SWISS 2019 IN CANNES
FILMS
VISIT US AT THE VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL IN CANNES SWISS FILMS Pavilion No. 120 info@swissfilms.ch T +33 (0)4 92 59 00 11
SWISS FILMS Neugasse 6, 8005 Zurich www.swissfilms.ch Published in May 2019 Image campaign by Stéphanie Gygax
SWISS FILMS AT THE FESTIVAL DE CANNES 2019
� UN CERTAIN REGARD � THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL
8 PRODUCER ON THE MOVE 9 PRODUCERS NETWORK
3 QUINZAINE DES RÉALISATEURS 3 PARTICLES
11 COMING SOON 21 COMING SOON SHORTS
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23 IN PRODUCTION 24 SUPPORT MEASURES
MARCH É DU FILM ANOTHER REALITY MY LITTLE ONE PARADISE WAR THE ZURICH LIAISON – WAGNER’S ONE AND ONLY LOVE
SWISS FILMS TEAM IN CANNES
CATHERINE ANN BERGER Managing Director caberger@swissfilms.ch T +41 76 368 02 65
SELINA WILLEMSE Head of Festivals & Markets swillemse@swissfilms.ch T +41 79 286 51 88
AIDA SULJICIC Head of Programmes & Consultant Documentaries asuljicic@swissfilms.ch T +41 77 431 87 79
ANDREAS BÜHLMANN Consultant Film & First Feature abuehlmann@swissfilms.ch T +41 79 303 58 69
MARCEL MÜLLER Film Consultant, VOD, Programmes mmueller@swissfilms.ch T +41 79 787 93 88
SYLVAIN VAUCHER Consultant Short Films svaucher@swissfilms.ch T +41 79 542 83 80
UN CERTAIN REGARD
THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL
LES HIRONDELLES DE KABOUL
directed by Zabou Breitman, Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec 2
Summer 1998 – Kabul under Taliban rule. Zunaira and Mohsen are young and in love. Despite the daily violence and misery, they hope for a better future. One day, a foolish gesture causes life to take an irrevocable turn.
Animation
WORLD SALES: Celluloid Dreams, Paris www.celluloid-dreams.com WORLD PREMIERE: Cannes 2019 INTERNATIONAL PRESS: WOLF Gordon Spragg gordon@wolf-con.com T +49 171 646 69 70
FRANCE / LUXEMBOURG / SWITZERLAND / MONACO Animation, 80 min., 2019 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French SCREENPLAY: Sébastien Tavel, Patricia Mortagne, Zabou Breitman CAST: Zita Hanrot, Simon Abkarian, Hiam Abbass, Swann Arlaud PRODUCTION: Les Armateurs, Paris / Mélusine Productions, Contern / Close Up Films, Geneva / ARTE / RTS / KNM, Monaco SWISS PRODUCER: Joëlle Bertossa
ZABOU BREITMAN * 1959. Zabou Breitman works as actress and director for theatre and film. Her multi-award-winning first feature SE SOUVENIR DES BELLES CHOSES (2001) was honoured with 3 Césars and a Lumière Award among others. ELÉA GOBBÉ-MÉVELLEC * 1985. Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec studied animation at the Gobelins School in Paris. She worked as animator for featurelength animation films, such as THE RABBI’S CAT (2011). THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL is her first feature, which she codirected.
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BLAISE HARRISON * 1980. Blaise Harrison studied Film at École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL). His documentary L’HARMONIE (2013) premiered within Cineasti del presente at the Locarno Film Festival, ARMAND 15 ANS L’ÉTÉ (2011) was selected for Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes and awarded as Best Documentary at the Festival dei Popoli. Harrison also works as director of photography and recently shot THE PARIS OPERA (2017) by JeanStéphane Bron, awarded Best Documentary at the Swiss Film Award 2018.
