SWISS 2018 SHORTS
FILMS
WATCH SWISS SHORTS ONLINE: www.swissfilms.ch/shortfilmlibrary
SWISS FILMS Neugasse 6, 8005 Zurich www.swissfilms.ch Published in January 2018
SWISS FILMS SHORTS 2018
2 � 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
FICTION ALMOST EVERYTHING BLACK JACK BONOBO CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT DRESSED FOR PLEASURE DUSK EL AMOR CIEGO EVA FABULA RASA FACING MECCA FIRST LOVE FORGET ME NOT FOULEK FRAGMENTS OF A FAREWELL HIATUS MY BELOVED, THE MOUNTAINS OFFSHORE SACRILEGE SATAN SOMMERTAGE THE GIRL IN THE SNOW THE VALLEY OF HAPPINESS YOU WILL KNOW NEITHER THE DAY, NOR THE HOUR
25 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
ANIMATION 59 SECONDS CIRCUIT COYOTE INTIMITY KUAP LIVING LIKE HETA SELFIES THE CANNONBALL WOMAN ZARR-DOS
34 34 35 36 37 38 39
DOCUMENTARY AYSHA KEVIN MICHELE BLACK LINE DO NOT FEAR RESISTANCE REWIND FORWARD THE FITZCARRALDO SYNDROME
40 EXPERIMENTAL 40 NO WALL IS EVER SILENT 40 RHYTHM OF BEING
SWISS FILMS would like to thank John Canciani, artistic director of the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, for contributing to this selection.
YOUR SWISS FILMS CONTACT
SYLVAIN VAUCHER Consultant Short Films svaucher@swissfilms.ch T +41 79 542 83 80
FICTION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
ALMOST EVERYTHING
FAST ALLES
DE TU N
by Lisa Gertsch 2
Leandra is advised to place her husband in a retirement home due to his early-onset Alzheimer’s. Paul, only 47, refuses and suggests a vacation instead. Grasping at normalcy, they embark on a road trip to the sea.
WORLD RIGHTS: Lisa Gertsch, Zurich T +41 78 954 26 20 lisa.gertsch@gmx.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 24 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: Swiss-German, Italian CAST: Oriana Schrage, Michael Neuenschwander PRODUCTION: Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK
LISA GERTSCH * 1992 in Bern. Lisa Gertsch studied Film at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. She works as a director, screenwriter and editor in Zurich. For her diploma film ALMOST EVERYTHING Gertsch received the Zurich Short Film Award (Zürcher Filmpreis: Kurzfilmpreis Stadt Winterthur 2017).
FICTION
DE TU N
VALET NOIR
S
T S
T
DE TU N
BLACK JACK Leila, singularly androgynous, works at a casino, a predominantly male environment. Croupier at night, she returns to her hotel room early in the morning. Camil has just arrived at the hotel, and spends his days alone, disappearing in the morning and returning at nightfall. They are neighbours. Gradually, a mutual and silent attraction develops.
LORA MURE-RAVAUD * 1990 in Bordeaux, France. Joint French and Polish citizenship. Lora Mure-Ravaud studied Philosophy and Cinema and graduated from the renowned film school École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL) in 2017. Her graduation short BLACK JACK was awarded as Best Swiss Short at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017. Her shorts STAGE LEFT (2016) and JOCONDE (2015) both premiered at the Locarno Festival in competition.
SWITZERLAND PRODUCTION AND Fiction, 22 min., 2017 WORLD RIGHTS: ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Alva Film, Geneva French T +41 22 321 70 38 CAST: www.alvafilm.ch Sophie Demeyer, Hamza ECAL École Cantonale d’Art Meziani, Juan-Antonio de Lausanne Crespillo, Simon Romang, T +41 21 316 99 33 David Delbe, Mehdi Beddouche, ecal@ecal.ch Henri-Noël Tabary www.ecal.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017
3
by Lora Mure-Ravaud
FICTION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
DE TU N
BONOBO by Zoel Aeschbacher 4
Félix, Ana and Seydoux live in the same social housing without knowing each other. The three characters seem linked by one and only element: the building’s dilapidated elevator, an infernal machine leading them to an inescapable tragic destiny.
