Swiss cineastes celebrated in Buenos Aires

The Thomas Imbach film programme, compiled in collaboration with SWISS FILMS, comprises "Day Is Done" and other films produced during the observation period of this long-term study, such as "Well Done" (1994), "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" (2001), "Lenz" (2006), "I Was A Swiss Banker" (2007). "Day Is Done" celebrated its world premiere in the Forum at the Berlinale 2011.

As another result of the close ties between BAFICI and SWISS FILMS, the festival is paying tribute to director Daniel Schmid, who passed away in 2006. The homage showcases eight films as well as the film portrait "Daniel Schmid - le chat qui pense" by Benny Jaberg and Pascal Hofmann (2009). The "Godard porque si" focus programme comprises not only "Film Socialisme" (2010), but also works that cineaste Jean-Luc Godard and Anne-Marie Miéville shot either together or independently on Lake Geneva, including "Je vous salue Marie" (1985) and "Le livre de Marie" (1986).

The Argentine film festival was founded in 1998 and focuses on trends in independent filmmaking. This year it is also presenting two films by young talented Swiss directors: Christine Repond's feature film debut "Silberwald"; and the documentary film "Novembre" by Abel Davoine. Nicolas Wadimoff's film "Aisheen (Still Alive in Gaza)" has been screened at some 20 festivals since it premiered in Berlin in 2010 and was nominated for the Swiss Film Prize "Quartz 2011." Wadimoff will also present the film "Fix Me" by Palestinian director Raed Andoni, which was coproduced by Wadimoff's firm Akka Films.

Zurich, April 5, 2011