FRANCE / SWITZERLAND WORLD SALES: Fiction, 98 min., 2019 Les Films du Losange, Paris ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: www.filmsdulosange.fr French WORLD PREMIERE: SCREENPLAY: Cannes 2019 Blaise Harrison, Mariette INTERNATIONAL PRESS: Désert Alibi Communications CAST: Brigitta Portier Thomas Daloz, Néa Lueders, brigittaportier@ Salvatore Ferro, Emma alibicommunications.be T +32 4 77 98 25 84 Josserand, Léo Couilfort, Nicolas Marcant PRODUCTION: Les Films du Poisson, Paris / Bande à part Films, Lausanne / Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, Villeurbanne / RTS SWISS PRODUCER: Lionel Baier
Fiction
Pays de Gex, on the Swiss border. P.A. and his group of friends are in their last year of high school. One hundred metres beneath their feet, the LHC, the most powerful particle accelerator in the world, recreates the energy conditions of the big bang in order to detect unknown particles. As winter sets in, P.A. starts to observe strange phenomena in the environment. The changes are im perceptible at first, but gradually his whole world seems to be on the brink.
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directed by Blaise Harrison
MARCHÉ DU FILM
ANOTHER REALITY written & directed by Noël Dernesch, Olli Waldhauer 4
A character-driven documentary that provides a real insight into the life of criminal gangs in Germany, in which the young protagonists show us their dreams, their present and their future.
Documentary
WORLD SALES: Magnetfilm GmbH, Berlin www.magnetfilm.de WORLD PREMIERE: Dok.fest Munich 2019
GERMANY / SWITZERLAND Documentary, 97 min., 2019 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: German PRODUCTION: elemag pictures, Leipzig / Cognito Films, Zurich / It’s Us Media, Berlin / 27 Kilometer Entertainment, Hamburg / RBB / WDR / ARTE / SRF SWISS PRODUCERS: Rajko Jazbec, Dario Schoch
NOËL DERNESCH * 1977. Noël Dernesch attended F+F School of Art and Design Zurich and is known for his first feature-length documentary JOURNEY TO JAH (2013), which won the Audience Award at ZFF and the DEFA-Prize at the Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis. OLLI WALDHAUER * 1974. Olli Waldhauer works as director and producer of commercials, music videos and documentaries as well as a photographer. He codirected the successful documentary feature ISTANBUL UNITED (2014).
MARCHÉ DU FILM
MY LITTLE ONE directed by Frédéric Choffat, Julie Gilbert
JULIE GILBERT * 1974. Julie Gilbert studied French and Literature. Cowriter and codirector of several films with Frédéric Choffat, including MANGROVE (2011), in Competition at Locarno Film Festival.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 100 min., 2019 ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: English, French SCREENPLAY: Julie Gilbert, Frédéric Choffat, Jihane Chouaib CAST: Anna Mouglalis, Mathieu Demy, Vincent Bonillo, Ruby Matenko, John Doe PRODUCTION: Intermezzo Films, Geneva / RTS / Les films du Tigre Sàrl, Geneva PRODUCER: Anne Deluz
WORLD SALES: WIDE, Paris www.widemanagement.com WORLD PREMIERE: Solothurner Filmtage 2019 MORE INFORMATION: www.mylittleone.ch
Fiction
FRÉDÉRIC CHOFFAT * 1973. Frédéric Choffat studied film at ECAL and cofounded Les films du Tigre with Julie Gilbert. He is known for MANGROVE (2011) and the award-winning REAL LIFE IS ELSEWHERE (2006), which premiered in Locarno Cineasti del presente.
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An urgent plea from Jade, with whom they once shared a passionate bond, brings two European men, Alex and Bernardo, to an unexpected encounter in the Arizona desert, in Navajo Nation. They are introduced to the harsh reality of Jade’s life by her precocious, free-spirited 10-year-old daughter, Frida. Their views on life, love and even death are about to change forever.
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PARADISE WAR
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directed by Niklaus Hilber 6
1984: Searching for an experience beyond modern civilisation, Bruno Manser travels into the jungles of Borneo and finds the nomadic Penan tribe. When the existence of the Penan is threatened by relentless deforestation, Manser takes up the fight against logging with a courage and determination that makes him one of the most renowned and credible environmentalists of his time. Eventually, it costs him everything. Based on a true story.
