Feature film from Swiss Romande competes in Mannheim
03.11.2009
Séverine Cornamusaz, the 34-year-old director from Vaud, will celebrate her feature film debut with “Coeur animal” in the international competition at the 58th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg (November 5-15, 2009). This marks the fourth time in the past five years that the festival of new independent film artists has invited a film from the French-speaking region of Switzerland to take part in its competition. Séverine Cornamusaz will present her film in the two festival cities: Mannheim and Heidelberg.
The story of the film (coproduction: PS Productions Vevey, the French Swiss Broadcasting Service TSR, and ADR, France) is based on the best-selling novel “Rapport aux bêtes” by Noëlle Revaz. Paul, an alpine farmer, treats his wife Rosine worse than the cattle in the barn. When he suspects the Spanish day labourer Eusebio of having an affair with her, Rosine packs her bags. The film “Coeur animal” celebrated its premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival and will be released in cinemas in the French-Speaking region of Switzerland on November 4.
The Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg is – together with the Berlinale and the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen – Germany’s oldest festival and has featured newcomer talent from the Romande in its programme for the past five years: Ruxandra Zenide presented her debut film “Ryna” in the international competition in 2005 and won both the Special Jury Prize and the award for Best Actress. Lionel Baier also won the Special Jury Prize for “Comme des voleurs” in 2006. And Vincent Pluss’ “Du bruit dans la tête” also represented the young generation of filmmakers from the French-speaking regions of Switzerland in the competition of the Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg in 2008.
Zurich/Geneva, November 3, 2009
The Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg is – together with the Berlinale and the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen – Germany’s oldest festival and has featured newcomer talent from the Romande in its programme for the past five years: Ruxandra Zenide presented her debut film “Ryna” in the international competition in 2005 and won both the Special Jury Prize and the award for Best Actress. Lionel Baier also won the Special Jury Prize for “Comme des voleurs” in 2006. And Vincent Pluss’ “Du bruit dans la tête” also represented the young generation of filmmakers from the French-speaking regions of Switzerland in the competition of the Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg in 2008.
Zurich/Geneva, November 3, 2009