Syriac Heritage Food Stall concludes at Locarno Film Festival

LOCARNO, Switzerland — The Syriac Heritage Food Stall opened in Locarno on July 31, as part of the annual international film festival held on the city’s central festival grounds.

During the 78th edition of the festival, institutions from the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) hosted a table showcasing dishes from the rich culinary heritage of the Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) people.

Thanks to the strong international interest in the festival, the Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) people’s institutions are given the opportunity each year to participate and present their culture to a global audience.

Representatives of Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) institutions from various cities joined the food stall, offering traditional dishes while also educating visitors about the history and culture of the Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramaic) people, both in their homeland and the diaspora, as well as initiatives supporting the community back home.

The event concluded on August 16, following extensive efforts that strengthened ties with foreign visitors and raised awareness of the Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramaic) community’s culinary traditions.

The festival also featured a film competition, culminating in the awarding of the Golden Leopard, the festival’s emblematic prize, to the winning film.

Founded in 1946 in Locarno, the festival has grown over the years into one of the world’s major international events for films, actors, directors, and documentary filmmakers.