Locarno Pro’s digitally based service aims at extending the outreach and distribution of heritage films through video on demand, extending the range of titles offered by such services.

Heritage Online offers film professionals a year-round database where streamers and other buyers are able to watch available titles from all over the world in a dedicated Online Screening Room, consult their detailed technical information including availability of films in the various territories, and get in touch directly with their rights holders.  

Thanks to Heritage Online, rights holders such as international sales agents, film libraries, archives, institutes, and restorers’ associations among others are able to share their catalogues with potential clients, such as VOD broadcasters from all over the world, ranging from generalist to niche offerings, from established names to emerging start-ups. 

Heritage Monday

For the first time, Locarno Pro, will offer, in the framework of Heritage Online, a full day dedicated to Heritage Film industry, on Monday 7th of August, 2023. Panel discussions on the state of the heritage film distribution, case studies and presentations of brand-new restored films, as well as industry screenings of classics will be the core of this day. The full program will be announced in July 2023.

Heritage Restoration Contest

Heritage Online Restoration Contest is a yearly open call for applications for international classic and library films in need of complete or partial restoration. The Restoration Contest, launced for the first time in 2023, was open to feature films from all over the world that premiered in 2009 or before. This contest is possible thanks to a collaboration with Cinegrell, the winning film of the Heritage Online contest will then be the recipient of a complete, world-class restoration service.

Call for application for 2023 is closed. The winner, choosed by a jury of three international industry professionals, will be announced on Sunday 6th of August, 2023. The restoration process will commence in autumn 2023 and will conclude in the first semester of the following year. After that, the restored title will premiere at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in the Histoire(s) du cinéma - Heritage Online section. 

Heritage Online Subscription

All Heritage Online subscriptions give 12 months of access to the database. The Heritage Online database is accessible at the following link: https://heritage.locarnofestival.ch/login

• VOD broadcasters (free subscription): a private account that grants year-round access to the database.
• Heritage Film Professionals (CHF 85/year): Right Holders, Sales Agents, Festivals, Distributors, Exhibitors, Others.

Rights holders can offer a selection from their catalogue on the platform alongside a file of their complete catalogue. Eligibility criteria for titles: feature length films of any genre that premiered no later than 2009. Each film added in the screening room will cost CHF 70.

Films featured in a past edition of the Locarno Film Festival can be featured in the Screening Room for free (contact us).

Heritage Online’s basic subscription is included in the Locarno Pro accreditation. 

Join the one and only database for Worldwide Heritage Film distribution here: heritage.locarnofestival.ch

For more information, please contact the Heritage Online team: heritage@locarnofestival.ch.