Locarno Appoints Markus Duffner as Head of Locarno Pro Industry Program
Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Locarno Film Festival has appointed longtime collaborator Markus Duffner as the head of its Locarno Pro industry program.Duffner, who will take the Locarno Pro helm in January, is replacing Paris-based sales exec Valentina Merli, who after being appointed to the post roughly a year ago quietly stepped down following this year’s virtual edition in August.As head of Locarno Pro, Duffner will work closely with Sophie Bourdon, Locarno Pro deputy chief who also heads its Open Doors co-production forum, dedicated to nurturing cinema in areas where filmmaking is especially tough.Nadia Dresti, who has been with Locarno intermittently for roughly 30 years — and built its market side into a unique and