Fellow lifetime award recipient Stellan Skarsgard also pulled out of his festival engagements.
The pair worked together on the shortDammi, which screened this evening as part of the ceremony.
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Thank you to theLocarno Film Festivalfor this amazing honor, Ahmeds message began.
LocarnoRosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images.
Im sorry I couldnt be with you today.
Its a very important fight, and I hope you all understand.
The note received a hearty round of applause from the festival audience.
The screening ofDammiwas followed by the world premiere ofThe Falling Starby Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon.
Aside from this evenings change of schedule, the two Hollywood strikes should have minimal impact on Locarno.
However, there is the question of symbolic solidarity.
Today, they were all mostly empty.
Its unlikely that this is directly related to no-show actors.
There has also been a significant change in transportation to and from the festival.
This year, Locarno runs through August 12.
The festivals International Competition will showcase 17 films this year, 16 of which are world premieres.