WORLD SALES: Salaud Morisset, Paris T +49 152 25 19 23 36 festival@salaudmorisset.com WORLD PREMIERE: Clermont-Ferrand 2018
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 20 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Nicole Mersey, Paul Minthe, Benjamin Sanou PRODUCTION: Nouvelle Tribu, Geneva / ECAL École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne / RTS
ZOEL AESCHBACHER * 1993 in Paris, France. Joint Swiss and American citizenship. Zoel Aeschbacher received his BA in Film from École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL) in 2017. His diploma film BONOBO premiered in competition at the 40th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
FICTION
T S
DE TU N
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
S
KINDER DER NACHT
T
DE TU N
by Kim Allamand
KIM ALLAMAND * 1988 in Lucerne. Kim Allamand studied Film at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT is his diploma film.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 22 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German CAST: Lotti Happle, Annina Walt, Martin Butzke, Felicitas Heyerick
5
Anna is shocked by Sara’s age, when they meet for the first time. All the same, they set up their tent in the living room and follow the instructions of the forum’s list step by step. Although neither of them is able to hide their doubts, they depend on each other. The task ahead isn’t bearable alone.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK T +41 43 446 31 14 film.info@zhdk.ch www.zhdk.ch WORLD PREMIERE: shnit Worldwide Bern 2017
FICTION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
DRESSED FOR PLEASURE
JE FAIS OÙ TU ME DIS
DE TU N
by Marie de Maricourt 6
Sarah, a disabled girl aged about twenty, lives with her parents. She is increasingly subject to many fantasies and sees her sexuality taking up more and more of her attention. The arrival of the new cleaner Victoria, a transsexual woman, will upset the family balance.
WORLD RIGHTS: GoldenEggProduction, Geneva www.goldeneggproduction.ch Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) cinema.head@hesge.ch www.head.hesge.ch/cinema WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017 INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE: Berlinale 2018
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 17 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Angélique Bridoux, Nathalie Cuenet, Naelle Dariya, Vincent Chaumont, Raphaël Tschudi PRODUCTION: GoldenEggProduction, Geneva / Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) / RTS
MARIE DE MARICOURT * 1987 in Paris. French citizenship. Marie de Maricourt received her BA in Film from the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) in 2013. DRESSED FOR PLEASURE as well as her short film LICK US, MEOW, MEOW! (2015) were selected for the Berlinale (Generation 14+).
FICTION
T
T S
DE TU N
S
DE TU N
C FA TI
NTAS
DUSK
C FA TI
A NT S
CRÉPUSCULE
Philomena and Gregory, a couple in their thirties, have withdrawn to the countryside in an attempt to get Philomena out of her depression. However, Philomena’s unhappiness will resurface, submerging her.
PAULINE JEANBOURQUIN * 1995 in Delémont. Pauline Jeanbourquin studied Film at École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. DUSK is her diploma film.
SWITZERLAND WORLD RIGHTS: Fiction, 20 min., 2018 Nouvelle Tribu, Geneva ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: T +41 78 697 41 17 French yasmine@nouvelletribu.ch CAST: Géraldine Dupla, Yannick Rosset PRODUCTION: Nouvelle Tribu, Geneva / ECAL École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne
7
by Pauline Jeanbourquin
FICTION C FA TI
C FA TI
A NT S
NTAS
SH
T
TR UL A
EL AMOR CIEGO
OR
by Pablo Martin Torrado 8
He walks in one direction, she in the other … and then they collide. Love blossoms from this fortunate collision. The first date quickly ensues, then a night at the cinema, and finally a romantic picnic. But all of a sudden, her mask jams. She takes it off, only to discover … el amor ciego.
WORLD RIGHTS: Pablo Martin Torrado, Geneva T +41 78 611 75 47 pantomato@gmail.com WORLD PREMIERE: Festival du film court de Brest 2017
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 3 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue CAST: Olivia Csiky Trnka, Axel Fernandez, Eliot Sidler PRODUCTION: Pablo Martin Torrado, Geneva / Freestudios SA, Geneva / KinoGeneva, Geneva
PABLO MARTIN TORRADO * 1973 in Madrid. Pablo Martin Torrado studied English Literature and Philology in Granada and film at IDEP (Instituto Superior de Diseño) in Barcelona. He is the cofounder of the filmmaker collective OLPAMA in Geneva and is currently completing his PhD at the University of Lausanne. His feature film THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS NOT BEING DEAD (2010) was screened at many inernational festivals from Sitges to Shanghai.
FICTION
IC FA
IC FA
A NT ST
AS NT T
EVA by Xheni Alushi
XHENI ALUSHI * 1991 in Tirana, Albania. Xheni Alushi lives in Switzerland since 2014 and studies at the Hyperwerk, Institute for Postindustrial Design in Basel. EVA is her first short film.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 14 min., 2018 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German CAST: Annina Walt, Manuela Biedermann, Yorin Moll
9
Though being a swimmer, Eva was unable to save her brother from nearly drowning at sea. He now lies in a coma and the cold relationship with her mother is not helping Eva’s conscience either. She stumbles upon a mysterious puddle in her bathroom, which takes her to the depths of the sea. As her mother looks for Eva, she only finds a puddle of water that she starts to wipe away.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Letterbox Collective Filmproduktion, Zurich T +41 79 214 96 22 www.letterbox-collective.com
FICTION
C
Y C
Y
E OM D
PARADES
E OM D
FABULA RASA by Sarah Arnold 10
Faced with the injustices of this world, Margot has lost all hope in the future. Giving up on politics, she decides to entrust her fate to the Dardu, a legendary carp that supposedly predicts the future. But the lake’s rules have changed: fishing is now forbidden.
