Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival opens on Wednesday, honoring Shah Rukh Khan, Jane Campion, Alfonso Cuaron, and Irene Jacob with special awards.

Founded in 1946, Locarno is one of the world's longest-running film festivals, focusing on auteur cinema. Located on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the Italian-speaking Ticino region, films are shown in Locarno's central square, a notable feature depicted on Switzerland's 20-franc banknotes.

The open-air Piazza Grande accommodates up to 8,000 moviegoers and features one of the largest screens in the world.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, 58, will receive the Pardo alla Carriera award on Saturday for his significant contributions to Indian cinema. Festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro praised Khan for his unique and extensive impact on Indian cinema, noting his strong connection with audiences and his willingness to take on challenging roles.

The 77th Locarno Festival, running until August 17, will showcase 225 films, including 104 world premieres and 15 debut movies. The festival's top prize is the Golden Leopard, previously awarded to directors like Roberto Rossellini, John Ford, Stanley Kubrick, Milos Forman, Mike Leigh, and Jim Jarmusch. This year, 17 films are competing for the Golden Leopard, which comes with a prize fund of 75,000 Swiss francs ($87,400), split between the director and producer.

Locarno's largest film event will also feature a retrospective to mark the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures.

New Zealand's Jane Campion will be honored with the Leopard of Honour, recognizing outstanding contributions to world cinema. Campion, the first woman to be nominated twice for the best director Oscar, won for "The Piano" (1993) and "The Power of the Dog" (2021). Nazzaro commended her work for its complex characters and exploration of the human condition.

Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, who won best director Oscars for "Gravity" (2013) and "Roma" (2018), will receive the lifetime achievement award. Nazzaro highlighted Cuaron's ability to reinvent himself with each film.

French-Swiss actress Irene Jacob, known for "The Double Life of Veronique" (1991) and "Three Colours: Red" (1994), will receive the Leopard Club Award for her influence on the collective imagination.

US film producer Stacey Sher, known for producing "Pulp Fiction," "Get Shorty," "Gattaca," "Erin Brockovich," "Django Unchained," and "The Hateful Eight," will be awarded the Raimondo Rezzonico Award for major achievements in international movie production.

Last year's festival attracted nearly 150,000 attendees.