Switzerland – source of striking francophone films

Switzerland is present with four film productions and coproductions in competitions, as well as seven further productions in the festival’s selection at the 27^th Festival International du Film Francophone in Namur, Belgium (September 28 - October 5, 2012). The film “Avanti” – currently participating in the International Competition at the Zurich Film Festival – will be screened in Namur in the Emerging Directors Competition. Emmanuelle Antille, the director of the film, will attend the festival to present her film personally to the audience in the Wallonian capital of Namur, together with the French actress Nina Meurisse, who performed in the film’s leading role. The short film “On The Beach” by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo, from Neuchâtel, is in the running for the Bayard d’Or in the international Short Film Competition, while the film “Un monde meilleur” by Sacha Feiner and co-produced by Rita Productions in Geneva, has excellent prospects of winning an award in the National Competition.

Romandy draws attention with strong documentary and fiction films
Contending in the Official Competition for Switzerland is the documentary film “Hiver Nomade,” which was discovered last February at the Berlinale and has since been screened at ten major festivals all over the world. Apart from screening Manuel von Stürler’s directing debut, the festival will also present Eileen Hofer’s feature-length film debut “He Was A Giant With Brown Eyes” as well as the Romanian-Swiss coproduction “Scoala Noastra” by Mona Nicoara and Miruna Coca-Cozma in the “Regards du present” section. Nicolas Wadimoff’s fiction film “Opération Libertad,” which celebrated its premiere in Cannes this year, will be screened in Belgium as well.

Zurich, September 26, 2012