WORLD RIGHTS: 5à7 Films, Paris T +33 6 80 32 63 02 WORLD PREMIERE: Locarno Festival 2017
FRANCE / SWITZERLAND Fiction, 26 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Julie Lesgages, Pascal Tagnati PRODUCTION: 5à7 Films, Paris / Twosa Films, Geneva
SARAH ARNOLD * 1980 in Zurich. Joint Swiss and Italian citizenship. Sarah Arnold studied filmmaking at ESAV (École Supérieure d’Audiovisuel) in Toulouse and is especially known for her award-winning shorts TOTEMS (2014) and FABULA RASA (2017) both awarded at the Locarno Festival.
FICTION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
DE TU N
FACING MECCA Pensioner Roli comes to Fareed’s assistance when the Syrian refugee is faced with the burial of his Muslim wife. Together they stumble into a bewildering forest of Swiss bureaucracy to which Roli finds a beautifully simple answer. FACING MECCA has been awarded with the Silver Medal at the Student Academy Awards 2017.
JAN-ERIC MACK * 1983 in Zurich. Jan-Eric Mack studied Graphic Design and Film at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). His awardwinning diploma film FACING MECCA premiered at the Palm Springs International ShortFest 2017, where it was honoured with the Best of the Festival Award and the Award for the Best Student Live Action Short Over 15 Minutes. At the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur it received the Audience Award.
SWITZERLAND WORLD SALES: Fiction, 25 min., 2017 Ouat Media, Toronto ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: T +1 416 979 73 80 Swiss-German, English, Arabic www.ouatmedia.com CAST: WORLD PREMIERE: Peter Freiburghaus, Jay Abdo, Palm Springs International Ruth Schwegler, Nicolas ShortFest 2017 Rosat, Saya Ibrahim, Merav Ibrahim PRODUCTION: Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG, Zurich / Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK / SRF
11
by Jan-Eric Mack
FICTION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
PREMIER AMOUR
DE TU N
FIRST LOVE by Jules Carrin 12
In the French countryside, two young people love each other, hidden from their families who are torn by hatred. The girl’s father is forced to sell his possessions. The girl tries to escape her everyday life in the arms of her lover, but he doesn’t seem very concerned.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) T +41 22 388 58 89 cinema.head@hesge.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017 INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE: Berlinale 2018
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 20 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Nicolas Michot, Camille Gillot
JULES CARRIN * 1988 in Cahors, France. Jules Carrin received his BA in Film from Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève). His diploma film FIRST LOVE premiered at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, where it was awarded with the Cinematography Award, and it was selected for the Berlinale Generation 14+.
FICTION SH
T
TR UL A
OR
FORGET ME NOT by Bartek Sozanski
BARTEK SOZANSKI * 1971 in Poland. Bartek Sozanski studied Theatre in Poland and France and works as actor and director for both theatre and film in Geneva. In 2002 he cofounded the Korpüs Animüs theatre company. His short films NEXT! (2014) and MUM (2015) were screened at several international festivals.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 5 min., 2018 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: English CAST: Marthe Keller, Anna Pieri, Marie Fontannaz, Valentine Frézier
13
A small girl blows out seven candles on a birthday cake. She happily turns to her mother who bursts into singing Happy Birthday to you in a voice filled with love. Between the song’s first and second verses, 40 years go by. It is now 2017 and mother and daughter are together again around a birthday cake, but the festive atmosphere has disappeared.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: REC Production, Neuchatel T +41 32 922 66 82 www.recproduction.com
FICTION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
DE TU N
FOULEK 14
by Patrick Muroni Overwhelmed by loneliness and the inertia of his country life, Niels, a twenty-year-old man, does not endeavour to embellish his everyday life anymore. One day, a childhood friend is back in the village. She has become a professional rap artist. Niels both rediscovers his friend and her texts.
PRODUCTION AND SWITZERLAND WORLD RIGHTS: Fiction, 18 min., 2017 ECAL École Cantonale d’Art ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: de Lausanne French T +41 21 316 99 33 CAST: jean_guillaume.sonnier@ecal.ch Roman Finkiel, Kt Gorique, www.ecal.ch Hélène Guillemin, Aurélia Petit
PATRICK MURONI * 1993 in Moudon. Patrick Muroni studied at the renowned film school École cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. FOULEK is his diploma film.
