Swiss documentary and animated films at 2006 Leipzig Festival
25.10.2006
Along with 18 additional films, «Das Erbe der Bergler/Alpine Saga – A Film about Mountain Haymaking» by Erich Langjahr is in the running for this year’s “Golden Dove” in the international competition at the 49th International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film (October 30 – November 5, 2006). The documentary film «The Short Life of José Antonio Gutierrez» by Heidi Specogna (Production: PS Film, Zurich) will be part of the German competition. For the animated film competition, which comprises 49 works and awards a «Golden Dove» as well, «Jeu/Play» by Georges Schwizgebel, «The Cleaner» by Dustin Rees, and «Tarte aux pommes» by Isabelle Favez have been invited. The «DOK Leipzig» bestows monetary prizes totaling 54,000 Euro.
Additional Swiss documentary films in the festival program are «Hippie Masala» by Ulrich Grossenbacher and Damaris Lüthi, as well as «Chasseur/Hunter» by Alexandre Charlet. In the «Animations for Children» series, «The Fourth King» by Ted Sieger and Michael Ekbladh will be screened. Their film recently won an award at the AniMadrid festival.
Erich Langjahr, who won the Golden Dove for his previous film «Shepherd’s Journey into the Third Millenium», is again in the running for the award with his new film «Alpine Saga – A Film about Mountain Haymaking». The Leipzig Documentary Film Festival has been following Langjahr’s work for many years: it has shown the entirely of his films since 1974, and awarded the film «Ex Voto» with a special prize by the jury in 1987, while his films «Sennen-Ballade» and «The Peasant’s War» won the special prize by Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment in 1996 and 1998. The film by the Swiss director has also attracted great interest in Vienna: After «Ex Voto» and «Shepherd’s Journey into the Third Millenium», «Alpine Saga – A Film about Mountain Haymaking» is currently presented at the Viennale, the largest Austrian film event.
With a market for documentary films, the Leipzig Film Festival has been attentive to the increased growth of this genre, and it has been expanding its function as a bridge between Middle and Eastern European productions.
Zurich, October 25, 2006
Erich Langjahr, who won the Golden Dove for his previous film «Shepherd’s Journey into the Third Millenium», is again in the running for the award with his new film «Alpine Saga – A Film about Mountain Haymaking». The Leipzig Documentary Film Festival has been following Langjahr’s work for many years: it has shown the entirely of his films since 1974, and awarded the film «Ex Voto» with a special prize by the jury in 1987, while his films «Sennen-Ballade» and «The Peasant’s War» won the special prize by Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment in 1996 and 1998. The film by the Swiss director has also attracted great interest in Vienna: After «Ex Voto» and «Shepherd’s Journey into the Third Millenium», «Alpine Saga – A Film about Mountain Haymaking» is currently presented at the Viennale, the largest Austrian film event.
With a market for documentary films, the Leipzig Film Festival has been attentive to the increased growth of this genre, and it has been expanding its function as a bridge between Middle and Eastern European productions.
Zurich, October 25, 2006