Strong Swiss presence at film festival in Montreal
25.08.2009
Four Swiss film productions and coproductions will be screened in the World Competition at the 33rd Montreal World Film Festival (WFF), along with five additional films in other sections. Micha Lewinsky’s “Die Standesbeamtin” (production: Langfilm, Freienstein), the French-Swiss coproduction “Coeur animal” by Séverine Cornamusaz (PS Productions, Vevey) and the short animation film “Land Of The Heads” by Claude Barras and Cédric Louis are all in the running for the Grand Prix of the Americas. “L'enfance d'Icare” by Alexandre Iordachescu (Elefant Films, Geneva) will be presented in the First Films World Competition. The World Film Festival in Montreal ranks among the ten largest film festivals in the world and runs this year from August 27-September 7, 2009.
Three further fiction films from Switzerland will be presented in the Focus on World Cinema section: the Swiss-German coproduction “Mein Kampf” by Urs Odermatt (Hugofilm, Zurich); the minority coproduction “Réfractaire” by the Luxembourger director Nicolas Steil (CAB Production, Lausanne); and the film “Winterstilte” by the Swiss video artist Sonja Wyss, whose film was produced Holland and shot in Switzerland. Also presented in the Focus on World Cinema section will be the short film “Persée” by Thomas Queille, who graduated from the “Ecole de Cinéma” in Geneva. The film “Villa Amalia” by French director Benoît Jacquot (coproduction: Point Prod, Geneva) will be screened in the official programme of the World Greats section.
An extensive Swiss delegation will accompany these films at the most important festival in Francophone Québec, participating in press conferences as well. Film director Micha Lewinsky from Zurich will present his film “Die Standesbeamtin” together with the actress Oriana Schrage. Film director Séverine Cornamusaz from Vaud will present her debut fiction film “Coeur animal” together with the leading actor Olivier Rabourdin and the screenwriter of the film Marcel Beaulieu, who comes from Québec. Beaulieu has also participated in the screenplay of the film “L’enfance d’Icare”, which will be presented by director Alexandre Iordachescu, the Rumanian coproducer Dan Burlac and actor Carlo Brandt at the festival. Film director Claude Barras from Valais will present, together with Cédric Louis, the animation film “Land of the Heads” – a coproduction with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). SWISS FILMS, the film promotion agency, has provided financial support for the Swiss filmmakers to attend the festival and will also be present as consultants.
Zurich, August 25, 2009
An extensive Swiss delegation will accompany these films at the most important festival in Francophone Québec, participating in press conferences as well. Film director Micha Lewinsky from Zurich will present his film “Die Standesbeamtin” together with the actress Oriana Schrage. Film director Séverine Cornamusaz from Vaud will present her debut fiction film “Coeur animal” together with the leading actor Olivier Rabourdin and the screenwriter of the film Marcel Beaulieu, who comes from Québec. Beaulieu has also participated in the screenplay of the film “L’enfance d’Icare”, which will be presented by director Alexandre Iordachescu, the Rumanian coproducer Dan Burlac and actor Carlo Brandt at the festival. Film director Claude Barras from Valais will present, together with Cédric Louis, the animation film “Land of the Heads” – a coproduction with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). SWISS FILMS, the film promotion agency, has provided financial support for the Swiss filmmakers to attend the festival and will also be present as consultants.
Zurich, August 25, 2009