FICTION
T S
DE TU N
FRAGMENTS OF A FAREWELL
S
FRAGMENTE EINES ABSCHIEDS
T
DE TU N
by Michael Karrer
MICHAEL KARRER * 1992 in Bern. Michael Karrer studies film at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) since 2013. FRAGMENTS OF A FAREWELL received a Special Mention at the Swiss Film School Day at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 16 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: German CAST: Uma Canneori, Eve Lyn Scheiben
15
A girl is confronted with the sudden death of her father.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK T +41 43 446 31 14 film.info@zhdk.ch www.zhdk.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017
FICTION C FA TI
C FA TI
A NT S
NTAS
LGBT
HIATUS
LGBT
by Kevin Haefelin 16
A philosophy teacher discusses religion in class. In the street he is confronted by his subject in an unexpected way.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: PAJ Productions, Rolle T +41 22 362 69 79 www.pajprod.com
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 12 min., 2018 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue CAST: François Florey
KEVIN HAEFELIN * 1989 in Geneva. Kevin Haefelin received his BA in Film from the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEADGenève) in 2011. He is currently completing his MA studies in film directing and screenwriting at Columbia University School of the Arts, New York. His bachelor film SERIES OF SHOTS (2011) screened in competition at Locarno Festival and the Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis.
FICTION
T S
DE TU N
MY BELOVED, THE MOUNTAINS
S
MI AMADO, LAS MONTAÑAS
T
DE TU N
by Alberto Martín Menacho
ALBERTO MARTÍN MENACHO * 1986 in Madrid. Alberto Martín Menacho grew up in Alcalá de Henares and studied film editing in Alicante. He received his BFA Major in Film from the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEADGenève). MY BELOVED, THE MOUNTAINS was selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2018.
SWITZERLAND / SPAIN Fiction, 24 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Spanish CAST: Cristina Narciso González, Juan Luis González Vinagre, Martín Haut Contreras, Juana Trigo Torres, Pedro Félix Gago Trigo, Tomás Trigo Fernández PRODUCTION: Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) / Izmo Producciones, Badajoz
17
A village and its mountainous lands with past and present rites, in which legends and green oaks cohabit. From life to death, from childhood to adulthood. A cycle that starts with vultures and their rituals that goes on with the apprenticeship of hunting, and the unexpected return of a woman, Soledad.
WORLD RIGHTS: Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) T +41 22 388 58 89 cinema.head@hesge.ch head.hesge.ch/cinema WORLD PREMIERE: Entrevues – Festival International du Film de Belfort 2017
FICTION
AU LARGE
OFFSHORE by Natalia Ducrey 18
It is summertime. Juliette, 20, and her best friend Lisa live on a small island off the coast of France. They have always lived there. In between the alcohol-fused nights at the island’s only bar, the local boys and, above all else, the tourists, the film introduces us to two girls in search of a little freedom.
WORLD RIGHTS: Close Up Films, Geneva T +41 22 808 08 46 flavia@closeupfilms.ch www.closeupfilms.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Solothurn Film Festival 2018
SWITZERLAND / FRANCE Fiction, 26 min., 2018 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Joséphine Pittet, Marie Béraud, François Labarthe PRODUCTION: Close Up Films, Geneva / Avenue B, Paris / RTS
NATALIA DUCREY * 1988 in Châtel-Saint-Denis. Natalia Ducrey studied at the École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL) and received her BA in 2012. Her short SUNBURN (2012) was honoured with the Cinematography Award at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur and screened in competition at the Vienna Independent Shorts Festival 2017 among others.
FICTION SACRILÈGE
SACRILEGE by Christophe M. Saber
CHRISTOPHE M. SABER * 1991 in Cairo. Joint Swiss and Egyptian citizenship. Christophe Saber received a BA in Film from École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL) in 2014. His awardwinning short DISCIPLINE (2014) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014 and has been selected for more than 200 festivals since. PUNCHLINE (2017) received the Audience Award – Short Narrative 2017 at the Brooklyn International Film Festival.
SWITZERLAND / FRANCE Fiction, 15 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Mehdi Djaadi, Océane Court-Mallaroni PRODUCTION: Box Productions sàrl, Renens / Salaud Morisset, Courbevoie / RTS / Canal +
19
Saoud is the king of his neighborhood in Saint Etienne, France. A rumor comes up that he might have stolen money from the local mosque. Saoud faces a violent series of accusations which will lead to his fall and exile.
WORLD SALES: Salaud Morisset, Berlin T +49 152 25 19 23 36 festival@salaudmorisset.com WORLD PREMIERE: Asiana International Short Film Festival Seoul 2017
FICTION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
DE TU N
SATAN by Carlos Tapia González 20
Every day Tiago goes into his garden, to feed the crocodile that killed his brother.
WORLD RIGHTS: Lunica Productions, Geneva T +41 78 842 03 01 mail@lunicaproductions.ch www.lunicaproductions.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 17 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Spanish CAST: Emilio Puente Bustindui, Angelica Aragon, Sebastian Aguirre Boëda, Coralia Manterola, Sara Rosa Aguilar PRODUCTION: Lunica Productions, Geneva / ECAL École cantonale d’art de Lausanne
CARLOS TAPIA GONZÁLEZ * 1993 in Mexico. Mexican citizenship. Carlos Tapia González studies film at the renowned film school École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL). His short film SATAN celebrated its world premiere at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur in the International Competition and was selected for the Swiss Youth film festivals in Bellinzona and Lausanne.
