Venice Film Festival

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING by German director Timm Kröger will compete in the Venezia 80 Competition, the festival’s main competition. The Swiss coproducer of this German-Austrian-Swiss feature film is Catpics.

Shot in black and white, the thriller is set in the early 1960s at a physicists’ congress in the Swiss Alps. The main roles are performed by the German actors Jan Bülow and Hanns Zischler, British actress Olivia Ross and internationally renowned Swiss actor David Bennent. Other Swiss members of the cast and crew include actor Philippe Graber as well as film editor Jann Anderegg.

The Italian-Swiss drama LUBO by Italian director Giorgio Diritti will also be screened in the main competition. The film was coproduced by hugofilm features and has German star Franz Rogowsky performing the lead role. The story revolves around Lubo, a soldier of Yenish descent serving in the Swiss Army during World War II, during which time his children are taken away from him by the authorities. The cast features numerous Swiss actors, including Joel Basman, Christophe Sermet, Cecilia Steiner, Noemi Besedes and Diego Benz.

The feature-length animation film NOWHERE by Italian director Simone Massi has been selected for screening in the Orizzonti Competition, which is dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends, with special attention to debut films and new talents. Coproducer of this Italian-Swiss coproduction is Ticino-based Amka Films Productions.

The Irish film IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS will celebrate its world premiere in the Orizzonti Extra. The Swiss sibling composer trio Nora, Diego and Lionel Baldenweg composed the film score.

THE PALACE, the new film by Roman Polanski and a Swiss coproduction by CAB Productions, will be screened out of competition.

Two coproductions in independent sections

The French-Swiss feature film SIDONIE IN JAPAN by French director Élise Girard will be screened in the independent parallel section Giornate degli autori. The film features Isabelle Huppert and August Diehl. Swiss coproducer is Box Productions.

GOD IS A WOMAN by Swiss-Panamanian director Andres Peyrot, will be screened in the Settimana Internazionale della critica parallel section. The first feature-length documentary by Peyrot was selected as the opening film of this independent section of Italian film critics, Swiss coproduction P.S. Productions.

Focus on immersive formats

The festival’s Venice Immersive programme is entirely devoted to immersive narrative formats. Swiss illustrator and VR artist Zoe Roellin will present her 17-minute VR animation film PERENNIALS in this competition. The project was produced by US-based Meta Platforms, Inc.

Numerous industry events focusing on the realm of immersion will be held at the Venice Immersive Market, providing an opportunity for professionals in this sphere to network. SWISS FILMS has invited experts to two panel discussions under the label “Swiss Immersion”.

Zoe Roellin will be talking about PERENNIALS at the “Meet the Creators” event (August 31, 5pm). The panel discussion will be moderated by Liz Rosenthal, co-curator of Venice Immersive.

The “Sensory Storytelling in XR” panel discussion (September 1, 2pm) is a collaborative event organized by SWISS FILMS, Cinéforom, GIFF Geneva International Film Festival, Immersive Art Space, ZHdK and Virtual Switzerland. Participants in the discussion, moderated by Laetitia Bochud (Virtual Switzerland), include Christopher Salter (Immersive Art Space, ZHdK), Zoe Roellin (director), Patrick Muroni (director), Susana Panadés Diaz (lead dance artist, Cie Gilles Jobin).

The Book Adaptation Rights Market is organised as part of the Venice Production Bridge during the Venice Film Market. Publishing houses and literary agencies will present works for which film rights can be acquired. Diogenes Verlag is participating from Switzerland.