Strong Swiss presence at film festival in Cannes

In the film "Cleveland vs. Wallstreet - Mais mit dä Bänkler" (producer: Saga Production, Lausanne), Jean-Stéphane Bron, who directed the successful documentary film "Mais im Bundeshuus" (2003), unfurls the background information of the financial crisis. The film depicts a trial in Cleveland, an American city shattered by a severe crisis caused by low-cost mortgages. Michaela Müller's debut film "Miramare", for which she drew all the illustrations, provides a glimpse of a Swiss family spending their summer holidays in the Mediterranean.

Films produced by Swiss firms will also be screened in Cannes. Bord Cadre Films, from Geneva, participated in the film "Aurora" by Rumanian film director Cristi Puiu, a coproduction between Germany, France, Rumania and Switzerland (production: Bord Cadre Films, Geneva) which will be screened in the "Un certain regard" section. The film deals with the midlife crisis of a man who is an engineer and father of two young daughters. Cristi Puiu, who graduated from the College of Fine Arts in Geneva (ESBA), is currently working on the sound postproduction together with the Swiss sound engineer François Musy. In addition, Ventura Film, from Ticino, participated as the partner in "Le Quattro Volte" by Italian director Michelangelo Frammartino. The film, comprised of four episodes and set in Calabria, will be screened in the "Directors' Fortnight" section. The Swiss actor and Shooting Star 2008 Joel Basman, who has the leading role of the German film "Picco" (Directors' Fortnight), will also be present in Cannes.

Patrick Ferla, radio journalist at RSR, is one of the five jury members of "Un Certain Regard", whereas Christian Jungen, film critic of the "NZZ am Sonntag", takes part in the FIPRESCI jury along with eight other journalists. The feature-length documentary "Fix Me" by Raed Andoni, a coproduction with Akka Films of Geneva, is screening within the ACID (Association du Cinéma Indépendant pour sa Diffusion) film programme.

The Zurich film producer Anne Walser (C-Films) will participate in the "Producers On The Move" event. The European Film Promotion is showcasing 23 young producers from all over Europe and their projects with this event in Cannes. Anne Walser produced the film "Marcello Marcello" by Denis Rabaglia, as well as the debut film "Amok" by Cihan Inan, not yet released.

Peter Liechti, award-winner of the European Film Award - Prix Arte 2009 for Best Documentary Film with "The Sound of Insects", will participate in the "Documentary Brunch". The brunch is organised by Marché International du Film as a meeting place for the masters of documentary films and will take place on May 18.

Zurich, April 20, 2010