WORLD SALES: TrustNordisk ApS, Hvidovre www.trustnordisk.com
Fiction
Closed Market Screening No access for press
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 140 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: Penan, English, Swiss-German SCREENPLAY: Niklaus Hilber, Patrick Tönz, David Clemens CAST: Sven Schelker, Nick Kelesau, Elizabeth Ballang PRODUCTION: A Film Company, Zurich / Das Kollektiv, Zurich / SRF / Teleclub / Superfilm, Vienna SWISS PRODUCERS: Valentin Greutert, Philip Delaquis
NIKLAUS HILBER * 1970. Niklaus Hilber studied directing at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and screenwriting at the AFI in Los Angeles. His last film AMATEUR TEENS (2015) received the Audience Award at the Zurich Film Festi val and was awarded with the Zurich Film Prize 2015. It also screened in competition at the 19th Tallin Black Nights Film Festival as well as at Cinema Jove in Valencia.
MARCHÉ DU FILM
THE ZURICH LIAISON – WAGNER’S ONE AND ONLY LOVE written & directed by Jens Neubert
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 113 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: English CAST: Sophie Auster, Joonas Saartamo, Julienne Pfeil, Rüdiger Hauffe, Cheyenne Tanner, Michael Volle, Patrick Rapold
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Syquali Crossmedia AG, Zurich www.syquali.ch PRODUCERS: Peter Stüber, Jens Neubert MORE INFORMATION: www.thezurichliaison.com
Fiction
JENS NEUBERT * 1967. Jens Neubert studied Psychology in Dresden, and opera directing in Berlin. He works as author, director and producer for opera, theatre and film. His fiction film HUNTER’S BRIDE (2010) was selected for international film festivals in Montreal, São Paulo, Prague and Vancouver, his documentary WINTERTHUR COMPOSES AN OPERA (2012) screened at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. His films focus on music and opera.
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More than 170 years ago Switzerland was the only country in Europe with a democratic constitution. After the failed German Revolution Richard Wagner lived in Zurich from 1849 until August 1858. Mathilde Wesendonck and her husband adore Wagner. While in Zurich, Wagner works on his new opera: “Tristan and Isolde”. Mathilde is turning from a loving mother into a muse of the new music. The whole city is talking about this Zurich liaison.
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SEREINA GABATHULER
Sereina Gabathuler started working for Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion in 2008. Most recently she produced the awardwinning Swiss-Croatian-German-Finnish coproduction CHRIS THE SWISS by Anja Kofmel, which celebrated its world premiere at the Festival de Cannes 2018, Semaine de la Critique. Subsequently the anidoc was selected for numerous film festivals, including the Animation Film Festival in Annecy, DOK Leipzig and IDFA in Amsterdam. CHRIS THE SWISS was nominated at Prix Lumières in the category of Best Film from a Francophone Country and garnered three awards at the Swiss Film Award 2019: Best Documentary Film, Best Film Score and Best Film Editing. Sereina Gabathuler has previously supervised many projects as production manager and line producer, such as David Sieveking’s DAVID WANTS TO FLY (2010), and was executive producer for the docufiction ENEMIES IN LOVE (2013) by Werner Schweizer and the documentary YENISH SOUNDS (2017) by Karoline Arn and Martina Rieder, which was the most successful documentary in the Swiss Box Office charts in 2017. FILMOGRAPHY (selection) FROZEN SOIL by Anja Kofmel (Switzerland), animation fiction feature in development DIPLONAPPED by Tomi Streiff (Switzerland), fiction in development FLÜKIGER by Werner Schweizer (Switzerland), fiction in development I AM A BAD GIRL by Kaspar Kasics (Switzerland, Germany), documentary in production
OF FISH AND MEN by Stefanie Klemm (Switzerland), fiction in production CHRIS THE SWISS (2018) by Anja Kofmel (Switzerland, Croatia, Germany, Finland), anidoc YENISH SOUNDS (2017) by Karoline Arn, Martina Rieder (Switzerland), documentary ENEMIES IN LOVE (2013) by Werner Schweizer (Switzerland), docufiction
* 1991. Co-founder of Letterbox Collective Filmproduktion. BA in Social Studies at University of Zurich. European Co-Production & Distribution with the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and la Fémis).
