Annecy 2018: 10 Swiss animation films and SWISS FILMS at the Mifa film market

Ten animation films from Switzerland have been selected for this year’s programme at the Annecy Festival (June 11-16). Five of which will be screened in competitive sections.

01.06.2018

Ten animation films from Switzerland have been selected for this year’s programme at the Annecy Festival (June 11-16), including Anja Kofmel’s CHRIS THE SWISS, which celebrated its world premiere in Cannes; Lorenz Wunderle’s COYOTE, which premiered at the Berlinale and won the award for Best Animation Film at the Oscar-qualifying Aspen Shortsfest; and NOT MY TYPE, Gerd Gockell’s new film. Also presented at the festival will be three films by Georges Schwizgebel, who was awarded the Honorary Cristal Award in Annecy last year. This year SWISS FILMS is present at the Mifa for the first time with its own stand.

Five short animation films from Switzerland have been selected for various competition sections. Gerd Gockell’s NOT MY TYPE, which has already been invited to numerous festivals, will be screened in the International Short Films Competition. Two multi-award-winning graduation films from the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) – TRAVELOGUE TEL AVIV by Samuel Patthey and OOZE by Kilian Vilim – will be screened in the Graduation Short Films Competition. Two productions from the Romandy will be screened in the Young Audiences Short Films Competition: COUCOULEURS by Oana Lacroix, which will celebrate its world premiere in Annecy; and DRÔLE DE POISSON by Krishna Chandran A. Nair. The Swiss filmmaker and Oscar nominee Claude Barras (MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI) is a member of the short film jury.

CHRIS THE SWISS and COYOTE in Annecy

Anja Kofmel’s first feature-length animated documentary film CHRIS THE SWISS (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion), which just recently garnered success in the Critics’ Week, the renowned parallel section in Cannes, will be screened out of competition in Annecy (Feature Films – Out of Competition). Lorenz Wunderle’s COYOTE (YK Animation Studio) celebrated its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale (Berlinale Shorts) and has since been invited to numerous major festivals and garnered a number of awards: for example, the award for Best European Short Animation Film 2018 at the Go Short - International Short Film Festival Nijmegen as well as Best Animated Film 2018 at the Aspen Shortsfest. As a result, the HSLU graduate Lorenz Wunderle has qualified for an Oscar submission.

Georges Schwizgebel with three films in special programmes

Georges Schwizgebel, who was awarded the Honorary Cristal Award in Annecy last year for his comprehensive and multi-award-winning work, is present again this year with three short films in various special programmes based on the theme of music: LA COURSE À l’ABÎME (1992), FUGUE (1998) and JEU (2006).

SWISS FILMS at the Mifa for the first time

This year marks the first time SWISS FILMS is present with its own stand (4.G02) at the International Animation Film Market (Mifa) from June 12-15. Mifa is the world’s most important market for animation film. Moreover, SWISS FILMS has organised Cocktail Suisse, the traditional networking event in Annecy, together with partners Groupement Suisse du Film d'Animation (GSFA), Hochschule Luzern, RTS Radio Télévision Suisse, Fantoche and Animatou. Every year in conjunction with the festival, SWISS FILMS publishes an animation film booklet, featuring new Swiss animation films and festival favourites, as well as films about to be launched on the international festival circuit.

SWISS FILMS, June 1, 2018