Appellations Suisse 2003 – 56th Locarno International Film Festival
23.07.2003
The Locarno International Film Festival is not only the largest and most important international film event in Switzerland, it also allows the best international exposure for Swiss films. Three years ago, the festival initiated the ”Appellations Suisse” section together with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR idée Suisse), professional associations and the Swiss Film Center in order to provide the public in Locarno an overview of the leading Swiss films from the previous year. The national film promotion organisation has selected ten Swiss films produced for the cinema for this year’s program: two feature films, seven documentary films and a short feature film. In Locarno, these films reflect film production in Switzerland for the past year and, represent Swiss filmmaking, together with the premiere of numerous other Swiss films in various sectors of the festival’s program (for example, competition, Piazza Grande, Critics’ Week).
Films accepted for the ”Appellations Suisse” series are those which have been either screened in the cinema or invited to an important festival since the previous Locarno Film Festival. The selection of the films for the series in 2003 reflects the main focus of the past year’s production, namely documentary films, with portraits in particular. The number of feature films was somewhat limited. There are productions among these ten cinema films which have until now been limited to a region due to language: the public’s favourite, "Mani Matter – warum syt dir so truurig?", will be screened for the first time with French subtitles. In addition, the films "Fremds Land", "Dieter Roth" and "Viaggio a Misterbianco" will be screened in international versions in Locarno, as well as cinematic versions of "Les épaules solides" and "Mission en enfer". The screenings are open to the public, but are primarily aimed at the international professional sector. The films are scheduled to be shown daily at 11 a.m. in the ”L’Altra Sala” cinema and then again on the following day in the ”Cinema Rialto 1” at 10 p.m.
”Appellations Suisse” contributes to a broader distribution of Swiss films with international potential and highlights the quality of Swiss filmmaking. The response to this section of the festival was exceptionally positive in 2002.
Zurich, July 23, 2003
The selected films of the Appellations Suisse 2003:
”Appellations Suisse” contributes to a broader distribution of Swiss films with international potential and highlights the quality of Swiss filmmaking. The response to this section of the festival was exceptionally positive in 2002.
Zurich, July 23, 2003
The selected films of the Appellations Suisse 2003: