Slovak-Czech film Nightsiren wins prize in Locarno

Slovak-Czech thriller Nightsiren (Světlonoc) directed by Tereza Nvotová has won the Cineasti del Presente Competition at the Locarno Film Festival, dedicated to emerging directors.

The horror-tinged drama tells a story of a young woman who returns to her native mountain village, searching for answers about her troubled childhood, but as she tries to uncover the truth, the villagers accuse her of witchcraft and murder.

Nightsiren is the second feature of the 34-year-old Slovak director. Her first feature Filthy or Špína wasawarded Best Film at the Czech Critics’ Awards in 2017. She also won the Trilobit Award handed out by the Czech Film and Television Union for her documentary Lust for Power.