Swiss successes for German Cinematography Award

In the 1970s Berta decisively shaped the New Swiss Cinema and has also helped form European cinema over the past 45 years. Among the most famous works is “Au revoir les enfants” (1987) by Louis Malle, for which he was honoured with the César in 1988. The 69-year-old cinematographer from Ticino lives mainly in Paris and is still active behind the camera, most recently for the 105-year-old Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira.

The award for Best Camera in the Documentary Film/Documentation category was awarded to Lutz Konermann for “My Name is Salt.” With his camera, he accompanied peasant families in India who laboriously extract salt under harsh desert conditions. Despite the desolate landscape, Konermann captures a cornucopia of powerful shots that casts a spell over viewers for 90 minutes, stated the jury.

The award for Best Editing - Feature Film went to Editor Hansjörg Weissbrich for the film "Traumland." Also honoured with a award for Best Editing was Bigna Tomschin, from Zurich, who won the German Cinematography Award in the Up-and-Coming Directors - Editing category for her graduation film from the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK “Blue Blue Sky”. Tomschin worked as the assistant editor for Thomas Imbach’s film “Mary Queen Of Scots,” among others. She was the editor of a feature-length film for the first time for Peter Luisi’s new film “Schweizer Helden.”

SWISS FILMS, June 24, 2014