FICTION
SOMMERTAGE by Immanuel Esser, Matthias Sahli
IMMANUEL ESSER * 1990. German citizenship. Immanuel Esser studied Philosophy at Humboldt University in Berlin and is studying film at the KHM (Academy of Media Arts) in Cologne. He was a guest student at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). MATTHIAS SAHLI * 1988 in Winterthur. Matthias Sahli studied Film at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and received his BA in 2017. His award-winning short HAUSARREST (2015) was selected for numerous international festivals.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 9 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German CAST: Walter Menzi, Barblin Leggio-Hänseler, Katharina Frehner, Fabienne Laber, Olivia Lina Gasche
21
The everyday encounters of an elderly man, where prejudice prohibits real communication from taking place and technical necessities determine the course in this short conceptual portrait.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Immanuel Esser, Cologne-Kalk T +49 157 56 37 18 60 www.immanuelesser.com Matthias Sahli, Winterthur T +41 79 394 42 88 www.matthiassahli.ch INTERNATIONALE PREMIERE: Festival du film court de Brest 2017
FICTION
IC FA
IC FA
A NT ST
THE GIRL IN THE SNOW
DAS MÄDCHEN IM SCHNEE
AS NT T
by Dennis Ledergerber 22
A day in the life of a foley artist.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Dennis Ledergerber, St. Gallen T +41 79 759 63 32 dennisledergerber.com WORLD PREMIERE: Foyle Film Festival 2017
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 7 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: German CAST: Jörg Reichlin, Sina Schwery
DENNIS LEDERGERBER * 1987 in Santa Monica, USA. Grew up in Switzerland. Dennis Ledergerber directs commercials, music videos and fiction films.
FICTION LA VALLÉE HEUREUSE
THE VALLEY OF HAPPINESS by Fisnik Maxhuni
FISNIK MAXHUNI * 1989 in Kosovo. Fisnik Maxhuni received a BA in International Relations in Geneva and an MA in Geopolitics from King’s College London. In 2016 he received his MA in Film Studies at ECAL / HEAD (École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne / Geneva School of Art and Design) in Lausanne and Geneva. His last short film LOST EXILE (2016) premiered at Locarno Festival and received a special mention of the youth jury.
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 17 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Persian PRODUCTION: Visceral Films, Lausanne / Cause, Gland
23
Northern Iran. A young boy, equipped with his motorbike, travels through the cities, the mountains and the Caspian Sea in search of a mythical stone supposed to bring happiness. On his journey he crosses paths with those who, before him, have tried to find it as well.
WORLD RIGHTS: Visceral Films, Lausanne T +41 78 699 07 89 production@visceralfilms.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017
FICTION
YOU WILL KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR
VOUS NE CONNAÎTREZ NI LE JOUR NI L’HEURE
by Samuel Grandchamp 24
Paul’s parents, elderly and unwell, have announced their decision to die, together, assisted by an association. In a family that evidently suffers a lack of communication, Paul is unable to express his doubts and emotions. As he accompanies his parents to a prestigious hotel to spend their last week, he retains the hope to restore dialogue.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: PointProd SA, Geneva T +41 22 328 48 48 www.pointprod.ch
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 14 min., 2018 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French CAST: Bruno Todeschini, Maurice Aufair, Anne-Lise Fritsch, Natacha Koutchoumov
SAMUEL GRANDCHAMP * 1990 in Geneva. Samuel Grandchamp studied Economics at HEC (École des Hautes Études Commerciales) Lausanne and completed his master studies in directing at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. He received his MA at Tisch in 2017, where he won the Martin Scorsese Young Filmmakers Scholarship. His short THE BIG DAM (2015) won the Pardino d’oro at the Locarno Festival and was selected for numerous international festivals.
ANIMATION 59 SECONDES
59 SECONDS by Mauro Carraro
MAURO CARRARO * 1984 in Venice, Italian citizenship. Mauro Carraro studied graphic design and animation in Italy and France. Since 2010 he works with animation and computer graphics for the production company Nadasdy Film in Geneva. Carraro’s earlier films HASTA SANTIAGO (2013) and AUBADE (2014) were both huge festival hits around the world and won numerous international awards.
SWITZERLAND / FRANCE Animation, 16 min., 2017 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: 3D computer animation ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Italian PRODUCTION: Nadasdy Film Sarl, Geneva / Autour de Minuit Production / Distribution, Paris / RTS
25
59 seconds is short when it comes to changing the destinies of two people, of an entire region, or of a country, but it can seem like a long time when the earth is trembling.
WORLD RIGHTS: Nadasdy Film Sarl, Geneva T +41 22 300 20 54 www.nadasdyfilm.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Locarno Festival 2017
ANIMATION
IC FA
IC FA
A NT ST
AS NT T
CIRCUIT by Delia Hess 26
On a small planet, caught up in their own little private universe, the inhabitants perform their poetically surreal actions, which repeat themselves in an endless loop. That they are all part of a complex little ecosystem which can only function if each of them plays his or her role, is something they are unaware of.