PRODUCERS NETWORK
NOAH BOHNERT
FILMOGRAPHY (SELECTION)
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IN DEVELOPMENT Looking for coproducers / financing THE WOUND by Tillo Spreng (fiction, 1st feature) UTOPYA by Ivan Engler (fiction, 2nd feature) THE LAST FIELD by Flurin Giger (fiction, 1st feature) NEBULA by Valerie Anex (fiction, 1st feature) IN PRODUCTION Looking for TV/VoD partners, world sales FRED WESLEY by Max Speidel (doc) RELEASED 2018 TRANQUILLO by Jonathan Jäggi (1st feature) 2018 EVA by Xheni Alushi (short)
SARAH BORN * 1982. Producer, partner and managing director of Catpics. Cultural Studies at European University Viadrina. Participant EURODOC Programm 2009 & EAVE marketing workshop graduate 2018. Strong background in world sales (2007–2011 at First Hand Films). FILMOGRAPHY (SELECTION) IN DEVELOPMENT Looking for coproducers / financing @DADS by Valerie Blankenbyl (doc) FALLING by Samuel Perriard (fiction) IN PRODUCTION THE DRIVEN ONES by Piet Baumgartner (doc) IN FINANCING OSTENDE – 1936 by Uli Edel (fiction) RELEASED 2017 DOUBLE PEINE by Léa Pool (doc) 2017 TALKING MONEY by Sebastian Winkels (doc)
PRODUCERS NETWORK
MAURO MUELLER * 1985. Co-founder of Fidelio Films, based in Bogotá, Mexico City, Toronto and Zurich. MFA studies in directing and screenwriting at Columbia University, New York. Works as director and producer. FILMOGRAPHY (SELECTION)
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IN FINANCING Looking for sales agent / distributors A FEW DAYS IN THE SUN by Mauro Mueller (fiction) THE DEAL by Mauro Mueller (fiction) THE GOOD REPUTATION by Mauro Mueller (fiction) IN POST-PRODUCTION Looking for sales agent / distributors #MICKEY by Betzabé Garcia (docufiction) COMPLETED Looking for distribution in various territories 2019 THE NIGHT OF THE BEAST by Mauricio Leiva Cock (fiction) RELEASED 2018 DEAR CHICKENS by Mauro Mueller (short)
MICHELA PINI * 1980. Owner of Cinédokké pro duction company, focusing on feature-length fiction films by young directors. She also works as a producer for Amka Films Productions, Imagofilm and 8horses. FILMOGRAPHY (SELECTION) IN DEVELOPMENT Looking for coproducers / world sales RENAISSANCE by Caterina Mona (fiction, 1st feature) THE JUNGLE by Matthias Huser (fiction, 2nd feature) STELLA CADENTE by Dominique Margot (fiction, 2nd feature) IN PRODUCTION ATLAS by Niccolò Castelli (fiction, 2nd feature) RELEASED 2018 CRONFOBIA by Francesco Rizzi (1st feature) 2018 THE GUEST by Duccio Chiarini (2nd feature)
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AMAZONIAN COSMOS
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written & directed by Daniel Schweizer 12
Jaider, a Macuxi Indian, leaves the Amazon to carry the voice of his people. Sharing the prophecy of the impending “Fall of the Sky”, he is convinced that the world’s spiritual leaders must unite to protect this endangered Earth. His quest takes him from the rainforest to San Francisco and Geneva, before travelling to Rome with an elderly shaman woman to meet Pope Francis. Jaider’s odyssey becomes a shamanic criticism of our consumer society.
Documentary
WORLD RIGHTS: Amka Films Productions SA, Savosa www.amka.ch
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 90 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: Macuxi, Yanomami, Portuguese, English PRODUCTION: Amka Films Productions SA, Savosa / Horizon2Films, Sion / RSI / RTS PRODUCER: Tiziana Soudani
DANIEL SCHWEIZER * 1959. Daniel Schweizer attended the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève) and the École Supérieure d’Études Cinématographiques (ESEC) in Paris. He is best known for his award-winning trilogy on rightwing extremism SKINHEAD ATTITUDE (2003), SKIN OR DIE (2003) and WHITE TERROR (2005) as well for his commited ongoing series on Amazonian people DIRTY PARADISE (2009), DIRTY GOLD WAR (2015), TRADING PARADISE (2016) for which he won international acclaim.
