Russian film director Alexander Sokurov received the Leopard of Honour at Locarno’s international film festival. He received the prize for his contribution to world cinema as 7,000 gathered for the Piazza Grande event.

Sokurov distinguished himself in Locarno in 1987, winning the Bronze Leopard for his first film, The Lonely Human Voice. Ten years later came the Video Prize for his Spiritual Voices documentary.

This year’s Locarno world premiere of a new documentary, The Elegy of Life, unveiled the story of Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.