Damien grew up in Geneva, never knowing his father. At thirty-two, he suddenly learns that he is the direct heir of an Englishman living in Taiwan. Damien flies to Taipei where he meets his Taiwanese half-brother Steven. Their inheritance is suspended, on account of two other missing heirs. Damien and Steven set out to find them on the island. The road movie tells the story of two brothers’ quest for a father and for his money.
* 1972. Maria Nicollier is a graduate of the New York Film Academy and also holds a degree in Literature and Sociology. She has directed various documentaries. With VOLCANIC ASH (2015) she won the FIFOG d’Or and the Directing prize at the Tangier IFF (2015). She works as producer and filmmaker at Rec Production in Neuchâtel. ROAD’S END TO TAIWAN is a first Swiss and Taiwanese coproduction.
PUPPEN & KRIEGER
written
&
directed by Lisa Blatter
A couple’s love nearly shatters after a miscarriage. Selma and Nori’s inability to really listen to each other prevents them from getting through the tragic events together.
LISA BLATTER
* 1979. Lisa Blatter graduated from Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) in 2008. Her shorts SAD BOYS DANCE, WHEN NO ONE’S WATCHING (2007) and AFTERGLOW (2008), produced during her studies, were shown successfully at numerous festivals. She founded 2:1 Film GmbH in 2010 together with Jan Gassmann and Julia Tal. She produced PARADISES OF DIANE (2024) which premiered in the Berlinale competition. PUPPEN & KRIEGER is her second feature fiction film as director.
SWITZERLAND
Fiction, 90 min. ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Swiss-German CAST:
Carla Juri, Dashmir Ristemi PRODUCTION:
Lomotion AG, Bern / SRF PRODUCERS: Magdalena Welter, Louis Mataré
WORLD RIGHTS: Lomotion AG, Bern www.lomotion.ch
LOOKING FOR:
World Sales Int. Distribution Int. Festival Premiere CONTACT: Magdalena Welter Lomotion AG Filmproduktion magdalena@lomotion.ch
WOLVES
written & directed by Jonas Ulrich
In the heart of the underground music scene, a young woman’s relationship with the enigmatic frontman of a metal band leads to a turbulent journey of discovery, blurring the line between freedom and fanaticism.
PRODUCTION AND WORLD RIGHTS:
Dynamic Frame GmbH, Zurich www.dynamic-frame.ch
LOOKING FOR:
World Sales
Int. Distribution
Int. Festival Premiere
CONTACT:
Nicole Ulrich
Dynamic Frame GmbH nicole.ulrich
@dynamic-frame.ch
SWITZERLAND
Fiction, 110 min.
ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: Swiss-German, English CAST:
Bartosz Bielenia, Selma Kopp, Judith Hofmann, Thomas Ott
PRODUCERS:
Nicole Boner-Ulrich, Philipp Ritler, Jonas Ulrich
JONAS ULRICH
* 1990. Jonas Ulrich has been working as a writer, director and editor since 2012, often in close cooperation with his core team at the production company Dynamic Frame, of which he is a cofounder. His short, PEOPLE ON SATURDAY (2020) won the Pardino d’oro at the Locarno Film Festival and his short THE AFFRONT (2021) won the Zurich Film Prize. He is a graduate of the University of Zurich, where he studied History and Film. WOLVES is his feature film debut.
FRIEDAS FALL
FRIEDA’S CASE
directed by Maria Brendle
In 1904, twenty-five-year-old Frieda Keller commits the unthinkable by killing her five-year-old son, leading to a riveting court case that questions how much of a victim lies within the perpetrator herself. This complex case played a pivotal role in shaping discussions around women’s rights, the quest for a fairer society, and the need for criminal justice reform. Based on a true story that delves into themes of shame, ethics, morality, and the struggle for emancipation.
MARIA BRENDLE
* 1983. Maria Brendle is an award-winning director and screenwriter known for her films that explore complex women’s issues and tackle challenging social topics. She received an Academy Award® nomination in 2022 for her short film ALA KACHUU –TAKE AND RUN. She holds a Bachelor in Film from the Zurich University of Arts (ZHdK) and a Master in Cognitive Neuroscience from the Academy of Neuroscience (aon) in Cologne. She is also a graduate of the Drehbuchwerkstatt Munich screenwriting programme.
SWITZERLAND
Fiction, 107 min.
ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: Swiss-German, German
SUBTITLES: French, English
SCREENPLAY: Michèle Minelli, Robert Buchschwenter, Maria Brendle
CAST:
Julia Buchmann, Stefan Merki, Rachel Braunschweig, Max Simonischek, Liliane Amuat, Marlene Tanczik
PRODUCTION:
Condor Films AG, Zurich / SRF / SRG SSR
PRODUCERS:
Hans G. Syz, Susann Henggeler
WORLD RIGHTS:
Condor Films AG, Zurich www.condorfilms.com
LOOKING FOR:
World Sales
Int. Distribution
Int. Festival Premiere CONTACT:
Marianne van der Kooi
Condor Films AG marianne.vanderkooi@ condorfilms.com
DETCEPXE EXPECTED FALL 2024
THE COURAGEOUS
directed by Jasmin Gordon
In a small town on the edge of wild country, an eccentric and delinquent mother has had enough of the rules. Crushed by her mistakes and by a society that doesn’t give a damn – or a second chance – to people like her, she’ll do anything to prove to her children, and to herself, that she still is a good person.
WORLD RIGHTS: maximage, Zurich www.maximage.ch
LOOKING FOR:
World Sales
Int. Distribution CONTACT:
Brigitte Hofer maximage bhofer@maximage.ch
SWITZERLAND Fiction, 80 min.
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: French SCREENPLAY: Julien Bouissoux
CAST:
Ophelia Kolb, Jasmine Kalisz Saurer, Paul Besnier, Arthur Devaux, Sabine Timoteo, Michel Voïta, Claudia Grob PRODUCTION: maximage, Zurich / RTS PRODUCERS: Brigitte Hofer, Cornelia Seitler
JASMIN GORDON
* 1978. Jasmin Gordon holds a Master in Documentary Film from Stanford University and has a degree in Literature and Photography. Her shorts have celebrated numerous international festival successes, and received awards such as the ITVS Grand Jury Prize. Her debut feature THE COURAGEOUS participated in the Torino Script Lab 2021 and received a post-production Award at the European Work in Progress Pitch Cologne in 2023. It will celebrate its world premiere at TIFF 2024 in the Discovery section.
DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT
Supporting the theatrical release and distribution via online platforms of Swiss films worldwide.
The subsidies are granted according to the “Guidelines Funding for the distribution of Swiss films and coproductions in foreign countries”.
A support measure by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC), administrated by SWISS FILMS. www.bak.admin.ch
Contact : support@swissfilms.ch
FILM SALES SUPPORT
for films from Switzerland
A scheme by the European Film Promotion (EFP) for the promotion of European films outside of Europe.
EFP offers Film Sales Support (FSS) for the promotion of films from Switzerland outside of Europe thanks to international measures by the Federal Office of Culture, MEDIA Desk Suisse and SWISS FILMS.
FSS is supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC), Media Desk Suisse and SWISS FILMS.
Contact: support@swissfilms.ch
MORE INFORMATION ON OUR SWISS LINE-UP LOCARNO 2024
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