Kevin Costner's Oscar-Winning Western Returns in Extended 4K Cut at Locarno Festival

Kevin Costner's 1990 Oscar-winning Western "Dances With Wolves" is receiving a new 4K restoration, with the restored director's cut premiering at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on August 7. According to Variety, the extended edition runs nearly four hours and will screen at the festival's outdoor Piazza Grande venue as part of the Histoire(s) du Cinema section.

VarietyKevin Costner's 'Dances With Wolves' to Premiere Restored 4K Director's Cut at Locarno Film Festival

Locarno continues to spotlight classic cinema for contemporary audiences. The Hollywood Reporter quoted the festival's programming philosophy as putting a spotlight on "cinema of the past with an eye to the new generations and the audiences of tomorrow." This restoration fits that mission, bringing a nearly four-hour version of Costner's directorial debut to a new generation of viewers.

The Hollywood ReporterKevin Costner’s ‘Dances With Wolves’ Restored Extended Director’s Cut to Premiere at Locarno

The film originally won seven Academy Awards including Best Director for Costner, as reported by Variety. Alongside the "Dances With Wolves" screening, The Hollywood Reporter noted that the festival will also showcase films from Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata and legendary producer Roger Corman, further underscoring Locarno's dedication to film history.

The restored cut offers audiences an extended look at the epic that cemented Costner's place in Hollywood, now in a pristine 4K format that promises to revive its sweeping prairie landscapes and intimate character moments for the big screen.