WORLD RIGHTS: Cinéma Copain, Zurich T +41 43 322 05 11 www.cinemacopain.com
SWITZERLAND Animation, 8 min., 2018 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: Drawn animation ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue PRODUCTION: Cinéma Copain, Zurich / SRF
DELIA HESS * 1982 in Lucerne. Delia Hess studied animation at the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU). Since her BA in 2012, she has been working as animator, illustrator and filmmaker. Her award-winning animated shorts IN THE CITY (2011) and MORNING TRAIN (2012), both produced at HSLU, screened at numerous international festivals.
ANIMATION
IC FA
IC FA
A NT ST
AS NT T
COYOTE by Lorenz Wunderle
LORENZ WUNDERLE * 1983 in Lucerne. Lorenz Wunderle studied animation at the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) were he received his MA in Animation 2D in 2015. Following his student film HOPE (2013), COYOTE is his second animated short film and celebrated its premiere at Berlinale Shorts.
SWITZERLAND Animation, 9 min., 2018 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: Drawn animation ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue PRODUCTION: YK Animation Studio GmbH, Bern / SRF
27
A coyote loses its mate and pups in an attack by wolves. Plagued by human emotions, the coyote attempts to process what it has experienced. Alongside grief and delusions, however, savagery gradually escalates.
WORLD RIGHTS: YK Animation Studio GmbH, Bern T +41 79 154 11 87 yk-animation.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Berlinale 2018
A
C
A
ANIMATION
C
NIDO NIDO
INTIMITY by Elodie Dermange 28
As she is showering, dressing, putting on her make-up, a woman bares her soul. She speaks of her fears, her complexes, and the process of accepting – even loving – herself. Insecure, she loves neither her body nor her face. Then, one day, she starts posing as a photography model for a friend. With the passing of time, the photographs reveal to her the beauty of herself.
WORLD RIGHTS: Nadasdy Film Sarl, Geneva T +41 22 300 20 54 www.nadasdyfilm.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Leipzig 2017
SWITZERLAND Animation, 5 min., 2017 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: Drawn animation ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: English PRODUCTION: Nadasdy Film Sarl, Geneva / RTS
ELODIE DERMANGE * 1992 in Geneva. After studying illustration in Geneva and animation in Paris, Elodie Dermange worked as independent illustrator. She is currently continuing her studies in animated film directing at La Poudrière film school in Valence. INTIMITY is her first animated short film and was selected for the prestigious short film competition at the Sundance Film Festival 2018 (Documentary Shorts).
ANIMATION
CH
EN
C EN H
ILDR
ILDR
KUAP by Nils Hedinger
NILS HEDINGER * 1986 in Bern. Nils Hedinger received his BA in Animation from Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) in 2010. His award-winning short TIMBER (2014) became a huge international festival hit and was honoured with the Swiss Film Award for Best Animated Film in 2015. ANIMAL KINGDOM (2010) also screened at numerous renowned international festivals.
SWITZERLAND Animation, 7 min., 2018 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: Mixed technique ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue PRODUCTION: prêt-à-tourner Filmproduktion GmbH, Zurich / SRF
29
A tadpole somehow misses out on becoming a frog and is left behind, alone. But there is much to discover in the pond and spring is sure to come again next year. A little story about growing up.
WORLD RIGHTS: prêt-à-tourner Filmproduktion GmbH, Zurich T +41 43 344 58 74 www.pretatourner.ch
ANIMATION
S
T S
T
DE TU N
DE TU N
LIVING LIKE HETA
IC FA
IC FA
A NT ST
AS NT T
by Bianca Caderas, Isabella Luu, Kerstin Zemp 30
Heta lives with her pet seal in her highly peculiar house full of curious rooms and endless corridors. Her entire life consists of carefully planned and conducted routines. When the latter get thrown into disarray, Heta’s world begins to crumble, until she feels compelled to make an irreversible decision.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) animation@hslu T +41 41 248 64 64 www.animation.hslu.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Fantoche Baden 2017
SWITZERLAND Animation, 6 min., 2017 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: 2D computer animation ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue
BIANCA CADERAS * 1990 in Basel. ISABELLA LUU * 1993 in Lucerne. KERSTIN ZEMP * 1993 in Lucerne.
Bianca Caderas, Isabella Luu and Kerstin Zemp studied at the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) and received their BA in Animation 2D in 2017. LIVING LIKE HETA was awarded at Fantoche 2017.
ANIMATION SH
T
TR UL A
OR
SELFIES by Claudius Gentinetta
CLAUDIUS GENTINETTA * 1968 in Lucerne. Claudius Gentinetta studied at the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) and is one of the most acclaimed animation filmmakers in Switzerland. He is especially known for his award-winning short films ISLANDER’S REST (2015), SLEEP (2010) and CABLE CAR (2008), which all became huge international festival hits.
