Swiss filmmaking in Locarno: MONTE VERITÀ on the Piazza Grande, SOUL OF A BEAST in International Competition

Lorenz Merz’s SOUL OF A BEAST (produced by Hesse Film, 8horses, Milan Film, SRG SSR, SRF, blue+) will celebrate its world premiere with a screening in the International Competition. Starring in the leading roles are Swiss actresses Ella Rumpf and Luna Wedler, who were honoured as European Shooting Stars at the Berlinale in 2018 and 2020. This is the director’s second feature-length film to be screened in Locarno, after CHERRY PIE.

Laurent Geslin’s nature film LYNX (JMH & FILO Films) will be screened on the Piazza Grande as part of the pre-festival programme. Stefan Jäger’s historical drama MONTE VERITÀ will celebrate its world premiere on the Piazza Grande – very close to the film’s original locations. The film features two other European Shooting Stars – Swiss actors Max Hubacher and Joel Basman – as well as the popular German actresses Hannah Herzsprung and Julia Jentsch. The Swiss-Austrian-German coproduction was realised by Kathrin Renz (tellfilm) together with KGP Filmproduktion, Vienna, COIN FILM Köln and RSI.

The Swiss-Georgian feature film WET SAND by Elene Naveriani (maximage, Takes Film, SRF), as well as ZAHORÍ by Marí Alessandrini, a coproduction between Switzerland, Argentina, Chile and France (Le Laboratoire Central, El Calefón, Cinestacion, Norte Productions), have been selected for the Cineasti del presente competition. The director was honoured with the Pardo 2020 of the Swiss selection of The Films After Tomorrow programme for her film project.

Ten Swiss short films will be screened in the National Competition section of Pardi di domani for emerging talent. Awaiting discovery are films by Kilian Vilim or Loïc Hobi, among others. The newly created Corti d’autore section within Pardi di domani will showcase short films by established filmmakers: for example, Cyril Schäublin’s GOTTA FABRICATE YOUR OWN GIFTS and the Argentine-Swiss coproduction CRIATURA by María Silvia Esteve.

Competing in the independent Semaine de la critique is Heidi Specogna’s new documentary film STAND UP MY BEAUTY (Fama Film Zurich, Ma.ja.de. Filmproduktions GmbH Berlin, SRF, ZDF/3sat), as well as Saeed Taji Farouky’s A THOUSAND FIRES, a minority coproduction with Geneva-based Akka Films.

First Look with focus on Switzerland
In partnership with SWISS FILMS, the Festival will be presenting a selection of new Swiss works in post-production as part of the First Look 2021 industry event during the Locarno Pro days. Producers of the six selected projects will have the opportunity to present their films to an industry audience shortly before completion. A jury comprised of international festival delegates will award several highly endowed prizes. First Look 2021 marks the start of a partnership between SWISS FILMS and the Festival that will be continued in the coming years.

SWISS FILMS in Locarno
In collaboration with the Solothurn Film Festival and Swiss Film Academy, SWISS FILMS has selected 10 feature-length and two Swiss short film productions that celebrated success at international festivals last year for the Panorama Suisse section. The films include, among others, MY LITTLE SISTER, which premiered at the Berlinale 2020; the Ticinese feature film ATLAS by Niccolò Castelli, which was recently released in Italy; OSTROV – LOST ISLAND, which was honoured with the award for Best Documentary Film at Hot Docs Toronto; and the short film THE GAME, which was screened in Venice at TIFF and the IDFA.

SWISS FILMS facilitates the international launch of Swiss film productions in the Festival programme with communication and promotion activities and is present with an Info Point in Palazzo Sopracenerina.

SWISS FILMS, July 28, 2021