Swiss films triumph at Bavarian festival

Swiss films emerged victorious at the 6^th Five Lakes Film Festival in Bavaria (July 26 - August 5, 2012). Ursula Meier’s film “Sister,” which won a Silver Bear at the Berlinale, was honoured with the Five Lakes Film Award, the festival’s main award endowed with EUR 5,000. The fiction film “Mangrove” by Frédéric Choffat and Julie Gilbert won the Young Generation Award, endowed with EUR 1,500, while Rolando Colla’s “Summer Games” won the award for Best Screenplay, presented for the first time this year and endowed with EUR 2,000. Fernand Melgar’s documentary film “Vol spécial” was honoured with the Horizon Film Award, also endowed with EUR 2,000.

Enthusiasm for Ursula Meier’s “Sister”
The jury’s statement for the Five Lakes Film Award was as follows: “ “Sister” is a film about
blatant social differences, about the poor and rich, about those at the top and those at the bottom, symbolised by the mountain on which wealthy skiers amuse themselves, and the valley in which ordinary people live. […] “Sister” a powerful, stirring, consistently surprising film which not only deserves this award, but also leaves a lasting impression with the audience.” The theatrical release of the film in Germany is scheduled for November 8 (distributor: Arsenal).

Locarno, August 6, 2012