The award was shared ex aequo with Will.

The online audience award, voted on via the portal dailybloid.com, went to Sprout, directed by Allie Yonick and Mara Da Costa Reis, to whom the short is dedicated.

The Fellini Foundation awarded the Maestro Prize to La prima spiaggia by Raul Quagliata, a story of youthful love by the sea, "for its humanistic dimension, poetry, and humor which, beyond its modernity, recall the tradition of great Italian masters, including Fellini." The Foundation also gave a Special Mention to The Truth by Marcel Büchi "for its humanistic dimension, poetry, and humor which, beyond its modernity, evoke the tradition of great Italian masters, including Fellini."

The ceremony was presented by actor Elijah Knight, known for roles in TV series such as Miss Fallaci and Unbreak My Heart, and films like The Safe and Prinzessin. The event was organized by the magazine Dailybloid.com.

Among the competing works were titles featuring internationally renowned actors, such as Emma Zander's Bad Dream with Jacob Elordi, a celebrated star known for acclaimed performances in recent major films like Frankenstein, Saltburn, and Priscilla. It Happened Again Last Night by Roze and Gabrielle Stone stars Sydney Sweeney, an acclaimed actress recognized for her roles in hit TV series and films such as Euphoria and the romantic comedy Anyone But You. Sprout (directed by Allie Yonick) features Allegra Fulton, an esteemed actress known for significant roles in films like The Shape of Water and Maudie.

The prestigious jury included Marco Calvani, lead actor in the TV series The Four Seasons and the film You, Me & Tuscany; a playwright whose works have been staged at the Phoenix Theatre in London, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York, Teatro di Roma, and Théâtre de la Ville in Paris. In 2024, he directed the film High Tide and is currently working on the new film Capitana. Giovanna Nodari, who has worked on TV series such as Squadra Speciale Stoccarda, Another Monday, and All the Way Up, and directed the short film Decent People. Glenn Cooper, a writer who has sold over eight million copies worldwide with his thrillers translated into 30 languages. Giuseppe Bonifati, who has appeared in numerous films including Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World, Michael Mann's Ferrari, and Martin Scorsese's docuseries The Saints; he has also acted in the series A Taste for Murder. Nicole Muji, founder of the French Riviera Film Festival in Cannes and an expert in international public relations in the entertainment sector.

The 2026 edition also benefits from the collaboration of prominent international partners. Transmedia Group, founded in 1981, brings decades of experience in high-level public relations within the film industry, managing PR strategies for film premieres, award contenders, and emerging artists. The Fellini Foundation, a prestigious cultural institution dedicated to preserving, promoting, and disseminating the artistic and cinematic legacy of Maestro Federico Fellini, actively supports auteur cinema, education, and the organization of globally significant cultural events.