Switzerland is exground filmfest’s this year’s country in focus. Ten
documentary- and feature films, a short film program SWISS SHORTS, one
supporting film IN SEARCH OF A DONKEY [CHASSE À L’ÂNE] by Marie
Nicollier in BEST OF SHORTS and RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE [ZMITZT DRIN] by
Cécile Brun in the international short film competition ON VIDEO give a
multilayered filmic impression of modern Switzerland – off clichés like
lilac cows, pittoresque mountain panoramas and white chocolate. Some
figures as introduction: Switzerland has ca. 8 million inhabitants, of
which speak 64% German, 20% French and 6.5% Italian. Die Rhaeto-Romance
speakers account for 0.5% and are not present in our program. But all
three main languages are. For the mentioned 8 million inhabitants in
Switzerland there are 291 cinemas. Germany has ca. 82 million
inhabitants and 1,844 cinemas. In comparison that means, that
Switzerland has one cinema for 27,491 inhabitants, while in Germany,
figuratively speaking, 44,468 inhabitants have to share one cinema. How
do we know? The 2012-edition of SWISS FILMS INFO and the German film
subsidy fund FFA have it all. All data refer to 2011. It is remarkable,
that a country smaller in area as well as population offers a much more
distinct film- and cinema culture. Switzerland has ca. 300 film
directors and produced 28 feature films in 2011, among them ten 100%
Swiss productions. The number of documentaries is much higher. In 2011,
there were 51, out of which 44 were 100% Swiss productions. Of the 2011
five most successful feature films two are in our program: THE LITTLE
ROOM [LA PETITE CHAMBRE] and FLYING FISH [FLIEGENDE FISCHE MÜSSEN INS
MEER]. We present the leading box office film in the first half of 2012,
SISTER [L’ENFANT D’EN HAUT], awarded a Silver Bear at Berlinale 2012, on
October 24, 2012 as "exground film of the month" and give a taste of the
Swiss program. SUMMER GAMES by Rolando Colla will open exground filmfest
25. The film, that won three "Quartz" the Swiss film award and was
entered for best foreign-language film to the Oscars 2012 by
Switzerland, accompanies Nic, who suffers from his father’s violent
outbursts, during his first steps into a life of his own. SUMMER GAMES also competes for the EUR 2,500 prize money of the youth film
competition within the exground youth days. Out of competition we
present the mentioned FLYING FISH by Güzin Kar, a turbulent comedy with
Meret Becker as chaotic single mother. Many awards also went to 180° by
Cihan Inan, starring Christopher Buchholz, Sophie Rois and Michael
Neuenschwander. A rampage shocks Switzerland. One of the actors you’ll
find on this year’s festival poster. THE LITTLE ROOM by Stéphanie Chuat
and Véronique Reymond in 2011 won – apart from numerous international
prizes – the Swiss film awards for best film and best script and was
entered as Swiss contender for best foreign-language film in 2011. Here
the destinies of widower Edmond, in need of care and young Rose meet.
MARY & JOHNNY by Samuel Schwarz and Julian Grünthal adapts Ödön von
Horvath’s "Kasimir und Karoline" in a casual way. Antej Farac, Swiss by
choice, shows the destinies of outsiders in society in his German-Swiss
coproduction ANNELIE. The protagonists in Ulrich Grossenbacher’s A
GLORIOUS MESS [MESSIES, EIN SCHÖNES CHAOS] encounter a tightrope walk
between genius and excessive demand. The documentary, awarded with the
prize of "Semaine de la Critique" in Locarno 2011 offers a ultilayered
insight into everyday life of four messies; two of which will be present
for the screening in Wiesbaden. In BOTTLED LIFE – NESTLÉ’S BUSINESS WITH
WATER [BOTTLED LIFE – NESTLÉS GESCHÄFT MIT DEM WASSER] Urs Schnell looks
behind the glitzy facade of the biggest Swiss trust. WINTER NOMADS
[HIVER NOMADE] by Manuel von Stürler takes the audience on an adventure
trip to our roots and discusses questions around today’s forms of living
together. A special way of living together is presented in Mirjam von
Arx’ VIRGIN TALES. She follows evangelical, ultraconservative christians
and their tradition of "virgin proms" with her camera. Information on
the Swiss short film program you can find on page XX.
