Locarno fetes Harrison Ford

FordHarrison Ford was feted on Saturday having a surprise Golden Leopard for lifetime achievement in the Locarno Film Festival where, about the industry side, some early deals have closed.Ford, fellow "Cowboys & Aliens" stars Difficulties and Olivia Wilde, and helmer Jon Favreau, were helicoptered in from nearby Lugano for that European preem of Vital/Universal Intl's genre mash-up, which unspooled in the Swiss fest's outside Piazza Grande, despite light rain."Tonight is history for that festival, for me personally and for people,Inch stated Locarno artistic director Olivier Pere who thanked Vital and Universal Intl. "for having faith in us with this particular film."After being welcomed having a warm ovation, a noticeably moved Ford stated, "I am very grateful with this. It jogs my memory of my enormous luck during my career to utilize a lot of gifted company directors, stars, crew, authors, producers. And That I appreciate the truth that I have the chance every once in awhile to create movies."Locarno, that is devoted to indie cinema, went more high-profile this season, also is reflected in certain early biz deals inked within the run-as much as the fest and throughout its first couple of days. Gaul's Urban Distribution Intl. acquired world privileges for cult Japanese helmer-thesp Hitoshi Matsumoto's samurai comedy "Scabbard Samurai," that will unspool about the 7,000-chair Piazza Grande on Friday. Gaul's Wide Management acquired world sales on competition photos "Policeman," a good Isreali anti-terrorism squad, helmed beginning with-timer Nadav Lapid, and Romanian helmer Anca Damian's toon drama "The road to Beyond," in regards to a real miscarriage of justice situation. Italy's Intramovies has had worldwide sales on competition title "Sette opere di misericordia," a drama set among Italy's illegal immigrants, the feature debut from the P Serio siblings, also known as video artists and documakers. Vienna-based Autlook Filmsales acquired world privileges on docu "The Substance -- Albert Hoffman's LSD," by Swiss documaker Martin Witz. Italo helmer Stefano Savona's "Tahrir, Liberation Square" is going to be distributed worldwide by Italo sales company Doc & Co.Fest finishes Saturday Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com