Venice 2024

The encyclopaedic documentary BESTIARI, ERBARI, LAPIDARI by the Italian filmmaking duo Martina Parenti and Massimo D'Anolfi is a tribute to the ‘unknown’ and, in a way, alien world to which animals, plants and stones belong. Following SPIRA MIRABILIS (2016) and GUERRA E PACE (2020), this is the third Italian-Swiss co-production by the Swiss company Lomotion Filmproduktion AG with this directorial duo to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, this time in the Out of Competition section.

The Swiss-Franco co-production POURQUOI LA GUERRE (WHY WAR) will also be presented in the Out of Competition section. Inspired by an exchange of letters between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud almost a century ago, the celebrated Franco-Israeli director Amos Gitai stages a fictional account of war - a fable with 12 characters. The Swiss co-production is being handled by the Geneva-based company Elefant Films. The latter had already co-produced Amos Gitai's last film, SHIKUN, which was shown at the Berlinale this year. French-Swiss actress Irène Jacob appears in both films.

Two feature films at the Giornate degli Autori

Two co-productions with Switzerland will be presented in the independent parallel section Giornate degli Autori: ALPHA. by Dutch director Jan-Willem van Ewijk (Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia), also co-produced by Lomotion AG Filmproduktion. After the death of his mother, Rein moves to a small village in the Alps to immerse himself in nature and work as a snowboard teacher. When his extroverted father comes to visit, he finds himself the centre of attention on a ski trip with his friends. In the wilderness, the interpersonal struggle turns into a fight for survival.

THE ANTIQUE by Georgian director Rusudan Glurjidze is a co-production between Georgia, Switzerland, Finland and Germany; the Swiss co-production is handled by Cinetrain. The film tells the story of Lado, a young Georgian, who becomes involved in smuggling antique furniture from Georgia to Russia. The story takes place in St Petersburg at the time of the illegal expulsion of thousands of Georgians from Russia.

The parallel section Settimana Internazionale della Critica will screen NO SLEEP TILL, the first film by Franco-American filmmaker Alexandra Simpson, who studied cinema at HEAD - Geneva. Elijah Graf Quartier, another HEAD graduate, is the co-producer.

A Swiss-Italian minority coproduction in Orizzonti Extra

THE STORY OF FRANK AND NINA by Italian director Paola Randi celebrates its world premiere in the innovative section Orizzonti Extra. The coming-of-age story is a dedication to the city of dreamers, Milan. It is narrated by three young people who struggle against reality. The film is coproduced by brothers David and Peter Luisi and their production company Spotlight Media Productions.

International platform for Swiss XR storytelling

On the ‘Immersive Island’, the Venice Film Festival will focus on immersive narrative formats. As part of the SWISS IMMERSION programme, SWISS FILMS is inviting interested parties, in collaboration with the Geneva International Film Festival GIFF and Cinéforom, to the XR Work-in-Progress Pitching Session. This session will provide a platform for Swiss XR (Extended Reality) creators to present their current projects to potential partners, investors and distributors. The aim of the event is to bring Swiss XR storytelling to the world stage and help create new networks.

Participants:
Robin Burgauer, Robbert van Rooden (Project: PEACE UNTOLD, Rights: Inlusio Interactive GmbH)
Fabienne Giezendanner, Alexandre Iordachescu (Project: RESPIRE ENCORE !, Rights: Elefant Films, Zéro de Conduite Productions)
Elise Migraine (Project: INSOMNIE, Rights: Elise Migraine)
Moritz Jekat (Project: WETLANDS OF PHARMACOLOGY, Rights: Ecal, Moritz Jekat)

Presentation: Mathieu Gayet (Head of Industry GIFF)
Date: 31.8.2024 (9:30am – 11:00am)
Venue: Venice Immersive Island (Isola del Lazzaretto Vecchio)