17/02/2014 - One of the founding fathers of “New Swiss Cinema”, the Zurich-born director will receive the Quartz trophy during the 21 March ceremony

Alexander J. Seiler

The Swiss Film Award 2014 will honour one of the founding fathers of “New Swiss Cinema”, Alexander J. Seiler, by presenting him with the Quartz trophy, the Swiss Film Honorary Award, for his outstanding contribution to Switzerland’s film industry.

Seiler, who worked as a journalist before turning to filmmaking in 1960, has written and directed around 20 films and documentaries that burrow to the heart of Swiss reality. His work includes titles such as the internationally acclaimed Siamo italiani (1964), in which he depicts the day-to-day life of Italian migrant workers in Switzerland, and Septemberwind (2002), in which he visits them again 40 years later. His work has always been strongly linked to his cultural and social activism, and he also co-founded the Journées de Soleure film festival and the Swiss Film Centre (today Swiss Films).

In this way, the veteran filmmaker will be a big part of the 17th Swiss Film Award on 21 March, a ceremony that will celebrate this year's Swiss cinema.