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ATLAS
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directed by Niccolò Castelli
SWITZERLAND / BELGIUM / ITALY Fiction, 100 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Italian SCREENPLAY: Niccolò Castelli, Stefano Pasetto CAST: Matilda De Angelis, Helmi Dridi, Nicola Perot, Irene Casagrande, Angelo Bison PRODUCTION: Imagofilm Lugano, Lugano / Climax Films, Brussels / Tempesta, Bologna / RSI SWISS PRODUCERS: Villi Hermann, Michela Pini
WORLD RIGHTS: Imagofilm Lugano, Lugano www.imagofilm.ch
Fiction
NICCOLÒ CASTELLI * 1982. Niccolò Castelli studied Philosophy and Cinema at the University of Bologna and Film at Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK. His awardwinning debutfilm TUTTI GIÙ – EVERYBODY SOMETIMES FALLS (2012) premiered at the Locarno Film Festival within Cineasti del presente. His second feature-length fiction film ATLAS was selected for the Work-In-Progress section at the Industry Village of the Les Arcs festival.
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Allegra, a passionate climber, survived a terrorist attack that killed three of her friends. Crushed and consumed by guilt and hatred, she is no longer herself. Her loved ones are helpless when confronted with her suffering. To regain confidence and love, she must embark on a challenging journey and question herself. She meets Arad, a young refugee from the Middle East, which leads her to an encounter-confrontation with the Other.
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BEYOND THE HORIZON
LE MILIEU DE L’HORIZON
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directed by Delphine Lehericey 14
1976. A scorching summer. On the family farm, 13-year-old Gus senses that the heat is not only affecting the animals and the fields, but is also disrupting the behaviour of the adults around him. During his vacation, Gus will witness the end of his father’s traditional world of farming as well as the explosion of his family nucleus. In a few months, he will have left his childhood innocence behind for good.
Fiction
WORLD RIGHTS: Box Productions sàrl, Lausanne www.boxproductions.ch
SWITZERLAND / BELGIUM Fiction, 90 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French SCREENPLAY: Joanne Giger CAST: Luc Bruchez, Laetitia Casta, Thibaut Evrard, Clémence Poesy, Lisa Harder PRODUCTION: Box Productions sàrl, Lausanne / Entre Chien et Loup, Brussels / RTS / RTBF / Teleclub / BeTv SWISS PRODUCER: Elena Tatti
DELPHINE LEHERICEY * 1975. Delphine Lehericey studied Performing Arts at the University of Paris X and performed in numerous theatre productions before she directed her own films. Her first feature PUPPYLOVE (2013) premiered at the San Sebasitan International Film Festival (New Directors). It was selected for numerous international festivals and was awarded Best Belgian Feature at the FIFF Namur.
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LITTLE SISTER
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written & directed by Stéphanie Chuat, Véronique Reymond
VÉRONIQUE REYMOND * 1971 in Lausanne. Chuat and Reymond’s awardwinning debut film THE LITTLE BEDROOM (2010) premiered in competition at the Locarno Film Festival. It was the Swiss submission for the Academy Awards and won Best Fiction Film and Best Screenplay at the Swiss Film Award 2011. Their documentary feature LADIES (2018) premiered at Visions du Réel and was a Swiss box-office hit.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 100 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: German, English CAST: Nina Hoss, Lars Eidinger, Marthe Keller, Jens Albinus PRODUCTION: Vega Film AG, Zurich / RTS / SRG SSR / ARTE PRODUCER: Ruth Waldburger
WORLD RIGHTS: Vega Film AG, Zurich www.vegafilm.com
Fiction
STÉPHANIE CHUAT * 1970 in Lausanne.
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Since her twin brother Sven was diagnosed with leukemia, Lisa is gradually losing her bearings. Married to a boarding school manager, she gave up her playwright career in Berlin to follow him to Switzerland and start a family there. But as Sven declines, Lisa questions her own life, she reconnects with her Berlin roots and her profound aspirations. Her earth-shaking metamorphosis will not leave her couple unscathed.
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LOVE ME TENDER
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written & directed by Klaudia Reynicke 16
Seconda, 32 years old, is ready for anything to gain her freedom. Suffering from agoraphobia, she is incapable of leaving her home, but when she finally succeeds, she must face new challenges that push her limits even further. This assertive and tough anti-super heroine will do it in her own way.
