Remarkable Swiss Presence at Max Ophuels-Prize Film Festival
14.12.2002
“Ernstfall in Havanna” (Crisis in Havana) by Sabine Boss and “Oltre il confine” (Beyond the Border) by Rolando Colla – both nominated for the 2003 Swiss Film Prize – and a German as well as an Austrian film with Swiss directors are competing at the Max Ophuels-Prize Film Festival in Saarbruecken between January 13-19, 2003. In the short film category, two Swiss productions will be shown as well. In addition, Switzerland is represented with several films in the “Special Topics Series: War”, at the “Spektrum” event, and as part of the short film series “Sprint”.
The very successful comedy in Switzerland, “Ernstfall in Havanna” (Crisis in Havana) starring Viktor Giacobbo, will be shown to a foreign audience in Saarbruecken for the first time. “Oltre il confine” (Beyond the Border) already competed at the Locarno International Film Festival and will have its premiere in movie theatres in the German speaking part of Switzerland on January 30, 2003. Two additional Swiss film directors are competing for the Max Ophuels Prize: Alain Gsponer will screen his film “Kiki & Tiger”, a co-production by Swiss Television DRS and the Film Academy of Baden-Wurtemberg in Stuttgart, Germany, while Valentin Hitz, graduate of the University of Music and the Performing Arts Vienna will present his film “Kaltfront” (Cold front). The grand prize of 18,000 Euros was last given to a Swiss director in 1999 – to Simon Aeby for his film “Three Below Zero”. Competing in the category for short films are “Das Passphoto” (The passport photo) by Christina Zulauf and “Un momento” (Just a moment) by Tim Geser, his final project for the University of Art and Design Zurich, Switzerland.
As part of the “Special Topics Series: War”, three documentary films will be shown which have already secured international attention: “Epoca” by Isabella Huser and Andreas Hoessli, “War Photographer” by Christian Frei, and “Von Werra” by Werner Schweizer. Two Swiss productions will be screened as part of the “Spektrum” event: “Behind me”, the portrait of Bruno Ganz by Norbert Wiedmer and “Gambling, Gods, and LSD” by Peter Mettler. Finally, Swiss filmmaking is also represented with three short films screened as part of the “Sprint” short film series: “Ferrari” by Nicolo Settegrana and “Der Komplex” (The complex) by Fabienne Boesch are both final projects of the University of Art and Design Zurich, while Marcel Hobi will present his animated film “Geranienfriede” (Geranium peace).
The Max Ophuels-Prize Film Festival, previously under the direction of Christel Drawer, has found considerable recognition beyond Germany. The film festival has developed a reputation for actively promoting its prize-winning films, actors and actresses Now in its 24th year, it is directed by Boris Penth.
As part of the “Special Topics Series: War”, three documentary films will be shown which have already secured international attention: “Epoca” by Isabella Huser and Andreas Hoessli, “War Photographer” by Christian Frei, and “Von Werra” by Werner Schweizer. Two Swiss productions will be screened as part of the “Spektrum” event: “Behind me”, the portrait of Bruno Ganz by Norbert Wiedmer and “Gambling, Gods, and LSD” by Peter Mettler. Finally, Swiss filmmaking is also represented with three short films screened as part of the “Sprint” short film series: “Ferrari” by Nicolo Settegrana and “Der Komplex” (The complex) by Fabienne Boesch are both final projects of the University of Art and Design Zurich, while Marcel Hobi will present his animated film “Geranienfriede” (Geranium peace).
The Max Ophuels-Prize Film Festival, previously under the direction of Christel Drawer, has found considerable recognition beyond Germany. The film festival has developed a reputation for actively promoting its prize-winning films, actors and actresses Now in its 24th year, it is directed by Boris Penth.