Locarno puts Swiss films into the limelight

In the international competition, the feature film debut “Das Fraulein” by Andrea Staka (Production: Dschoint Ventschr, Zurich) will be shown. The film is a sensitive portrayal of three immigrant women from the former Yugoslavia who live in Zurich. “Die Herbstzeitlosen” (Autumn crocus) by Bettina Oberli (Production: Catpics, Zurich), in which a group of adventurous female senior citizens defy patriarchic customs in the Swiss Emmental region, kicks off the screenings of Swiss films at the Piazza Grande on August 4th. The documentary film “La liste de Carla” (Carla’s list) by Marcel Schüpbach (CAB Productions, Lausanne) will be presented on the largest open-air movie screen in Europe on August 5th. This film about Carla del Ponte, prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, highlights yet another strong female personality. On August 8th and as part of the “Swiss Film Day”, the feature film debut “Mon frère se marie” by Jean-Stéphane Bron (Production: Box Productions, Renens) follows, where complications arise in an adoptive family. On the Piazza Grande, new works by winners of the Swiss Film Prize will be featured: Georges Schwizgebel presents his newest animated film “Jeu/Play” (Studio GDS, Geneva), while Frédéric Mermoud offers his short film “Rachel” to the audience.



In the Cinéastes du Présent section, which has begun awarding prizes this year, the feature film “La vraie vie est ailleurs” (The true life is elsewhere) by Frédéric Choffat (Rita Production, Geneva) will be shown. Outside of competition, the Cinéastes du Présent section presents the feature film “La traductrice” (The translator) by Elena Hazanov (Production: Ventura Film, Meride), as well as the documentary films “Que viva Mauricio Demierre” (Long live Mauricio Demierre) by Stéphane Goël (Production Climage, Lausanne), “Feltrinelli” by Alessandro Rossetto (Co-production: Dschoint Ventschr) and “No Body is perfect”, a French-produced documentary film by Swiss director Raphaël Sibilla. In the Semaine de la Critique section, which has traditionally been dedicated to documentary film, the new film “Hardcore Chambermusic” by Peter Liechti will celebrate its premiere, along with “Das Erbe der Bergler/ Alpine Saga – A Film about Mountain Haymaking” by Erich Langjahr, and “Zeit des Abschieds” (Time of farewell) by Mehdi Sahebi. “La petite dame du Capitole/The Little Lady Of The Capitole” by Jacqueline Veuve will be shown in a special series at the festival which is themed “Film in Films”. Reserved for short films only, the Pardi di Domani section will present 17 short films, among them the award-winning film “Amancay” by Milagros Mumenthaler and “Beckenrand” by Michael Koch, director of the much-noticed film “Wir sind dir treu” (We are faithful to you). On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the SRG SSR idée suisse will present the television film “Die Schweiz – Eine Idee” (Switzerland – an idea) by Daniel Hitzig..





Zurich, July 12, 2006