Today the Locarno International Film Festival has announced that INSTINCT, the debut film of Halina Reijn, has won the Variety Piazza Grande Award. The Variety Piazza Grande Award is awarded by a jury of several of the American paper’s critics who will attend Locarno. It will go to a film screened in the Piazza Grande programme. The prize will recognise a film that stands out for both its artistic qualities and its potential for theatrical release. This award is intended to assist the international career of a film in selection thanks to Variety’s connections with the film industry and its authority within the sector. Next to that, Instinct is also awarded with a Special Mention by the jury of the First Feature Award. Halina & Carice will receive both awards at the festival this saturday.