Sigurjón “Joni” Sighvatsson, to Receive Raimondo Rezzonico Award
Sigurjón “Joni” Sighvatsson, Producer of Iconic Indie Films, TV Series, and Music Videos, to Receive Raimondo Rezzonico Award
The trailblazing Iceland-born, US-based film, music video, and television producer will be celebrated with the Raimondo Rezzonico Award in Piazza Grande on the evening of August 6, 2026, as well as present, in the official programme, two key films from his career: David Lynch’s Wild at Heart (1990) and Philippe Parreno and Douglas Gordon’s Zidane, A 21st Century Portrait (2006) which celebrates its 20th anniversary.
© Kjartan Þorbjörnsson/Golli
Whether as co-founder of Propaganda Films in 1986 – a powerhouse that once produced a third of all music videos in the United States, including early works by Zack Snyder, Spike Jonze, Gore Verbinski, Michael Bay, and co-founder David Fincher – or as producer for David Lynch’s Palme d’Or winner Wild at Heart and Julian Schnabel’s groundbreaking Basquiat (1996), Sigurjón “Joni” Sighvatsson has played a crucial role in seeking out new talent and in shaping the pop aesthetics of the modern era.
Over a remarkable career, he has produced over 60 feature films or TV series – notably Twin Peaks (1990-91) and Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000) – and championed auteur-driven projects that boldly tested the limits of the medium. Sighvatsson’s collaborations with filmmakers like Nicolas Winding Refn and Jim Sheridan – as well as artists like Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno – have yielded cult classics that continue to exert a powerful influence on younger filmmakers around the world.
Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director: “Characterised by a deeply European perspective but immersed in the workings of the industry in the United States, Sigurjón “Joni” Sighvatsson shaped a true “politique du producteur”, allowing artists such as David Lynch to create their works in complete freedom and supporting authors such as Kathryn Bigelow to make some of the most personal films of her career. His instinct as a producer profoundly influenced the course of '90s cinema, while his attitude of favouring originality and independence as a principle made him a point of reference for a whole generation of filmmakers who looked to Sighvatsson's work as a model of audacity, integrity, creativity, and vision.”
The Raimondo Rezzonico Award, offered by the Municipality of Minusio, was created in 2002 in memory of the man who was President of the Festival from 1981 to 1999.
The 79th Locarno Film Festival will take place from 5 to 15 August 2026.
