Swiss films at Mostra in Venice
30.07.2009
The highly anticipated fiction film “Pepperminta” by Pipilotti Rist (production: Hugofilm, Zurich) will celebrate its premiere at Mostra, the 66th Venice International Film Festival in (September 2-12, 2009). The film by the internationally renowned Swiss artist will be screened in the “Orizzonti” competition with two other Swiss film productions also celebrating their premieres: the documentary film “Hugo en Afrique” by the Ticinese director Stefano Knuchel; and the fiction film “La Berceuse” by the Tunisian director Raja Amari, a coproduction of Akka Films in Geneva.
The “Premio Orizzonti” and “Premio Orizzonti DOC” awards will be presented by a five-member jury, which is presided over by Spanish producer Pere Portabella. The jury is comprised of the Luxemburgish artist and filmmaker Bady Mink, the Korean-American director Gina Kim, the Indonesian director Garin Nugroho and the Italian-American director Gianfranco Rosi.
The 47-year-old video artist Pipilotti Rist presents her first fiction film for the cinema with “Pepperminta”. In the magical, visually stunning contemporary fantasy, Pepperminta sets out together with her friends to save the world. Immediately following its premiere in Venice (September 5), the film will be released in Swiss cinemas on September 10 (distribution: Frenetic). With “Hugo en Afrique - Dans le labyrinthe africain de Hugo Pratt”, Stefano Knuchel, the 43-year-old director from Locarno, is presenting his new documentary film following “Nocaut”. The film is dedicated to Hugo Pratt, the Italian comic book author and creator of the legendary character Corto Maltese. The 38-year-old director Raja Amari, who was born in Tunis and studied at the La Fémis Film School in Paris, made a name for herself in 2002 with “Satin Rouge”. Her new fiction film “La Berceuse” is based on a screenplay, which was co-authored by Antoine Jaccoud. The cinematographer of the film was Renato Berta, who is from Ticino and lives in Ticino. He will be honoured with the “Premio Cinema Ticino” award at the Locarno International Film Festival on August 11. The film “La Berceuse” will be distributed in Swiss cinemas by Filmcoopi.
Apart from the short films previously screened in the “CortoCortissimo” section – “Ich träume nicht auf Deutsch” (I Don't Dream In German) by Ivana Lalovic in 2008; “Dans la peau” (Under The Skin) by Zoltán Horvath in 2007; and “113” by Jason Brandenberg in 2005 – Switzerland has only presented coproductions in Venice for the past five years. In 2004 Greg Zglinski made his fiction film debut with “Tout un hiver sans feu” in the international competition and won two awards.
Zurich, July 30, 2009
The 47-year-old video artist Pipilotti Rist presents her first fiction film for the cinema with “Pepperminta”. In the magical, visually stunning contemporary fantasy, Pepperminta sets out together with her friends to save the world. Immediately following its premiere in Venice (September 5), the film will be released in Swiss cinemas on September 10 (distribution: Frenetic). With “Hugo en Afrique - Dans le labyrinthe africain de Hugo Pratt”, Stefano Knuchel, the 43-year-old director from Locarno, is presenting his new documentary film following “Nocaut”. The film is dedicated to Hugo Pratt, the Italian comic book author and creator of the legendary character Corto Maltese. The 38-year-old director Raja Amari, who was born in Tunis and studied at the La Fémis Film School in Paris, made a name for herself in 2002 with “Satin Rouge”. Her new fiction film “La Berceuse” is based on a screenplay, which was co-authored by Antoine Jaccoud. The cinematographer of the film was Renato Berta, who is from Ticino and lives in Ticino. He will be honoured with the “Premio Cinema Ticino” award at the Locarno International Film Festival on August 11. The film “La Berceuse” will be distributed in Swiss cinemas by Filmcoopi.
Apart from the short films previously screened in the “CortoCortissimo” section – “Ich träume nicht auf Deutsch” (I Don't Dream In German) by Ivana Lalovic in 2008; “Dans la peau” (Under The Skin) by Zoltán Horvath in 2007; and “113” by Jason Brandenberg in 2005 – Switzerland has only presented coproductions in Venice for the past five years. In 2004 Greg Zglinski made his fiction film debut with “Tout un hiver sans feu” in the international competition and won two awards.
Zurich, July 30, 2009