Me after my nightmare trip… NO! Just kidding, it’s Iggy Pop in a still from ‘The Dead Don’t Die’.

The Cannes 2019 Diaries: 'The Dead Don't Die', they land at Nice airport though!

E. Nina Rothe May 15, 2019

Yes, there was a flash taxi strike at the airport in Nice yesterday, just as my flight was getting in. No, they were not prepared for an action by all taxi drivers to block the roads accessing the airport, so no vehicle of any sort could get in or out of the airport. Yes, there is a tramway track recently built which reaches terminal 3 but no, there was no tram traveling on it. So everyone had to walk for miles, with luggage in tow, under the sweltering sun, to reach an overcrowded train, through overpasses and station underpasses (read: lots and lots of stairs) mimicking the zombies in Jim Jarmusch’s Cannes opening night film.

Welcome to the glamorous life of a journalist covering the Festival de Cannes! If I hear one more time what a wonderful opportunity it is for me to be doing what I do, I’ll strangle someone. Then, I might actually begin to get the attention I deserve.

Meg Ryan with Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director of the Locarno Festival

The Locarno Diaries: Meg Ryan, Meg Ryan, and yes, Meg Ryan!

E. Nina Rothe August 5, 2018

Yes. You read the title right. I didn't make a mistake, I meant it to read that way.

A bit of background first. I grew into my skin watching Meg Ryan's films. Notice I didn't say "grew up" because Ms. Ryan and I are from the same generation -- and yes, we look damn great! Thank you. But as I was saying, I discovered the America I always knew existed, I found love, I dumped love and moved on, I cried a lot in between, and all to the rhythm of Meg Ryan's movies. So when the Locarno Festival asked me to moderate a public Forum talk with the wondrous actress I said YES! And pinched myself a few times to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

The Locarno Diaries: Women power, Courage with a capital "C" and a healthy dose of great cinema

E. Nina Rothe August 2, 2018

As I flew over to Milan to reach Locarno then by car over the Alps, I watched 'The Gospel According to André' on the plane -- the documentary about the grand fashion figure that is André Leon Talley. It was a perfect way to dive into the Locarno Festival since Talley's life has been all about courage and bold choices and this year's film festival is channeling that spirit exactly.

Also, as a woman I find solace at an event that kicks off with a press release announcing their commitment to sign the Programming Pledge for Parity and Inclusion in Cinema Festivals for parity and equality in the industry. Locarno will be the first festival after Cannes to commit to this pledge. So on August 5th at 9.45 a.m. Marco Solari, Locarno Festival President and Carla Speziali, Locarno Festival Vice President, will gather at the Spazio Forum to publicly and officially sign the initiative by SWAN, the Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network, a sister movement to the French 5050x2020 campaign that took place on the steps of the Palais this May 2018 during the Cannes Film Festival.

The Diaries, because sometimes life needs more.

The Cannes 2019 Diaries: 'The Dead Don't Die', they land at Nice airport though!

The Locarno Diaries: Meg Ryan, Meg Ryan, and yes, Meg Ryan!

The Locarno Diaries: Women power, Courage with a capital "C" and a healthy dose of great cinema

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