Berlinale 2017: “Tiere” screened in the Forum and short films in competition

In the Forum the Polish-Swiss director Greg Zglinski presents “Tiere” (“Animals”), his star-studded psychological thriller featuring the Austrian actors Birgit Minichmayr (Silver Bear 2009) and Philipp Hochmair as well as the Swiss actress Mona Petri in the leading roles. The film was produced by tellfilm in Zurich, together with Coop 99 Filmproduktion from Austria and Opus Film from Poland. World Sales have been acquired by Be For Films from Belgium. Zglinski studied under Krzysztof Kieslowski at the Polish National College of Film, Television and Theatre in Lodz. His debut “Tout un hiver sans feu” was honoured with two awards at the Mostra in Venice in 2004 as well as with the Swiss Film Award.

Swiss short films in competition

Laurence Bonvin’s 20-minute documentary film “Avant l‘envol” (“Before The Flight”) will compete in the Berlinale Shorts section. The film director coproduced her film with the Ivory Coast Goethe Institute and won the Best Swiss Camera Award at the International Kurzfilmtage Winterthur. With this architectural journey of discovery through Abidjan, Bonvin continues her examination of urban themes with her latest work, which includes the South African township of Blikkiesdorp and Las Vegas.

Two Animation graduates from the Lucerne School of Art and Design will present their latest animation films in the Generation section: Fabio Friedli’s “In A Nutshell” (production: YK Animation Studio) will compete in the Generation 14plus section. Friedli’s last animation film “Bon voyage” (2011) experienced an extremely successful international festival career and garnered many awards. Also competing in the Generation Kplus is “Der kleine Vogel und die Raupe” (“The Little Bird and the Caterpillar”; production: Schattenkabinett) by Lena von Döhren, her third animation film highlighting the little bird’s adventures. All the films were screened at the Berlinale and invited to festivals around the world.

Documentary coproductions in Panorama

Raoul Peck’s documentary film “I Am Not Your Negro”, which has been nominated for an Oscar, has been selected for the Panorama Dokumente section. The film was coproduced by Close Up Films and celebrated its world premiere at the TIFF. Also screened in this section will be “Istiyad Ashbah” (“Ghost Hunting”) by the Palestinian director Raed Andoni (France, Switzerland, Palestine), a Swiss coproduction by Akka Films.

The documentary film “Raving Iran” by Susanne Regina Meures, winner of the First Steps Award, has been invited as a guest in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino programme.

The Swiss filmmaker and producer Samir (“Iraqi Odyssey”, Dschoint Ventschr) is a jury member for the Glashütte Original Documentary Award, which goes to a documentary film entry from the current Berlinale sections.

Berlinale talents and Swiss actors in the limelight

The director and producer Luka Popadić and the director and screenwriter Elena López Riera have been invited by Berlinale Talents, the networking platform for outstanding emerging talents in the film industry, to present their latest projects to international experts.

A number of Swiss actors and actresses are in the limelight with international productions at the Berlinale: for example, Bruno Ganz is featured in Sally Potter’s “The Party” as well as Marie Leuenberger in Thomas Arslan’s “Helle Nächte”, both of which will be screened in the main competition. Bruno Ganz can be seen again in the Berlinale Special programme in “In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts” by Matti Geschonneck, as well as Anatol Taubmann in “Es war einmal in Deutschland..” by Sam Garbarski. Leonardo Nigro has a role in the film “Zwischen den Jahren” by Lars Henning screened in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section and Ella Rumpf in “Tiger Girl” by Jakob Lass, screened in the Panorama.

Lola at Berlinale

Three Swiss coproductions which have been shortlisted for a German Film Award nomination will be presented to an audience of film professionals and members of the German Film Academy in the Lola at Berlinale programme: “Die Welt der Wunderlichs” by Dani Levy (coproduction: Zodiac Pictures); “Marija” by Michael Koch (coproduction: Hugofilm Productions); and the documentary film “Cahier africain” by Heidi Specogna (production: PS Film).

SWISS FILMS is present with a stand at the European Film Market EFM from February 9-17.

SWISS FILMS, February 3, 2017