Switzerland celebrates Short Film Day for the first time on December 21

Various organisations and festivals devoted to the promotion and distribution of short film productions have joined forces to launch a special event, initiated in France in 2011, held for the first time in Switzerland this year.

06.12.2013

Various organisations and festivals devoted to the promotion and distribution of short film productions have joined forces to launch a special event, initiated in France in 2011, held for the first time in Switzerland this year. In celebration of the short film genre, SWISS FILMS, the International Short Film Festival Winterthur and shnit in Bern, Base-Court and SRF will all showcase special film programmes on the shortest day of the year, December 21.

Five institutions involved in the promotion of short film productions are participating in the Short Film Day: SWISS FILMS, the promotion agency, will present a programme called “This Is Not A Funny Programme” showcasing ten European short films focusing on the theme of humour in Europe. Short Circuit – European Network of Short Film and Video Art Distributors, to which SWISS FILMS also belongs, compiled this programme. It will be presented simultaneously in the ten respective European countries, each of which have contributed a film. The multi-award-winning comedy “L’amour bègue” by Jan Czarlewski was selected from Switzerland.

Two programmes by shnit and the Short Film Festival Winterthur
Switzerland’s two most important international short film festivals – shnit International Shortfilmfestival in Bern and the International Short Film Festival Winterthur – have jointly compiled two film programmes called “Kurzfilmzeit” to be screened in 15 different cities in Switzerland on this day. The “Auslese 2013” programme is comprised of seven productions screened at both festivals this year – including the Swiss film “Montauk” by Vinz Feller; the “Retrospektive 2013” programme is comprised of eight productions screened at both festivals in previous years.

Short film as run-up and the long night of short films
The two-minute Swiss animation short film “Moonstruck” by Christoph Gabathuler will be presented in the run-up to all films screened in every Pathé cinema throughout all of Switzerland on December 21. This has been made possible by a partnership between Pathé cinemas and the Base-Court Association. Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) is participating in this celebration with “the long night of short films”: three film programmes comprised of numerous international and Swiss productions will be broadcast on SRF 2 from 9.50 p.m. to the wee hours in the morning.

Geneva, December 4, 2013