23/08/2006

How, in such a small, multilingual country as Switzerland, is it possible to keep filmmaking alive, without exporting productions? Is this not essential for countries that share a common language, such as Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and Italy, in order for films to circulate and reach a wider audience? With the exception of the large German-speaking market (5.2m inhabitants), the French-speaking (1.6m) and Italian-speaking territories (0.5m) are clearly too restricted for more than a handful of native productions to make a profit.

Concerned by this, Nicolas Bideau, head of cinema at the Swiss Office of Federal Culture, wants to place more attention on the export of Swiss films, a mission that lies with the promotional organisation Swiss Films. An exportation fund aimed at foreign distributors is planned in order to make domestic films more attractive.

If the fund materialises as planned, in 2007 this generous source of government aid will be a welcome hand in supporting the increase in exports over the past five years. Switzerland is the only European market that has seen a threefold increase in its film exports, with 7 in 2001, 8 in 2003, 16 in 2004 and 22 in 2005.

My Name is Eugen by Michael Steiner is one title that has joyfully crossed the Swiss border, while Vitus [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Christian Davi
interview: Fredi M. Murer
film profile] (see Focus) by Fredi M. Murer, a champion in all categories, was sold by Media Luna Entertainment to several international territories. Another title, Snow White [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlos Leal
interview: Samir
film profile] by Samir (see Focus), was sold by Wide Management.

More recently, the Swiss films screened at the 59th Locarno International Film Festival have incited much interest from distributors and foreign broadcasters. The festival’s Golden Leopard winner, Das Fräulein [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the debut fictional feature by Andrea Staka sold internationally by Media Luna Entertainment, will be released in Austria and broadcast on Slovenian and Hungarian television.

Meanwhile, the documentary Carla’s List by Marcel Schüpbach (CAB Productions) will be unveiled in France by Pierre Grise Distribution and on Croatian television, while Wide Management is in the process of buying the film’s rights for Italy and the UK.

The Swiss/French co-production My Brother is Getting Married by Jean-Stéphane Bron will be released on French screens by Haut et Court, while the Russian release of La traductrice (lit. “The Translator”) by Elena Hazanov (Ventura Films) has already been announced.

Lastly, Autumn Crocus, the second fictional film by Bettina Oberli (Catpics), looks likely to be distributed in Germany, Austria and Spain.

(Translated from French)