Fiction
WORLD RIGHTS: Amka Films Productions SA, Savosa www.amka.ch
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 90 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Italian CAST: Barbara Giordano, Antonio Bannò, Gilles Privat PRODUCTION: Amka Films Productions SA, Savosa / RSI PRODUCERS: Tiziana Soudani, Gabriela De Gara, Michela Pini
KLAUDIA REYNICKE * 1976 in Peru. Klaudia Reynicke received her MA in Cinema from the ECAL/HEAD (École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne and Geneva School of Art and Design) in 2010. Her first documentary feature ¿ASI SON LOS HOMBRES? (2012) premiered at Visions du Réel in Nyon and won the Audience Award of the Festival Filmar en America Latina. Her first feature-length fiction film THE NEST (2016) was selected for the Concorso Cineasti del presente at the Locarno Film Festival and screened at the Mostra in São Paulo.
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MARE
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written & directed by Andrea Štaka
SWITZERLAND / CROATIA / GERMANY Fiction, 95 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: Croatian, English CAST: Marija Skaricic, Goran Navojec, Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Mirjana Karanovic, Arta Dobroshi PRODUCTION: Okofilm Productions, Zurich / Dinaridi Film, Zagreb / ZDF / ARTE / SRF SWISS PRODUCERS: Andrea Štaka, Thomas Imbach
WORLD RIGHTS: Okofilm Productions, Zurich www.okofilm.ch
Fiction
ANDREA ŠTAKA Andrea Štaka studied Film at the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK. Her first feature film FRAULEIN (2006) won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival and the Heart of Sarajevo at the Sarajevo Film Festival. CURE – THE LIFE OF ANOTHER (2014) was awarded at the Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis among others. MARE is Štaka’s third feature film.
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In the morning, when she’s alone at home, Mare watches the planes taking off. One day a man moves in next door. They become acquainted, enjoy each other’s company, and have an affair. Mare embarks on a journey into a parallel universe that has little to do with her family and everyday life.
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SUMMER 2019
O FIM DO MUNDO
LA FIN D’UN MONDE
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directed by Basil Da Cunha 18
Spirra, a young hoodlum who has just left boarding school, meets up with his old friends in Reboleira, a Lisbon slum slated for demolition. Giovanni, the leader, tries to convince the group to steal a stash of cocaine held by Kikas, one of the Reboleira drug lords. But Spirra falls in love with Yara, a neighborhood girl, thus slipping away from Giovanni. The group’s fate will soon be intertwined with that of the slum and its inhabitants.
Fiction
WORLD RIGHTS: Thera Production, Lausanne www.thera-production.ch
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 104 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: Portuguese-based Creoles and pidgins, Portuguese SCREENPLAY: Basil Da Cunha, Martin Drouot, Karim Bel Kacem CAST: Michel David Pires Spencer, Marco Joel Fernandes, Alexandre Da Costa Fonseca, Lara Cristina Cardoso PRODUCTION: Thera Production, Lausanne / RTS PRODUCERS: Julien Rouyet, Kaspar Schiltknecht
BASIL DA CUNHA * 1985. Basil da Cunha received his BA in Cinema at Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève) in 2012 and has been working as lecturer for the renowned film school since his graduation. He is known for his award-winning shorts NEXT DOOR (2009), screened in Competition in Locarno as well as for SUNFISH (2011) and THE LIVING ALSO CRY (2012) both presented at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes. His first feature AFTER THE NIGHT (2013) also premiered at the Quinzaine.
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CARMEN STADLER * 1978. Carmen Stadler studied film at the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK and works as independent writer, director and editor. Her award-winning short NIGHTFLUTTERING (2006) screened at numerous festivals and received the Pardino d’oro at the Locarno Film Festival, the Zurich Film Prize and the Newcomer Award at the Solothurn Film Festival. She is known for her short REDUIT (2010), which also premiered within Pardi di domani in Locarno. SEKURITAS is her first feature.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 120 min ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German CAST: Kathrin Veith, Duraid Abbas Ghaieb, Jeanne Devos, Daniel Kasztura, Vilmar Bieri, This Maag PRODUCTION: Abrakadabra Films AG, Zurich / SRF / Teleclub PRODUCER: Claudia Wick
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Before an office complex is set to be demolished, it expresses one last wish: a love story. It centres around desire, security, and a melody that runs through the entire fabric of the building. So when darkness descends and everything falls silent, the routine lives of those within its walls sparkle like stars, paving the way for intimate chance encounters and absurd humor to unfold. A nocturnal kaleidoscope of longing, loneliness and freedom.
