Swiss presence at the Berlinale 2005
01.02.2005
Switzerland is represented in this year’s official program of the 55th International Film Festival in Berlin (10 – 20 February 2005) with four documentary films, one feature film and five short films. Bastian Schweitzer from Zurich will be competing for a Golden Bear with his short film “Gigolo” (co-production with HFF Munich). Clemens Klopfenstein’s new film “Die Vogelpredigt – oder das Schreien der Mönche” will be screened in the 35th International Forum of New Cinema. The male crew in his film, comprised of Polo Hofer, Max Rüdlinger and Mathias Gnädinger, appears with the young talented actress Sabine Timoteo and Ursula Andress (from Bern and the epitome of a Bond girl). There are also two documentary films being presented in the Forum section: “Die Taube aus Tschetschenien” by Eric Bergkraut (Doc Productions, Zurich) and the co-production (Brazil/Finland/Switzerland) “Brasileirinho” by Mika Kaurismäki (Marco Forster Productions, Cully). A number of Swiss films will be screened in the Panorama section of the Berlinale as well. Presented in the Panorama Dokumente series will be “Katzenball” by Veronika Minder (production: Cobra Film, Zurich) and the co-production “Massaker” by Monika Borgmann, Lokman Slim, Hermann Theissen (German, Lebanese, French, Swiss production: Dschoint Ventschr).
Both Alexander Meier’s “Chyenne” (production: Fama Film, Zurich), which has just been awarded the Swiss Film Prize 2005 for the best short film, and Claudia Lorenz’s “Hoi Maya”, which was her final project at the HGKZ (Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst, Zurich) and nominated for the Swiss Film Prize 2005, are also scheduled be screened in the Panorama (“Funky Desert” and “Lost in Vision” series). In addition, “Gigolo” and “Hoi Maya” will be competing for the Teddy Award. Actress Johanna Bantzer, winner of the Swiss Film Prize 2005 (“Strähl”, cf. press communiqué, dated 4 January 2005) is representing Switzerland among the “Shooting Stars”, an event which introduces new acting talents and is organised by the European Film Promotion—this year for the eighth time—in conjunction with the Berlinale. Twenty-one young European actors and actresses will be making their public appearance on Potsdamerplatz on 13 February.
Participating in the competition of the Kinderfilmfest section will be the short film “Der Wackelkontakt” by Ralph Etter and the animated short film “Die kleine Monsterin” by Ted Sieger and Alexandra Schatz from the German-speaking region of Switzerland.
Charles Martig, head of the Catholic Media Services, is one of the six members of the Ecumenical Jury.
In conjunction with the Berlinale Talent Campus, Chris Niemeyer will compete in the Football Short Film Competition with “Der Ball”. Another ten young Swiss filmmakers have been invited to this year’s Talent Campus.
Zurich, 1 February 2005
Participating in the competition of the Kinderfilmfest section will be the short film “Der Wackelkontakt” by Ralph Etter and the animated short film “Die kleine Monsterin” by Ted Sieger and Alexandra Schatz from the German-speaking region of Switzerland.
Charles Martig, head of the Catholic Media Services, is one of the six members of the Ecumenical Jury.
In conjunction with the Berlinale Talent Campus, Chris Niemeyer will compete in the Football Short Film Competition with “Der Ball”. Another ten young Swiss filmmakers have been invited to this year’s Talent Campus.
Zurich, 1 February 2005