Locarno honoree Sigurjón Sighvatsson says Netflix films exist in a “closed system,” not the kind of cinema he wants to make

Veteran producer Sigurjón “Joni” Sighvatsson has never been afraid to challenge industry trends, and ahead of receiving the Raimondo Rezzonico Award at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, he offered candid opinions on everything from artificial intelligence to streaming platforms and the changing identity of major film festivals. Best known for producing acclaimed titles such as Wild at Heart, Basquiat, and The Weight of Water, Sighvatsson believes cinema remains driven by storytelling rather than technology, while arguing that today’s biggest festivals…