WORLD RIGHTS: Abrakadabra Films AG, Zurich www.abrakadabra.ch
Fiction
written & directed by Carmen Stadler
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DIE FRUCHTBAREN JAHRE SIND VORBEI
written & directed by Natascha Beller
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At the heart of this unromantic comedy are three women: Amanda is an architect whose dream job is threatened by her unplanned pregnancy. The single parent Sophie, has long since stopped believing in romance, but is still haunted by fairy tales and knights in shining armour. Leila is increasingly driven mad by her desire to have children and by societal pressure.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Apéro Film GmbH, Zurich www.aperofilm.ch PRODUCERS: Natascha Beller, Patrick Karpiczenko
Fiction
VAGENDA STORIES
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 88 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German CAST: Michèle Rohrbach, Sarah Hostettler, Anne Haug, Alireza Bayram, Beat Schlatter, Matthias Britschgi, Reto Stalder, Matthias Schoch, Hans-Jakob Mühlethaler, Simone Kern
NATASCHA BELLER * 1982. Natascha Beller studied Film at the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK and works as director and screenwriter for film and television. She’s known as co-writer for the Swiss Late Night Show “Deville” and also worked as author for the successful Swiss series DER BESTATTER. She wrote the screenplay for the TV drama ZWIESPALT (TORN) (2017), which received the main award at the TV film festival in Baden Baden. VAGENDA STORIES is her first feature-length film.
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SWITZERLAND Fiction, 23 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Pidgin English, Georgian SCREENPLAY: George Imo Obasi, Donald Acho Nwokorie, Elene Naveriani CAST: George Imo Obasi, Donald Acho Nwokorie PRODUCTION: Alva Film Production, Geneva / mishkin, Geneva / RTS WORLD RIGHTS: Alva Film Production, Geneva www.alvafilm.ch
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Obinna and Afame are two Nigerians stranded in Tbilisi. Their journey through the city will reveal the complexity of their emotional and social ties in a country that wants them to disappear.
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directed by Elene Naveriani
Fiction
RED ANTS BITE
THE GAME
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 20 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: German, English PRODUCTION: Ensemble Film GmbH, Zurich / SRF WORLD RIGHTS: Ensemble Film GmbH, Zurich www.ensemblefilm.ch
Documentary
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A whistle. It gets loud on the spectator stand, the players complain angrily. The presenters comment on what is happening on the pitch. In the midst of it, the referee. For a moment time stands still and the whole stadium watches him. The referee is Fedayi San, one of the top Swiss referees. With him the spectators experience the nerveracking highs and lows of a game and learn what it means to direct the energy of an entire stadium.
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DAS SPIEL written & directed by Roman Hodel
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SUMMER 2019
It has been 35 years since Maria left her newborn in a baby window. With the help of the authorities, she tracks down her daughter and meets Caroline for the first time. A DNA test is to prove their kinship. An increasingly close relationship develops between Maria and Caroline. However, unfulfilled expectations and quiet accusations threaten to break it time and again. The two women struggle – until the result of the DNA test is available.
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ECTE XP
SWITZERLAND / UNITED STATES Fiction, 29 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German SCREENPLAY: Joël Louis Jent, Samuel Flückiger CAST: Sarah Spale, Elvira Plüss PRODUCTION: Aaron Film, Zurich / Modernist Film, Los Angeles / Cinegrell, Zurich / Dschoint Ventschr, Zurich / Urakypost Film Production, Zurich WORLD RIGHTS: Aaron Film GmbH, Zurich www.aaronfilm.ch
ECTE XP
E
COMING SOON SHORTS
FENSTERLOS directed by Samuel Flückiger
D
Fiction
WINDOWLESS
ZENITH
D
ECTE XP
Fiction
SUMMER 2019
E
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 22 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Léonie Stassen, Majid Imadeddine, Julia Batinova PRODUCTION: Point prod SA, Geneva / RTS WORLD RIGHTS: Tell me the Story SA, Geneva contact@tellmethestory.ch
ECTE XP
D
E
ZÉNITH written & directed by Camille Tomatala
Lucie, 14, was placed into a children’s home to avoid seeing her mother die. In this transitional stage she recognizes a familiar face. Yannis, 19, is a dreamy and clever apprentice gardener who takes care of the garden during the holidays. In him Lucie sees the possibility of something new. It is the end of childhood frozen in the light of summer. The story of a rebirth, the awakening of the first desires and high hopes.
