Let’s Get Critical (Locarno Panel 2022)

Understanding Film Criticism as a Default Crisis Mode

Film criticism has been involved with questions around its relevance and legitimacy since the days of its origins, not just since the rise of digital media, or the decline of traditional journalist platforms that have marked the 21^st century. Just like the answers to the question ‘what is cinema?’, the roles of a critic are always fluid and in flux. And now, this ‘Default Crisis Mode’ of film criticism has been challenged and accelerated since #metoo, Black Lives Matter, a climate crisis, a pandemic and another war. In “Let’s Get Criticial” we want to look beyond nostalgia for the way things were and share inspiring examples, best practices, burning questions and innovative forms to open the doors to a more inclusive and diverse film criticism of the now.

*** When: Friday August 5th from 11:30am to 12.30 pm at the Davide Campari Lounge of the Locarno Film Festival. With the members of the FIPRESCI Jury: Martin Horyna, Dana Linssen, Sarah Stutte and Müge Turan. Moderated by: Thomas Schultze.