Swiss Films and Coproductions at the Toronto International Film Festival

Karim Sayad's OF SHEEP AND MEN is being screened in the TIFF Docs section. The film portrays two Algerians hoping to survive through sheepfights. The first feature-length documentary of the young director from Geneva is celebrating its world premiere in Toronto and was produced by Close Up Films in Geneva, as was his short documentary BABOR CASANOVA (2015), which won various prizes. World sales are handled by Autlook Filmsales in Vienna.

The section Special Presentations is showing THE GUARDIANS by the French Cannes and César winner Xavier Beauvois as a world premiere. The feature film was produced by Rita Productions in Geneva and Radio Télévision Suisse in coproduction with France, Monaco and Belgium. The same section is also showing the feature film FOXTROT by Samuel Maoz from Israel, which was coproduced by Bord Cardre Films from Switzerland, with Dan Wechsler as a coproducer, along with production companies from Israel, Germany and France. The film recently had its world premiere in the main competition of the Venice International Film Festival.

North America Premiers for Swiss Animation Films

AIRPORT, the new animation film by Michaela Müller, which had its world premiere at Animafest in Zagreb, is running in the Short Cuts competition as a North America premiere. The much-noticed first animation film by the same director, MIRAMARE (2009), was presented in Cannes, travelled to over 100 festivals and received 18 awards worldwide.

Two Swiss productions have been programmed in the Wavelengths section: the world premiere of the experimental short film BELOW-ABOVE by the artist and filmmaker André Lehmann and A SKIN SO SOFT by Denis Côté from Canada, which celebrated its premiere in the international competition of the Locarno Festival. The Canadian-Swiss-French documentary about six bodybuilders was also coproduced by Close Up Films.

PICTURE OF LIGHT from 1994 by Peter Mettler, which won various awards, is being presented in the TIFF Cinematheque section in a new, digitally restored version.

Swiss Acting Talent at TIFF

The Swiss actor Max Hubacher (DER VERDINGBUB), Swiss Shooting Star at Berlinale 2012, features in the German-Polish-French film THE CAPTAIN by Robert Schwentke. Furthermore, Hubacher has the leading roles in the highly anticipated Swiss films DER LÄUFER by Hannes Baumgartner and MARIO by Marcel Gisler.

Joel Basman, Swiss Shooting Star at Berlinale 2008, has a supporting role in the feature film PAPILLON by Michael Noer – a remake of the 1973 classic. Basman is currently shooting the lead role for Michael Steiner's latest film WOLKENBRUCHS WUNDERLICHE REISE IN DIE ARME EINER SCHICKSE.

Actor Anatole Taubman (DER KREIS) is part of the cast of the first German Netflix series DARK, which will be introduced at TIFF.

SWISS FILMS is present at the Film Market in Toronto with a stall at the TIFF Industry Office at the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Further information on all Swiss productions and coproductions in our SWISS FILMS E-Booklet Toronto 2017 >>

SWISS FILMS, September 5, 2017