SPRING 2020
HUNGRY SAINTS
MY WONDERFUL WANDA
by Marc Wilkins, director of BON VOYAGE
SWITZERLAND Fiction CAST: Magaly Solier, Marcelo Durand, Adriano Durand PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG, Zurich
by Bettina Oberli, director of WITH THE WIND
IN PRODUCTION
SPRING 2020
SWITZERLAND Fiction CAST: Marthe Keller, André Jung, Birgit Minichmayr PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Zodiac Pictures Ltd, Zurich
FALL 2020
OPEN SEASON
SOUTH
by Sabine Boss, director of I’M THE KEEPER
by Lionel Baier, director of VANITY and LONGWAVE 23
WINTER 2019/20
SWITZERLAND Fiction CAST: Stefan Kurt, Ulrich Tukur, Sarah Viktoria Frick PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Turnus Film AG, Zurich
SWITZERLAND Fiction PRODUCTION: Bandita Films, Geneva / Avenue B Productions, Paris WORLD SALES: Les Films du Losange, Paris
FALL 2021
FALL 2021
THE FLYING MOUNTAIN
THE GOOD REPUTATION
by Nicolas Steiner, director of ABOVE AND BELOW
by Mauro Mueller, director of DEAR CHICKENS
SWITZERLAND Fiction PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: maximage, Zurich
SWITZERLAND / FRANCE Fiction PRODUCTION: Contrast Film Bern GmbH, Bern / Fidelio Films, Zurich / Manny Films, Paris WORLD RIGHTS: Contrast Film Bern GmbH, Bern
SUPPORT MEASURES
DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT NON-EUROPEAN COUNTRIES Supporting the theatrical release of Swiss feature films in ten selected non-European countries. Its aim is to increase the visibility and the distribution of Swiss films outside of Europe. The subsidies are granted according to the “Guidelines for Distribution Support of Swiss films in non-European countries”. Applications must be submitted by the foreign distributor.
Film Sales Support FSS is a scheme by the European Film Promotion (EFP) for the promotion of European films outside of Europe. With support by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, Media Desk Suisse and SWISS FILMS, FSS is also available to European and Swiss sales companies selling Swiss films at selected festivals and markets: Hong Kong Int’l Film & TV Market, Tribeca FF, Hot Docs Toronto, TIFF, Asian Film Market, American Film Market, Sundance FF. Applications must be submitted online by the world sales company. Guidelines and application: www.efp-online.com/en/project_market/guidlines.php
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A support measure by SWISS FILMS in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC). www.swissfilms.ch/distribution Contact: support@swissfilms.ch
FILM SALES SUPPORT
VOD SUPPORT
Supporting the distribution of Swiss films on selected international VOD platforms.
DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT EUROPEAN COUNTRIES Supporting the theatrical release of Swiss feature films in Europe.
Its aim is to increase the visibility and the online distribution of Swiss films. The subsidies are granted according to the “Guidelines VOD Support”. Applications must be submitted by the Swiss rights holder.
Its aim is to increase the visibility and the distribution of Swiss films in Europe. The subsidies are granted according to the “Guidelines Funding for the distribution of Swiss films and coproductions in foreign countries”. Applications must be submitted by the European distributor via the Swiss producer.
A support measure by SWISS FILMS in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC). www.swissfilms.ch/en/vod Contact: support@swissfilms.ch
A support measure by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC), administrated by SWISS FILMS. www.bak.admin.ch Contact: support@swissfilms.ch
VISIT US AT OUR STANDS AT : Annecy Mifa Locarno Film Festival Toronto International Film Festival Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market Berlinale European Film Market
SWISS FILMS is supported by
“ If I was you, I’d take them.” Franck in PARTICLES by Blaise Harrison, Quinzaine des Réalisateurs 2019