Within the framework of our country-in-focus program the Swiss artist
Nora de Baan presents her cinéma-vérité-program "Kino à la Minute" – in
different places in Wiesbaden. This is made possible by Pro Helvetia,
Swiss Cultural Foundation.
Our thanks go to SWISS FILMS and the Swiss Consulate General in
Frankfurt/Main for supporting the country-in-focus program. Our special
thanks go to Hana Bruhin and Urs Schnider for the smooth cooperation.
Film overview:
180° [180° – WENN DEINE WELT PLÖTZLICH KOPF STEHT]
by Cihan Inan
Switzerland 2010 35 mm 96 min. Swiss-Germ.-Germ.-Turk. OV Engl. ST
ANNELIE
by Antej Farac
Germany/Switzerland 2012 DCP 111 min. Germ.-Swiss-Germ. OV Germ. ST
BOTTLED LIFE - NESTLÉ'S BUSINESS WITH WATER [BOTTLED LIFE – NESTLÉS GESCHÄFTE MIT DEM WASSER]
by Urs Schnell
Switzerland/Germany 2012 Digital Betacam 90 min. Engl.-Germ.-Amh.-Urdu OV Engl. ST
WINTER NOMADS [HIVER NOMADE]
by Manuel von Stürler
Switzerland 2012 Blu-ray 85 min. French OV Engl. ST
MARY & JOHNNY
by Samuel Schwarz and Julian Grünthal
Switzerland 2011 Blu-ray 78 min. Swiss-Germ. OV Engl. ST
A GLORIOUS MESS [MESSIES, EIN SCHÖNES CHAOS]
by Ulrich Grossenbacher
Switzerland 2011 DCP 117 min. Swiss-Germ. OV Germ.-Engl. ST
THE LITTLE ROOM [LA PETITE CHAMBRE]
by Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond
Switzerland/Luxembourg 2010 35 mm 87 min. French-Engl. OV Germ. ST
SUMMER GAMES [GIOCHI D’ESTATE]
by Rolando Colla
Switzerland/Italy 2011 35 mm 101 min. Ital. OV Germ.-French ST
VIRGIN TALES
by Mirjam von Arx
Switzerland 2012 DCP 87 min. Engl. OV Germ. ST
SWISS SHORTS
sa 17 nov 18.00 h Murnau Filmtheater
Swiss short-film makers are active. Of the films produced in 2011 they
entered 467 to festivals, among them 195 short fiction films, 123 short
documentaries, 79 short animations and 70 short experimental films. 105
were presented at international festivals and 77 won awards. exground
filmfest presents five short-film gems from 2011 and 2012, among them
two German premieres. In WHERE ARE WE GOING young Cem shall return to
Turkey and runs away. Rolando Colla, director of our opening night film
SUMMER GAMES, in OBJECTION VI shines a light on the story of an
extradiction, ending with the death of an asylum seeker. Strange
creatures hope in EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH to get back to work life. The
operators in TONS OF PASSION do their work with great passion, and a
travelling salesman finds the ROOM 606 to be perfidious.
TONS OF PASSION [BAGGERN]
by Corina Schwingruber Ilić
Switzerland 2011 HDCam 12 min. Swiss-Germ. OV Engl. ST documentary
OBJECTION VI [EINSPRUCH VI]
by Rolando Colla
Switzerland 2012 35 mm 17 min. Germ.-Engl. OV Engl. ST fiction
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH [EMPLOYÉ DU MOIS]
by Olivier Beguin
Switzerland 2011 HDCam 14 Min. French OV Engl. ST fiction
WHERE ARE WE GOING [WO GÖMMER]
by Cosima Frei
Switzerland 2012 HDCam 20 min. Swiss-Germ.-Turk. OV Engl. ST fiction
ROOM 606 [ZIMMER 606]
by Peter Volkart
Switzerland 2012 35 mm 15 min. Germ. OV Engl. ST fiction
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