Zoe Saldaña named to receive special honor at Locarno Film Festival, Claudio Simonetti also slated

The Locarno Film Festival has announced that Zoe Saldaña will receive a special honor at the 2026 edition of the Swiss festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The announcement places the actor among the featured international names tied to Locarno’s non-competitive recognition events, which are intended to spotlight major artistic contributions alongside the festival’s film selections.

The festival’s lineup of special recognitions also includes a separate tribute for Claudio Simonetti, who is being honored for his contribution to film music. Simonetti’s recognition was described by the trade publication as a festival honor dedicated to his work in film scoring, indicating that Locarno’s spotlight this year will extend beyond screen performances to the broader soundtrack craft that shapes audience experience.

Beyond the two named honorees, The Hollywood Reporter said Olivia Wilde, Caleb Landry Jones, Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert and Kingsley Ben-Adir will be among the stars appearing at the festival. The announcement frames the group as part of Locarno’s broader star presence for 2026, without detailing which specific films each actor will be associated with in the report.

Locarno’s special honors typically sit apart from the festival’s competitive awards, focusing on career achievements or distinctive contributions across the film industry. By adding both a performer honor and a film-music tribute in the same announcement cycle, the festival is indicating that it intends to devote attention to multiple parts of film production, including acting, composing and the role of musical identity in how films are remembered.

For Saldaña, the recognition represents another high-profile festival moment as she is singled out by Locarno for a special distinction. For Simonetti, the honor underscores the festival’s effort to publicly mark film music creators whose work often plays a central role in audience recall even when the composer’s name is not always placed on the same level of celebrity as on-screen talent.

The festival’s organizers have not, in the provided reporting, detailed the precise ceremonies, dates, or the formal titles attached to each honor. The Hollywood Reporter’s announcement nonetheless establishes who will be receiving the recognitions and the notable star attendance at the 2026 Locarno Film Festival, setting up additional announcements that would typically clarify the program schedule and the associated projects.

As the festival approaches, additional information is expected to specify the context for Saldaña’s honor and the exact nature of Simonetti’s tribute, including any public events or screenings tied to the recognitions, as well as which of the listed stars will appear for particular film premieres or festival appearances.