Swiss world premieres

THE SAFE HOUSE is a comedy set in Paris in May 1968. A nine-year-old boy lives with his rather eccentric grandparents and uncles while his parents are protesting out on the streets. The family dynamic changes when an illustrious guest seeks refuge in their home. The film marks the last role for French actor Michel Blanc, who passed away in 2024. The film score was composed by the sibling trio Lionel, Nora and Diego Baldenweg. 

THE SAFE HOUSE was produced by Lausanne-based Bande à part Films, in coproduction with Red Lion Luxemburg and Les Films du Poisson, France, RTS and SRG SSR. Director Lionel Baier already presented his film SHOCK WAVES – FIRST NAME: MATHIEU at the Berlinale in 2018. His last film CONTINENTAL DRIFT (SOUTH) was screened in 2022 in Cannes.

Dream family or nightmare  

The psychological thriller MOTHER’S BABY by Austrian director Johanna Moder will also celebrate its world premiere in the festival’s main Competition. Co-author of the screenplay is Arne Kohlweyer, who works in Switzerland. 

Swiss actress Marie Leuenberger (THE DIVINE ORDER, CAGED BIRDS) stars in the role of the successful conductor Julia, who has dreamed of having a child with her partner. Following treatment at a fertility clinic, Julia becomes pregnant, but the birth does not go as expected and the baby is promptly taken away. When she finally holds it in her arms, she feels strangely distant and doubts whether it is really her child. 

MOTHER’S BABY is a coproduction between Austria, Switzerland and Germany. This is the third film in a row screened in the Berlinale Competition for Swiss coproducer Katrin Renz (tellfilm), following INGEBORG BACHMANN – JOURNEY INTO THE DESERT (2023) and GLORIA! (2024).

Berlinale Special Gala 

Petra Volpe, director of the box-office hit THE DIVINE ORDER, will present her new film LATE SHIFT as a world premiere in the Berlinale Special Gala section.  

German actress Leonie Benesch (THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE, SEPTEMBER 5) stars in the leading role as Floria, a dedicated nurse who devotes herself to the patients in an understaffed surgical ward. When Floria makes a fateful mistake, the late shift begins to spiral out of hand.  

LATE SHIFT is a production by Zodiac Pictures (DE RÄUBER HOTZENPLOTZ, NEUMATT), together with the German production company MMC Zodiac GmbH, as well as SRF and SRG SSR. 

Even more Switzerland at the festival 

Swiss director Luzia Schmid (DER AST, AUF DEM ICH SITZE), who works mainly in Germany, will present her documentary film I WANT IT ALL as a world premiere in the Panorama Dokumente section.  

Actor Arcadi Radeff stars in the French film SUMMER IN PARIS (Perspectives section). In addition, Justine Triet’s short film TWO SHIPS, featuring Swiss-French actress Laetitia Dosch, will compete in the Berlinale Shorts special programme. And musician Stefan Rusconi composed the original piano score for the German film KÖLN 75, which is based on the true story behind Keith Jarrett’s legendary concert (Berlinale Special Gala).

Swiss presence at the European Film Market  

SWISS FILMS is present at the European Film Market EFM with a stand to highlight new productions from Switzerland and to connect Swiss filmmakers with international industry players. Several projects will take part in the Berlinale Co-Production Market: director Andrea Štaka has been selected as one of the 35 film projects for the Co-Production Market with her new project IBICABA – VISIONS OF PARADISE (Cinédokké & Okofilm Productions).  

Ten high-quality books especially well-suited for screen adaptation will be presented in the Books at Berlinale programme. The Swiss publishing house Kein & Aber is participating with the novel “Daily Soap” by Swiss author Nora Osagiobare. 

THE GUARD (production: Catpics; co-creator/writer Stéphane Mitchell; co-creator/director Christian Johannes Koch) is among the 10 international series projects invited to pitch at Co-Pro Series. 

Five junior producers have the opportunity to participate in the Visitors Programme of the Berlinale Co-Production Market thanks to the support provided by SWISS FILMS: Sarah Schiesser (Lido Pictures), Samira Sahli (The Hub Media), Levin Vieth (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion), Eric Bouduban (Imajack Films), Annick Bouissou (Akka Films). 

Swiss screenwriter Christian Wehrlin (TSCHUGGER) is one of 10 European authors taking part in the MIDPOINT Institute's “Only Writers In The Building” showcase at the Berlinale Series Market.

Three Berlinale Talents 

As part of the Berlinale Talents networking programme, three filmmakers from Switzerland will be presenting new projects: producer Olga Lamontanara; director and cinematographer Ben Donateo, as well as Kenyan director and screenwriter Millan Taurus, who is participating with his graduation project from ECAL/HEAD – Genève.