Awarding of the Swiss Film Prize 2007
24.01.2007
At the awards ceremony of the Swiss Film Prize 2007, Fredi M. Murer’s «Vitus» was selected as the winner of «Best Fiction Film» and awarded a sum of sixty thousand Swiss francs. The prize for «Best Documentary Film», also with a sum of sixty thousand Swiss francs, went to «Das kurze Leben des José Antonio Gutierrez» by Heidi Specogna. The prize for «Best Short Film» was presented to «Feierabend» by Alex E. Kleinberger, with a sum of thirty thousand Swiss francs. The prize for «Best Animated Film», which is awarded every two years, was presented to «Wolkenbruch» by Simon Eltz, with a sum of thirty thousand Swiss francs as well. The prizes for the categories of «Best Performance in a Leading Role» and «Best Performance in a Supporting Role», each with a sum of fifteen thousand Swiss francs, were awarded to Jean-Luc Bideau and Natacha Koutchoumov for their respective roles in the films «Mon frère se marie» and «Pas de Panique». The «Jury Prize», with a sum of twenty thousand Swiss francs, was awarded to the ensemble in the film «Nachbeben» by Stina Werenfels. The prize in the category of «Best Screenplay», which was awarded for the first time, went to «Das Fräulein» by Andrea Štaka, with a sum of fifteen thousand Swiss francs.
The prizes were awarded Wednesday evening in conjunction with the 42nd Solothurn Film Festival, with Gilles Tschudi as the master of ceremonies. The awards were presented by: actor Michael Finger, actor Carlos Leal and Shooting Star 2007 Nils Althaus; film directors and former prizewinners Samir and Denis Rabaglia; author Güzin Kar and television reporter Monika Schärer; cartoonist and animator Albertine; as well as Armin Walpen, managing director of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) and Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin together with Nicolas Bideau, Head of the Film Department at the Federal Office for Culture. As «Presenting Sponsor» of the Swiss Film Prize 2007, Paul Müller, managing director of Swiss Life, presented the prize for the «Best Performance in a Leading Role». Further prizes were presented by the managing directors of the co-sponsoring firms «1to1 energy» and «Swiss Post». The Swiss Film Prize, the tenth since its inception, is the most important national distinction of quality for films. It is organised by the Federal Office for Culture, in collaboration with SWISS FILMS, SRG SSR idée suisse, the Locarno International Film Festival, the Nyon documentary film festival «Visions du reel» and the Solothurn Film Festival. This year’s new prize for «Best Screenplay» was awarded for the first time and is financed by Suissimage and the Swiss Authors’ Rights Society (SSA).
The jury for the Swiss Film Prize 2007, presided over by renowned author Charles Lewinsky, was comprised of the following members: Catherine Ann Berger, film dramaturge and critic; Sabine Gisiger, film director («Gambit», «Do It» Swiss Film Prize 2001); Frédéric Guillaume, animation filmmaker («Max & Co»); Noémie Kocher, actress («Aime ton père», «Henry Dunant – du Rouge sur la Croix»); Pierre-Alain Meier, film director and producer (including films by Fernando Solanas); as well as Serge Sobczynski, in charge of «Tous les Cinémas du Monde» at the Cannes Film Festival. Together with the monetary prize, the directors of the winning films were presented with a trophy – a professional «viewfinder» which can be used in their filmmaking activities.
Zurich, 24 January 2007
Laudatio 2007
The jury for the Swiss Film Prize 2007, presided over by renowned author Charles Lewinsky, was comprised of the following members: Catherine Ann Berger, film dramaturge and critic; Sabine Gisiger, film director («Gambit», «Do It» Swiss Film Prize 2001); Frédéric Guillaume, animation filmmaker («Max & Co»); Noémie Kocher, actress («Aime ton père», «Henry Dunant – du Rouge sur la Croix»); Pierre-Alain Meier, film director and producer (including films by Fernando Solanas); as well as Serge Sobczynski, in charge of «Tous les Cinémas du Monde» at the Cannes Film Festival. Together with the monetary prize, the directors of the winning films were presented with a trophy – a professional «viewfinder» which can be used in their filmmaking activities.
Zurich, 24 January 2007
Laudatio 2007