Swiss animation films captivate in Annecy

Seven works will represent Switzerland this year at the 37^th Annecy International Animated Film Festival (June 10-15, 2013), this year under the artistic direction of Quebecer Marcel Jean for the first time. All Swiss film productions and coproductions will be screened in various festival competitions.

Schwizgebel and Annecy: a love story
Georges Schwizgebel, the master of animation filmmaking from Geneva, is a regular guest at the festival. Since the beginning of his career, almost all of his films have been screened in Annecy. He will personally present his film “Chemin faisant” (Auf dem Weg), which will be screened in the Short Film Competition and is thus in the running for an Annecy Crystal. The short film “Le banquet de la concubine” by Chinese director Hefang Wei (coproduction: Nadasdy Film, Geneva) will also be screened in the same competition.

Graduation films screened in competition
Two films from the Lucerne School of Art and Design (HSLU) will be screened in the Graduation Films Competition: Michael Frei’s successful experimental animation film “Plug & Play,” which has already been screened at such prestigious festivals as Clermont-Ferrand and Tokyo; and the film “Frühzug” by Delia Hess, which celebrated its premiere last year at the Fantoche Festival in Baden. In addition, three further films will be presented at the festival in Annecy: both “Mass Construction” by Oliver Conrad and “Vitra Silent Wall” by Dustin Rees will participate in the Commissioned Film Competition; and the “Flapper & Friends” series by the Polish filmmakers Krzysztof Brzozowski and Jacek Lechtanski, co-directed by Luc Toutounghi, Pascal Forney and Victor Jaquier from Switzerland, in the TV Film Competition.

New promotions-DVD von SWISS FILMS
SWISS FILMS, the promotion agency, will honour the Swiss films selected by the festival and present its Promotions-DVD “swiss shorts_25” comprised of 18 short animation films at a cocktail gathering on June 12, 2013. International and Swiss guests assemble at this event showcasing Swiss animation filmmaking. It was organised in collaboration with several Swiss partners.

Geneva, June 6, 2013