Travis Scott at Castel Grande for the end-credits song of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey

The Fortress of Bellinzona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other locations in Ticino provided the backdrop for some scenes of the official music video for When I’m Home, a track by Travis Scott, James Blake and Ludwig Göransson chosen to accompany the closing credits of Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey, the global cinematic sensation of the moment. Having already sparked considerable curiosity with the release of the teaser last week, the official music video has now finally been released.

Filming took place on 9 July in various parts of the Bellinzona Fortress, including the entrance area to the Castel Grande lift tunnel and part of the arena within the fortified complex. The project also involved other locations in the canton: some scenes were in fact filmed in Gordola, outside the SSIC TI Vocational Training Centre.

As well as Travis Scott – the renowned American rapper and record producer, who also features in the cast of The Odyssey – the film shoot also brought Ludwig Göransson to Ticino, the three-time Oscar-winning Swedish composer (Black Panther, Oppenheimer and Sinners), composed the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan’s latest film.

Mahfuz Sultan directed the music video, whilst Ayinde Anderson was in charge of cinematography. On location, the production was carried out with the support of Zurich-based AM Production as the Swiss partner.

The completion of a project of this scale within such a short timeframe was made possible thanks to close collaboration between various local organisations: the Ticino Film Commission, Ticino Tourism, Bellinzona and Valli Tourism, the City of Bellinzona and the Fortress of Bellinzona.

“A production like this involves a huge number of requirements to deal with and often, as in this case, at very short notice,” emphasises Lisa Barzaghi, director of the Ticino Film Commission. “Within a matter of days of being contacted, we therefore worked on all fronts: from finding accommodation for a crew of around forty people during the peak season, to more specific details, such as obtaining permits to use certain animals in the shoot, or sourcing a sufficient number of climbing crash pads requested just a few hours before filming began. It’s intense work that we carry out with passion to make the most of opportunities that must be seized immediately, and which demonstrate how our region, through the teamwork of all the organisations involved, is capable of professionally hosting projects with high international visibility. Even at a moment’s notice.”

International film and music productions offer a significant opportunity to promote Ticino to a global audience. With its imposing walls and unique location, the Fortress of Bellinzona is one of Switzerland’s most recognisable historic monuments and provides a visually striking backdrop.

“The teaser has sparked great curiosity, whilst the release of the full video clip now allows us to appreciate Ticino’s extraordinary potential as a location for audiovisual productions of international significance. The locations featured in the video are among the most picturesque in our canton, but they represent only a fraction of the many locations the region has to offer. This extraordinary variety of scenery, concentrated within a relatively small area, makes Ticino a particularly attractive destination for directors, production companies and creative professionals seeking authentic settings with a strong character”, emphasises Angelo Trotta, director of Ticino Tourism, on the occasion of the release of the full video clip – a project that confirms the canton’s potential as a destination for film and audiovisual productions, demonstrating how the synergy between tourism bodies, institutions and the audiovisual sector can help to further enhance Ticino’s visibility on the international stage.