SWITZERLAND Animation, 3 min., 2018 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: 2D computer animation ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue PRODUCTION: Gentinettafilm, Zurich / SRF
31
In a veritable firework display of digital self-portraits, hundreds of quaint, embarrassing and dreadfully disturbing selfies were arranged in a unique short film composition. Single photos, artistically reworked, consolidate to form a ghastly grin that outshines the abyss of human existence.
WORLD RIGHTS: Gentinettafilm, Zurich T +41 77 414 89 48 www.gentinettafilm.ch
ANIMATION
LA FEMME CANON THE CANNONBALL WOMAN by David Toutevoix, Albertine Zullo 32
Day after day human cannonball, Madeleine, is shot kilometres from her home and has to return on foot. Each evening she comes back home exhausted, only to find her husband reading the newspaper, waiting for her with the spaghetti ready. But one evening Madeleine doesn’t come home.
WORLD RIGHTS: Hélium Films, Lausanne T +41 78 620 59 69 www.heliumfilms.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Locarno Festival 2017
SWITZERLAND / FRANCE / CANADA Animation, 12 min., 2017 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: Puppet animation, Stop motion ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French PRODUCTION: Hélium Films, Lausanne / Parmi les Lucioles Films, Lyon / National Film Board of Canada, Montreal / RTS
DAVID TOUTEVOIX Received a degree in Art from École des Beaux-Arts in Avignon. David Toutevoix works as cinematographer and director. THE CANNONBALL WOMAN is his first animation film together with Albertine Zullo. ALBERTINE ZULLO * 1967 in Dardagny. Studied art at École supérieure d’art visuel in Geneva. Albertine Zullo works as silkscreen printer, illustrator and lecturer at the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEADGenève).
ANIMATION
IC FA
IC FA
A NT ST
AS NT T
ZARR-DOS by Bart Wasem
BART WASEM * 1972 in Riggisberg. Bart Wasem studied graphic design at the SfGB (Schule für Gestaltung in Bern) and worked as motion designer for SAT1 in Germany. Since 1999 he works as independent motion designer and film director in Zurich. He is especially known for his short films THE HOLE (2015) and DARK ROOM (2005).
SWITZERLAND Animation, 7 min., 2017 ANIMATION TECHNIQUE: 2D & 3D computer animation ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue CAST: Bart Wasem
33
“ Justice is only felt by the victors .” (H. Nitschke) Two gigantic and all-powerful heads wander through the worlds to increase their power. Once again they find a weak breed, but the willing creatures turn out to be more dangerous than imagined!
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: LeMob Motion Design AG, Zurich T +41 79 344 43 02 www.lemob.ch WORLD PREMIERE: TIFF Transilvania International Film Festival Cluj 2017
DOCUMENTARY
AYSHA KEVIN MICHELE by Florine Leoni 34
We all start together on three. One, two, three. The camera frames the scene, directs the course of events, encourages active participation. It breaks things open, providing a space for the youth to experiment and reposition themselves. But for Aysha, Kevin and Michele, there is more at stake here than mere attention.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Florine Leoni, Basel T +41 76 502 88 08 www.florineleoni.net WORLD PREMIERE: Solothurn Film Festival 2018
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 29 min., 2018 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German
FLORINE LEONI * 1980 in Schlieren. Florine Leoni received her diploma in Fine Arts at the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) in 2006 and her MA in Contemporary Arts Practice from University of Applied Sciences Bern in 2013. She works as artist, filmmaker and photographer. Her short documentary EN GARDE (2014) screened in competition at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur.
DOCUMENTARY LIGNE NOIRE
BLACK LINE by Mark Olexa, Francesca Scalisi
MARK OLEXA * 1984 in Biel. Joint Swiss and Czech citizenship. He attended Prague Film School and ZeLIG in Bolzano. FRANCESCA SCALISI * 1982 in Bergamo. She received her degree from ZeLIG in Bolzano. In 2012 Scalisi and Olexa founded DOK MOBILE. Together they have directed several award-winning docs such as MORIOM (2015), premiere at IDFA, and HALFLIFE IN FUKUSHIMA (2016), premiere at Visions du Réel.
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 10 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Bengali
35
A woman fishing in turbid waters, a suffering nature, the broken chant of the muezzin, all linked by a thin, black line.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: DOK MOBILE, Fribourg T +41 79 718 48 91 www.dokmobile.ch WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017 INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE: Rotterdam 2018
DOCUMENTARY
S
T S
T
DE TU N
DO NOT FEAR
FÜRCHTET EUCH NICHT
DE TU N
by Kezia Zurbrügg, Philipp Ritler 36
Thinking about the future is accompanied by a slight concern. People retreat, seek protection and advice to prepare for uncertainty.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) Video Department T +41 41 248 61 12 edith.flueckiger@hslu.ch www.video.hslu.ch
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 14 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German
KEZIA ZURBRÜGG * 1993 in Aargau. Kezia Zurbrügg studied at the Video Department of the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) and received her BA in 2017 .
