Strong Swiss presence in Cannes

The Italian-Swiss-German coproduction “Le meraviglie” is the second fiction film by the Italian director Alice Rohrwacher. The autobiographic film about her family was coproduced by Tiziana Soudani (Amka Films Productions, Ticino), and features the Bernese actress Sabine Timoteo in a role alongside Alice’s sister Alba Rohrwacher. “Clouds Of Sils Maria” is a French-German-Swiss coproduction by French director Olivier Assayas. The fiction film was coproduced by CAB Productions (Jean-Louis Porchet / Gérard Ruey) and shot in Sils Maria, Berlin, Leipzig and in South Tyrol. The Swiss actor Gilles Tschudi (Basel) performs together with Kristen Stewart and Juliette Binoche.

In the last ten years, two Swiss coproductions have made the shortlist for the International Competition in Cannes: “Juventude em marcha” (2003) and “Ce jour-là” (2006). Also in the running for this year’s Palme d’or is “Adieu au langage,” the latest fiction film by the French-Swiss dual citizen Jean-Luc Godard. A total of 18 films, coproduced by 28 countries, will be screened in the main competition of the 67th edition of the largest film festival.
 
The short film “En août” by 24-year-old Jenna Hasse has been selected for the Directors’ Fortnight section. Born in Lisbon, the Portuguese-Swiss dual citizen Jenna Hasse grew up in french-speaking Switzerland and studied Film History and Drama in Lausanne and Geneva. “En août” – her first autonomous short film – was shot in Ovronnaz (canton of Wallis) and produced in Mont-sur-Rolle (VD).

In the Official Selection, Special Screenings, the festival will present the feature-length film “Les ponts de Sarajevo” which recalls the outbreak of the First World War 100 years ago. This composite is comprised of 13 short films by eminent European filmmakers. Ursula Meier (“Silence, Mujo”) and Jean-Luc Godard (“Le pont des soupirs”) have each contributed a short film. Bande à part Films in Lausanne is also coproducer of the work together with five further European producers.

During the film festival in Cannes, European Film Promotion (EPF) invites a select number of European producers to participate in the Croisette for networking and exchanging information and experiences. The film producer Elodie Brunner (Box Productions, Renens VD) will represent Switzerland in the Producers on the Move forum. Her last award-winning coproduction “Iranien” celebrated its premiere at the Berlinale 2014. She is currently working on the film “Pause.”

SWISS FILMS, April 22, 2014