8 Swiss short films at Palm Springs ShortFest
Eight short films from Switzerland will be screened at the renowned Palm Springs International ShortFest, three of which are animation films. Furthermore, FACING MECCA by Jan-Eric Mack (Dschoint Ventschr) will celebrate its world premiere. The Palm Springs ShortFest is the largest short film event in North America and is an Oscar® and BAFTA®-qualifying festival.
19.06.2017
More than 4000 short films from over 100 countries were submitted for the Palm Springs ShortFest; approximately 350 short films were selected for screening in 55 themed programmes.
FACING MECCA by Jan-Eric Mack will celebrate its world premiere in the Departures Programme of the International Jury Competition. Festival Director Liliana Rodriguez ranks this short film, produced by Joel Jent, among the festival’s ten “must-see” films. Christophe M. Saber’s PUNCHLINE was recently honoured with the Audience Award – Short Narrative 2017 at the Brooklyn International Film Festival and will be screened in two programmes in Palm Springs: Cons & Consequences and Opening Night.
Three productions from French-speaking Switzerland were selected: COMME DES LOUPS by Aude Sublet (C’est la vie!); MARTIEN by Maxime Pillonel (Communication Breakdowns); and PAS VU PAS PRIS by Frédéric Mermoud (Getting It On).
Three award-winning Swiss animation films
The three Swiss animation films screened at ShortFest have already won numerous awards: AU REVOIR BALTHAZAR by Rafael Sommerhalder (Salt in the Air) was honoured with the Swiss Film Award 2017 for Best Animation Film, as well as further awards in Tallinn, Geneva and Solothurn, to name just a few. HYPERTRAIN by Fela Bellotto and Etienne Kompis (International Jury Competition - Animal Instincts) won the Swiss Youth Award 2016 at Fantoche, and IN A NUTSHELL by Fabio Friedli ( International Jury Competition - Life Cycle / Opening Night) won the Animated Eye Award at the Aspen Short Fest 2017. All three films can already boast a striking festival career.
Palm Springs: Oscar® and BAFTA®-qualifying
If a film wins one of the four following awards in Palm Springs, it qualifies for submission to the Academy Awards for an Oscar® consideration: Best of the Festival Award, Best Animation Short, Best Live Action Short 5 minutes and under, Best Live Action Short over 15 minutes.
Until now, the ShortFest in Palm Springs has presented over 100 short films that have gone on to receive an Oscar® nomination and/or an Oscar in either of the short film categories (Live Action/Animated). Last year BON VOYAGE won the Award Best Live Action Short Over 15 Minutes in Palm Springs and reached the Oscar®-Short List in the category Live Action Short.
SWISS FILMS, June 19, 2017