PHILIPP RITLER * 1994 in Bern. Philipp Ritler received his BA from the Video Department of the Lucerne School of Art and Design in 2017.
DOCUMENTARY RÉSISTANCE
RESISTANCE by Laurence Favre
LAURENCE FAVRE * 1979 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Laurence Favre received her degree in Sociology from the University of Geneva in 2007 and her MA in Cinema from the HES-SO ECAL / HEAD (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland) in 2012. Her short film NWA-MANKAMANA (2013) was honoured with the Award for the most innovative short film of the international competition at Visions du Réel.
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 11 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue PRODUCTION: Laurence Favre, Geneva / Matza, Geneva
37
Beyond its majestic appearance, sporadic elements reveal the glacier’s fragility. Objects regurgitated through the melt witness the presence of mankind. Sounds of collapsing ice blocks continuously reveal the symptoms of an evident decrease. And yet in tension this magnificent and frightening body of ice and stones stands, impressive, resisting.
WORLD RIGHTS: Laurence Favre, Geneva T +41 77 457 51 19 laurencefb@gmail.com WORLD PREMIERE: Locarno Festival 2017
DOCUMENTARY
REWIND FORWARD by Justin Stoneham 38
All his life, Justin managed to escape his own story. But his past catches up with him when he finds a box full of old family VHS tapes. A film that begins as an homage to his deceased father develops into an attempt to no longer be a stranger to his own mother.
WORLD RIGHTS: La Belle Film GmbH, Zurich T +41 78 790 06 49 www.labellefilm.com WORLD PREMIERE: Locarno Festival 2017
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 24 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German, English PRODUCTION: La Belle Film GmbH, Zurich / SRF
JUSTIN STONEHAM * 1988 in Lucerne. Joint Swiss and British citizenship. Justin Stoneham studed film at the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) and received his BA in 2015. REWIND FORWARD received the Pardino d’oro at the Locarno Festival and a Special Mention at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur.
DOCUMENTARY
T S
S
DE TU N
THE FITZCARRALDO SYNDROME
LE SYNDROME FITZCARRALDO
T
DE TU N
by Laura Morales
LAURA MORALES * 1990 in Yverdon. Laura Morales received her degree in photography from École d’Arts Appliqués de Vevey in 2011. She is currently studying film at the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève). Her short documentary BLAZING MOUNTS (2015) was awarded with the Best Swiss Newcomer Award at the Locarno Festival.
SWITZERLAND Documentary, 29 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: English, Spanish PRODUCTION: Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) / Octuor Films Production, Vevey
39
In an Amazonia of enchanted fauna and flora where imperturbable rivers flow, a shaman’s wisdom is part of the tale of tension between jungle spirits and the Whites abandoned to picturesque practices. Nostalgia for an archaic world touched by tourism on wheels.
WORLD RIGHTS: Octuor Films Production, Vevey T +41 79 412 23 72 www.octuorfilms.ch Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD-Genève) T +41 22 388 58 89 cinema.head@hesge.ch www.head.hesge.ch/cinema WORLD PREMIERE: Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2017
EXPERIMENTAL
NO WALL IS EVER SILENT AUCUN MUR N’EST SILENCIEUX by collectif_fact Annelore Schneider, Claude Piguet The film was shot in the former Bénédict Hentsch bank in Geneva. The building holds the leading role, whilst voices of a police inspector, a geobiologist (ghostbuster), a game designer and a specialist in modern architecture encourage us to discover something only perceived by someone willing to break in or ready to solve a spatial puzzle.
40
SWITZERLAND Experimental, 12 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS: collectif_fact, Geneva T +41 79 581 42 90 www.collectif-fact.ch
RHYTHM OF BEING by Giada Ghiringhelli
SWITZERLAND Experimental, 6 min., 2017 ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Without dialogue PRODUCTION: Simona & René Bachofen, Osogna / Giada Ghiringhelli, Osogna WORLD RIGHTS: Giada Ghiringhelli, London T +44 7929 49 67 21 giadacg@gmail.com www.giadag.com WORLD PREMIERE: ECU The European Independent Film Festival Paris 2017
For an instant, I am. The light touches me gently and I live, burst and shine. This constant, irreversible, rhythmic drift from being to not. Only the memories left. Escaping desires. The love and the pain. I only have an instant of life. So please. This film is an ode to the rhythm of being.
VISIT US AT OUR STANDS AT : Short Film Market Clermont-Ferrand Berlinale European Film Market Cannes Village International Mifa Annecy Locarno Festival Toronto International Film Festival
SWISS FILMS is supported by
“ It feels like diving.” Paul in ALMOST EVERYTHING by Lisa Gertsch