Swiss short film “Auf der Strecke” wins Grand Prix in Clermont-Ferrand
09.02.2008
Two Swiss films were honoured with awards at the 30th International Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, which ended on February 9, 2008. The Grand Prix, which is the festival’s most prestigious award, was presented to Reto Caffi’s Swiss-German short film “Auf der Strecke”. The film director, who is from Bern, was at the festival to receive both the Grand Prize, amounting to 4,000 euros, and the “Vercingétorix”, the festival’s trophy. The short film “René”, by Tobias Nölle from Zurich, was awarded the “Youth Jury Prize”, amounting to 1,500 euros. Both 30-minute short films participated in the international competition together with 75 films from 47 countries.
“Auf der Strecke” was recently awarded the Quartz of the Swiss Film Prize 2008 for “Best Short Film” and has now received the Grand Prix at the largest European short film festival from a five-member international jury.
The film was Caffi’s final project to receive his degree from the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne. His film deals with a department store security guard, played by well-known actor Roeland Wiesnekker, who is racked by guilt because he walked away from a tragic accident on a subway. By winning the Grand Prix, “Auf der Strecke” will be on the list of films submitted for an Oscar nomination in 2009. The last Swiss film to win the Grand Prix of this festival was “Babami Hirsizlar Caldi” (“Stolen Father”) by Esen Isik in 2000.
Tobias Nölle’s short film “René” was presented the “Youth Jury Prize” by a five-member international youth jury. “René” won both the Grand Prize at the International Short Film Festival Winterthur and the Pardino d’Oro in Locarno in 2007 and was nominated for the Swiss Film Prize 2008.
“Auf der Strecke” and “René” will be screened in Switzerland in conjunction with the upcoming edition of the Short Film Night, organized by SWISS FILMS, which is scheduled to begin in Zurich on April 4 and will tour 16 cities in Switzerland.
Geneva/Zurich, February 9, 2008
The film was Caffi’s final project to receive his degree from the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne. His film deals with a department store security guard, played by well-known actor Roeland Wiesnekker, who is racked by guilt because he walked away from a tragic accident on a subway. By winning the Grand Prix, “Auf der Strecke” will be on the list of films submitted for an Oscar nomination in 2009. The last Swiss film to win the Grand Prix of this festival was “Babami Hirsizlar Caldi” (“Stolen Father”) by Esen Isik in 2000.
Tobias Nölle’s short film “René” was presented the “Youth Jury Prize” by a five-member international youth jury. “René” won both the Grand Prize at the International Short Film Festival Winterthur and the Pardino d’Oro in Locarno in 2007 and was nominated for the Swiss Film Prize 2008.
“Auf der Strecke” and “René” will be screened in Switzerland in conjunction with the upcoming edition of the Short Film Night, organized by SWISS FILMS, which is scheduled to begin in Zurich on April 4 and will tour 16 cities in Switzerland.
Geneva/Zurich, February 9, 2008