Frédéric Mermoud launches “Complices” in France

19.01.2010

On January 20, 2010, the distribution company Pyramide Films will launch the French-Swiss coproduction “Complices” (Saga Production, Lausanne) in France. The debut film by Frédéric Mermoud – member of the Suise Romande production firm “Bande à part Films” together with independent filmmakers Ursula Meier, Lionel Baier and Jean-Stéphane Bron – will be released with 120 prints in cinemas in Paris and throughout all of France. At the end of January, the Festival International du Premier Film – Annonay will devote a retrospective of short films by the 40-year-old film director. “Complices” will be launched in cinemas in Canada at the beginning of April (distribution: K-Films Amérique) and now has a distributor in the USA (IFC Entertainment) as well.
The film, which premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival in August 2009, portrays a murder case from various perspectives, including juvenile victims and police inspectors. Starring in the leading role of the film is the young actress Nina Meurisse, whom Frédéric Mermoud discovered in 2003 for his short film “L’escalier”, honoured in 2004 with Swiss Film Prize for Best Short Film. Nina Meurisse, who also played the leading role in the short film “Rachel” (2006), will attend the festival in Annonay with Mermoud (January 29 - February 8, 2010), where “Complices” will be featured as the opening film on January 29. The festival, which focuses on young talented filmmakers, will devote a special programme Frédéric Mermoud, showcasing the short films “Son jour à elle” (1998), “Les électrons libres” (1999) and “Le créneau” (2007), together with the two films mentioned above. SWISS FILMS, the film promotion agency, has provided support for this mini-retrospective as a partner.



Support for the cinematic release of “Complices” in France was provided by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture and SWISS FILMS in conjunction with the direct support programme for foreign distribution firms, with a maximum amount of 25,000 euros.



Zurich, January 19, 2010



Pyramide Distribution



K-Films Amérique



IFC Entertainment



Festival International du Premier Film Annonay

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