Langjahr, Cattin, Argerich and Mettler in Buenos Aires

Swiss filmmaker Erich Langjahr will be honoured with a retrospective at the 15^th Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival BAFICI (April 10-21, 2013). The retrospective was initiated in collaboration with SWISS FILMS and comprises four of his documentary films from 1990 to 2012: “Männer im Ring”; “Hirtenreise ins dritte Jahrtausend” (Shepherds' Journey Into The Third Millenium); “Das Erbe der Bergler” (Alpine Saga – A Film About Mountain Haymaking); and his most recent film production “Mein erster Berg – Ein Rigi Film” (My First Mountain). These works reflect Langjahr’s sensitivity for tradition and change, for preservation and endangerment of one’s native land. Erich Langjahr and his co-director Silvia Haselbeck will present the films personally in Buenos Aires. In previous years, the BAFICI had already dedicated retrospectives to film directors Fernand Melgar (2012), Thomas Imbach, Daniel Schmid (both in 2011) and Peter Liechti (2010).

Strong presence for Swiss documentary films
The festival will screen in the International Competition the coproduction “Playback” by Antoine Cattin and Pavel Kostomarov, a portrait of the Russian director Alexei Guerman. The festival’s presentation of Fernand Melgar’s latest film “Le monde est comme ça” establishes a link to last year’s Melgar retrospective. Also invited to the festival are Markus Imhoof’s multi-award-winning documentary film “More Than Honey” (Swiss Film Award 2013, Best Documentary Award Santa Barbara, among others) and Peter Mettler’s “The End Of Time,” which has already been screened at more than 15 festivals since its premiere in Locarno. Mettler is also a member of this year’s international jury. Finally, the festival will also present “Argerich” (Bloody Daughter), the cinematic portrait of pianist Martha Argerich. The Swiss director Stéphanie Argerich – the protagonist’s daughter – will attend the festival, as well as Antoine Cattin and his film producer Elena Hill. This festival in Buenos Aires featuring independent film productions is the most important in Argentina, apart from the Mar del Plata International Film Festival held annually in November.

Zurich, April 9, 2013