Selection for Main Competition
Filmmaker Gurvinder Singh’s latest movie, ‘Rehmat’, has been officially selected for the Main Competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, scheduled to take place in Switzerland from August 5 to 15, 2026. The film will vie for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Leopard, which carries a cash award of CHF 75,000 (approximately Rs 88 lakh).
Competing Directors
‘Rehmat’ will compete against works by renowned international directors, including South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo, Denis Côté from Canada, Salvatore Mereu from Italy, and Romanian director Florin Serban, among others.
Based on Ajeet Cour's Stories
The film is based on the short stories of acclaimed Punjabi writer Ajeet Cour and has been jointly produced by her daughter and painter Arpana Caur. Gurvinder Singh noted, “I had a carte blanche to choose any story or combination of stories. What could connect them thematically, structurally and as a narrative was the key consideration.”
Plot and Setting
Set in present-day Punjab, the film weaves together three interconnected narratives. A woman secretly shelters a wounded stranger within her home, while his family endures the weight of grief and impossible choices. Meanwhile, a mysterious elderly man arrives in a village, calling himself ‘God’.
Cast and Naseeruddin Shah's Involvement
The movie stars Naseeruddin Shah, Suvinder Vicky, Mita Vasisht, Navjot Randhawa, and newcomers Diya Kamboj, Harwinder Aujla, and Jaswant Zafar. ‘Rehmat’ marks Naseeruddin Shah’s first Punjabi film. Gurvinder Singh explained, “I was uncertain whether it would be possible. But when I approached him, he agreed without even asking about the role.” He added that once Shah was on board, the dialogues were written with his personality in mind. “On set, I realised he needed very little direction, almost none.”
Pardo for Change Nomination
In addition to the Main Competition, the artistic team of the Locarno Film Festival has nominated ‘Rehmat’ for a special award, the ‘Pardo for Change’. The world premiere of the film has been scheduled for August 6 in Locarno.
Gurvinder Singh's Previous Works
Gurvinder Singh’s earlier films include ‘Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan’, ‘Chauthi Koot’, and ‘Adh Chanani Raat’. His work has been officially presented at Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Busan, and other major film festivals worldwide. He is a National Award winner for Best Director and has twice won the award for Best Punjabi Film. ‘Rehmat’ is his fourth Punjabi-language feature.
Significance of Locarno Selection
Locarno is among the world’s most prestigious festivals, alongside Venice, Cannes, and Berlin. Gurvinder Singh stated that the selection at Locarno reaffirms his faith that a certain kind of cinema still has relevance in this largely market-driven world with shrinking attention spans.
