The Golden Pardo, the top prize at the Locarno Film Festival, was awarded to Romanian director Florin Șerban for his film "You Don't Belong Here (Nu e locul tau aici)," according to a report from Italian news agency ANSA. The announcement was made on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the festival's awards ceremony.
The win marks a significant achievement for Șerban, whose film took the main competition's highest honor at the 79th edition of the Swiss festival. The title, which translates from Romanian as "This is not your place," secured the award ahead of other contenders in the festival's international competition.
In addition to Șerban's victory, the festival also recognized Italian actress Monica Bellucci. According to reports from Corriere del Ticino and Ticinonline, Bellucci received an award for her work on the film "Ketticè." The Corriere della Sera also confirmed both honors in its coverage of the ceremony.
The Locarno Film Festival, held annually in the Swiss town of Locarno, is one of Europe's longest-running film events. This year's edition featured a diverse lineup of international cinema, with the Golden Pardo representing the festival's most prestigious accolade for feature films.
The recognition for Șerban continues a strong tradition of Eastern European cinema at major European festivals. His previous work has drawn critical attention, and this latest film appears to have resonated with the Locarno jury.
As the festival concludes, industry observers will likely watch how "You Don't Belong Here" performs in the coming awards season. The film's success in Locarno could position it for further recognition at other international festivals and award ceremonies in the months ahead.
