Strong Swiss presence in Locarno
12.07.2004
Swiss film productions will be represented in great number and in all of the festival’s sections at the 57th Locarno International Film Festival (4 – 14 August 2004). The fiction film “Promised Land” by Michael Beltrami (Amka Film / Orione Cinematografica, Rome) will be competing in the international competition. Romed Wyder will be presenting his second full-length feature film “Absolut” (Laika Film / Almaz Film Productions) in the Filmmakers of the Present section. In addition, Georges Schwizgebel will be presenting his two most recent animated films: “La jeune fille et les nuages”, which was awarded the Swiss Film Prize 2002, among others, and his internationally successful “L’homme sans ombre” (Studio GDS in Geneva) on the Piazza Grande and in the Appellations Suisse series. Karl Baumgartner, German co-producer of many Swiss films, for example, “Ässhäk”, “Jagged Harmonies – Bach vs. Frederick II”, “Beresina” and “Vollmond”, will succeed producers Ruth Waldburger and Paulo Branco in being honoured with the Raimondo Rezzonico Prize for his extraordinary contribution. Representing Switzerland in the international jury will be renowned photographer René Burri. The Swiss Films pavilion is the meeting point for the film industry (daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.); this information centre is located in the Spazio/Cinema near the La Sala cinema.
Competing in the video competition - which is geared to experimental and innovative works – will be Karim Patwa’s film “Karim Patwa’s Spaceship” (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion). Godard’s “Notre Musique”, which premiered in Cannes in 2004, will be screened in the Human Rights program. Peter Egloff’s Rhaetian film produced for television “Das Leid der Anderen” will also be presented in this special program devoted to human rights.
There will be 21 Swiss films participating in the festival’s Leopards of Tomorrow competition. This year’s retrospective “La Francophonie, programme suisse“ includes eight short works by well-known contemporary filmmakers. Two additional short films “Sankofa” by Kevin Merz and “Un altra città“ by Carlo Ippolito will be shown in the video section Filmmakers of the Present, which will also feature the long documentary “Turi” by Lotty Wohlwend and Renato Müller.
During the Critics’ Week, which has traditionally been dedicated to documentary productions, the new film “Ferien im Duett” (Vacation Duets) by Dieter Gränicher premieres. “Ferien im Duett” is about four young romantic couples on vacation with cameras in hand. Also to be shown is “Nocaut“ by Stefano Knuchel and Ivan Nurchis, the story of amateur boxers in Cuba.
The fifth edition of the Appellations Suisse offers an overview of Swiss film production from the previous year with a selection of eleven Swiss films produced for the cinema: eight fiction films, two documentary films and one animated short film (see separate news item).
Zurich/Geneva, 12 July 2004
Further information on the films can be found at:
There will be 21 Swiss films participating in the festival’s Leopards of Tomorrow competition. This year’s retrospective “La Francophonie, programme suisse“ includes eight short works by well-known contemporary filmmakers. Two additional short films “Sankofa” by Kevin Merz and “Un altra città“ by Carlo Ippolito will be shown in the video section Filmmakers of the Present, which will also feature the long documentary “Turi” by Lotty Wohlwend and Renato Müller.
During the Critics’ Week, which has traditionally been dedicated to documentary productions, the new film “Ferien im Duett” (Vacation Duets) by Dieter Gränicher premieres. “Ferien im Duett” is about four young romantic couples on vacation with cameras in hand. Also to be shown is “Nocaut“ by Stefano Knuchel and Ivan Nurchis, the story of amateur boxers in Cuba.
The fifth edition of the Appellations Suisse offers an overview of Swiss film production from the previous year with a selection of eleven Swiss films produced for the cinema: eight fiction films, two documentary films and one animated short film (see separate news item).
Zurich/Geneva, 12 July 2004
Further information on the films can be found at: