Georgian director Elene Naveriani’s late-coming-of-age, female empowerment drama Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry topped the prizes at the Swiss Film Awards in Zurich over the weekend.
The drama, which world premiered in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight last year, revolves around an independent-minded, single woman in her 40s in a small Georgian village, who faces a personal crossroads when she unexpectedly falls in love.
The feature won Best Feature Film, as well as Best Screenplay and for Best Screenplay for Naveriani and for Best Film Editing for Aurora Franco Vögeli.
The Swiss-Georgian co-production was produced by Thomas Reichlin, Ketie Danelia and Bettina Brokemper for Alva Film in Switzerland and Takes Film in Georgia.
Pierre Monnard’s clandestine fight club drama Bisons also won three prizes: Best Film Score for Nicolas Rabaeus, Best Cinematography for Joseph Areddy and Best Actor for Karim Barras.
Swiss-French Barras will also soon be seen in period drama Winter Palace,...
The drama, which world premiered in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight last year, revolves around an independent-minded, single woman in her 40s in a small Georgian village, who faces a personal crossroads when she unexpectedly falls in love.
The feature won Best Feature Film, as well as Best Screenplay and for Best Screenplay for Naveriani and for Best Film Editing for Aurora Franco Vögeli.
The Swiss-Georgian co-production was produced by Thomas Reichlin, Ketie Danelia and Bettina Brokemper for Alva Film in Switzerland and Takes Film in Georgia.
Pierre Monnard’s clandestine fight club drama Bisons also won three prizes: Best Film Score for Nicolas Rabaeus, Best Cinematography for Joseph Areddy and Best Actor for Karim Barras.
Swiss-French Barras will also soon be seen in period drama Winter Palace,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Cyril Metzger and Manon Clavel are set to star in Netflix’s upcoming hotel period drama “Winter Palace.”
Metzger (“Happening”) will play André Morel while Clavel (“The Truth”) is set to star as Rose. Together they portray an ambitious married couple who are running the hotel at the centre of the show.
Simon Ludders (“Bridgerton”) plays ambitious aristocrat Lord Fairfax, whose dream is to turn the hotel in a winter holiday destination.
Also joining the cast are Astrid Roos as Lady Isobel, Henry Pettigrew as Sir Conan Doyle, “Vikings” hero Clive Standen as Lance Raney, Vincent Heneine as Chef Voclain and Axel Granberger as Marcus.
Swiss stars Alix Henzelin, Antoine Basler, Gaspard Boesch, Roland Vouilloz, Serge Musy and Karim Barras round out the cast.
“Winter Palace” is set to start filming in the Swiss resort towns of Montreux and Valais this month and is scheduled to wrap next spring.
The eight-episode period extravaganza,...
Metzger (“Happening”) will play André Morel while Clavel (“The Truth”) is set to star as Rose. Together they portray an ambitious married couple who are running the hotel at the centre of the show.
Simon Ludders (“Bridgerton”) plays ambitious aristocrat Lord Fairfax, whose dream is to turn the hotel in a winter holiday destination.
Also joining the cast are Astrid Roos as Lady Isobel, Henry Pettigrew as Sir Conan Doyle, “Vikings” hero Clive Standen as Lance Raney, Vincent Heneine as Chef Voclain and Axel Granberger as Marcus.
Swiss stars Alix Henzelin, Antoine Basler, Gaspard Boesch, Roland Vouilloz, Serge Musy and Karim Barras round out the cast.
“Winter Palace” is set to start filming in the Swiss resort towns of Montreux and Valais this month and is scheduled to wrap next spring.
The eight-episode period extravaganza,...
- 10/18/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has set its first co-production with Swiss network Rts.
The project, a French and English-language period drama titled “Winter Palace,” will chart the birth of winter tourism in the Alps as conceived by a Swiss hotelier and British aristocrat in the early twentieth century.
Based on true events, “Winter Palace” is centred around ambitious proprietor Andre Morel, who, in 1899, envisions a five-star luxury hotel that will remain open throughout winter. He convinces wealthy aristo Lord Fairfax to come on board, and the two find themselves battling demanding clientele, rebellious staff and a hostile climate to make their dream a reality.
The eight-part series, which is based on an original story by Swiss producer Jean-Marc Fröhle, is being produced by Fröhle’s Swiss-based Point Prod (“Banking District”) and French outfit Oble Studios (“Fata Morgana”).
Lindsay Shapero has written the screenplay while Pierre Monnard has been lined up to direct.
“Having...
The project, a French and English-language period drama titled “Winter Palace,” will chart the birth of winter tourism in the Alps as conceived by a Swiss hotelier and British aristocrat in the early twentieth century.
Based on true events, “Winter Palace” is centred around ambitious proprietor Andre Morel, who, in 1899, envisions a five-star luxury hotel that will remain open throughout winter. He convinces wealthy aristo Lord Fairfax to come on board, and the two find themselves battling demanding clientele, rebellious staff and a hostile climate to make their dream a reality.
The eight-part series, which is based on an original story by Swiss producer Jean-Marc Fröhle, is being produced by Fröhle’s Swiss-based Point Prod (“Banking District”) and French outfit Oble Studios (“Fata Morgana”).
Lindsay Shapero has written the screenplay while Pierre Monnard has been lined up to direct.
“Having...
- 9/4/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Swiss Films previewed four films to industry guests at a special event hosted by Locarno Pro, the industry section of Locarno Film Festival, showcasing generational range and genre diversity. The selection included the new film by Carmen Jaquier, the director of “Thunder,” which was announced this week as the Swiss entry in the international feature film category of the Academy Awards.
Talking to Variety, Jaquier said: “I’m very honored about this news and excited to imagine how to work on the Oscar campaign for ‘Thunder.’ Then I’m also thrilled to prepare the release of the next project “Les Paradis des Diane” with my co-director Jan Gassmann. We are looking forward to having some interesting and maybe controversial discussions about the movie.”
“Les Paradis des Diane” tells the story of a woman who, suffering from postpartum depression, leaves her home, her new baby and family, and flees to Portugal.
Talking to Variety, Jaquier said: “I’m very honored about this news and excited to imagine how to work on the Oscar campaign for ‘Thunder.’ Then I’m also thrilled to prepare the release of the next project “Les Paradis des Diane” with my co-director Jan Gassmann. We are looking forward to having some interesting and maybe controversial discussions about the movie.”
“Les Paradis des Diane” tells the story of a woman who, suffering from postpartum depression, leaves her home, her new baby and family, and flees to Portugal.
- 8/7/2023
- by John Bleasdale
- Variety Film + TV
Carmen Jaquier’s debut is the first title to be announced for the international category of the Academy Awards.
Carmen Jaquier’s Thunder has been selected to represent Switzerland in the best international feature film category of the 2024 Oscars.
The announcement was made by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Culture at Locarno Film Festival this afternoon (August 4), where the film screens in the Panorama Suisse strand, and is the first title to be announced for the international feature film category of the Academy Awards.
Set in 1900, it follows a 17-year-old girl who is preparing to take her vows at a...
Carmen Jaquier’s Thunder has been selected to represent Switzerland in the best international feature film category of the 2024 Oscars.
The announcement was made by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Culture at Locarno Film Festival this afternoon (August 4), where the film screens in the Panorama Suisse strand, and is the first title to be announced for the international feature film category of the Academy Awards.
Set in 1900, it follows a 17-year-old girl who is preparing to take her vows at a...
- 8/4/2023
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
The setting: a small resort, Les Cimes, in the Swiss Alps, a stone’s throw from the French border. The moment: the end of ski season, tourists have left, time seems to be suspended. The plot: a corpse is found, tied up, with an edelweiss in its mouth. The protagonist: Captain Sterenn Peiry (Marina Hands) leads the investigation. She still mourns her 15-year-old daughter, killed three years before in an avalanche.
So much for the beginning of “Off Season” (Hors saison), a Franco-Swiss police series, produced by Akka Films, Gaumont Television with Rts and France Télévisions, and beautifully filmed in CinémaScope by Pierre Monnard.
This thrilling six-part series, presented to buyers at the French TV market Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Biarritz, is best in class in the art of constantly misleading the viewer. From the very first minutes, the plot thickens: a second corpse, found in the same gloomy setting, but on the French side,...
So much for the beginning of “Off Season” (Hors saison), a Franco-Swiss police series, produced by Akka Films, Gaumont Television with Rts and France Télévisions, and beautifully filmed in CinémaScope by Pierre Monnard.
This thrilling six-part series, presented to buyers at the French TV market Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Biarritz, is best in class in the art of constantly misleading the viewer. From the very first minutes, the plot thickens: a second corpse, found in the same gloomy setting, but on the French side,...
- 9/9/2022
- by Trinidad Barleycorn
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
German cinema has a problem with diversity. In a recent survey of more than 5,000 workers in the German movie business, more than two thirds complained that characters considered outside the German mainstream — including Black, Arabic and Muslim people, as well LGBTQ+ characters and those from low socio-economic backgrounds — were mainly depicted as stereotypes on screen. A shocking 51 percent of those surveyed reported having experienced discrimination at the workplace in the past two years.
On the gender discrimination front, Germany also has a long way to go. A study by Pro Quote, an association that promotes equality and diversity in the film industry, found men still account for 72 percent of working directors and 85 percent of cinematographers.
But set against those depressing statistics are the individual stories of a new generation of filmmakers — actors, directors, producers and crew — whose diverse backgrounds more accurately reflect the true nature of German society.
German cinema has a problem with diversity. In a recent survey of more than 5,000 workers in the German movie business, more than two thirds complained that characters considered outside the German mainstream — including Black, Arabic and Muslim people, as well LGBTQ+ characters and those from low socio-economic backgrounds — were mainly depicted as stereotypes on screen. A shocking 51 percent of those surveyed reported having experienced discrimination at the workplace in the past two years.
On the gender discrimination front, Germany also has a long way to go. A study by Pro Quote, an association that promotes equality and diversity in the film industry, found men still account for 72 percent of working directors and 85 percent of cinematographers.
But set against those depressing statistics are the individual stories of a new generation of filmmakers — actors, directors, producers and crew — whose diverse backgrounds more accurately reflect the true nature of German society.
- 7/29/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Linking to Paris-based Nadia Turincev and her producer partner Omar El Kadi to develop and produce two new Swiss films, Geneva-based Akka Films is also ramping up TV production, with Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond, writer-directors of the acclaimed “My Little Sister,” Switzerland’s Oscar submission, teaming to create a new TV series .
Headed by Nicolas Wadimoff and Philippe Coeytaux, Akka is readying with Turincev and El Kadi “O Jacaré,” the third feature from Swiss-Portuguese filmmaker Basil Da Cunha whose debut, “After the Night” played the Cannes Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight in 2013. Its follow-up, “O film do mundo,” screened in main competition at Locarno in 2019.
Presented at 2021’s online Industry Village, part of France’s Les Arc Film Festival, “O Jacaré” concludes Da Cunha’s trilogy set in the humble district of Reboleira on the outskirts of Lisbon. Described by its producers as a breathless ensemble thriller in the line of his previous features,...
Headed by Nicolas Wadimoff and Philippe Coeytaux, Akka is readying with Turincev and El Kadi “O Jacaré,” the third feature from Swiss-Portuguese filmmaker Basil Da Cunha whose debut, “After the Night” played the Cannes Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight in 2013. Its follow-up, “O film do mundo,” screened in main competition at Locarno in 2019.
Presented at 2021’s online Industry Village, part of France’s Les Arc Film Festival, “O Jacaré” concludes Da Cunha’s trilogy set in the humble district of Reboleira on the outskirts of Lisbon. Described by its producers as a breathless ensemble thriller in the line of his previous features,...
- 3/2/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Only six months after its 2021 edition, Series Mania will be back with a sprawling selection, including the world premieres of Michael Hirst’s “Billy The Kid” (pictured), the Israeli series “Fire Dance” and rap-music-themed French show “Le monde de demain.”
Underscoring the large presence of streamers within the roster, Series Mania will kick off with Netflix’s “Standing Up,” a new comedy series from “Call My Agent” creator and showrunner Fanny Herrero; while Disney Plus’ “Oussekine,” about a tragic case of police brutality in France, will close the festival.
The lineup boasts 58 series spanning from 21 countries. These were chosen from 331 series. The international jury, whose president will be announced later, will comprise of German actor Christian Berkel (“Downfall”), Franco-Belgian actor Cécile de France, Israeli actor Shira Haas (“The Unorthodox”), Turkish creator and director Berkun Oya (“Bir Baskadir”) and French singer-songwriter and model Yseult.
This year’s guests of honor are Michael Hirst,...
Underscoring the large presence of streamers within the roster, Series Mania will kick off with Netflix’s “Standing Up,” a new comedy series from “Call My Agent” creator and showrunner Fanny Herrero; while Disney Plus’ “Oussekine,” about a tragic case of police brutality in France, will close the festival.
The lineup boasts 58 series spanning from 21 countries. These were chosen from 331 series. The international jury, whose president will be announced later, will comprise of German actor Christian Berkel (“Downfall”), Franco-Belgian actor Cécile de France, Israeli actor Shira Haas (“The Unorthodox”), Turkish creator and director Berkun Oya (“Bir Baskadir”) and French singer-songwriter and model Yseult.
This year’s guests of honor are Michael Hirst,...
- 2/17/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Talk to the people behind the Zff Academy, and it quickly becomes clear that this Zurich Film Festival talent program is close to their hearts.
Launched back in 2006, just a year after the festival itself, the aim of the Zff Academy is to promote exchange between notable filmmakers and aspiring directors, writers and producers. It’s there to help up and coming creatives and execs to learn from film industry experts, connect with each other and to exchange ideas.
In many ways, it’s like the well-known Berlinale Talents program – only more intimate. Just 19 talents – nine women and 10 men – have been selected from hundreds of applicants to take part in the five-day Zurich initiative.
Talent from all over the world traditionally apply to the Zff Academy, but this year the cohort is largely European – reflecting the difficulties that many people are having travelling due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Head of Zff...
Launched back in 2006, just a year after the festival itself, the aim of the Zff Academy is to promote exchange between notable filmmakers and aspiring directors, writers and producers. It’s there to help up and coming creatives and execs to learn from film industry experts, connect with each other and to exchange ideas.
In many ways, it’s like the well-known Berlinale Talents program – only more intimate. Just 19 talents – nine women and 10 men – have been selected from hundreds of applicants to take part in the five-day Zurich initiative.
Talent from all over the world traditionally apply to the Zff Academy, but this year the cohort is largely European – reflecting the difficulties that many people are having travelling due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Head of Zff...
- 9/26/2021
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
Sales
Abacus Media Rights has sold documentary “The Beatles and India” to HBO Max for Latin America, BritBox North America for the U.S. and Canada, Channel 4 for the U.K., Foxtel for Australia, Channel One for Russia, and A Contracorriente Films for Spain, with more deals in the pipeline.
Inspired by Ajoy Bose’s “book Across The Universe – The Beatles in India,” the film marks Bose’s directorial debut, is co-directed by Peter Compton and is produced by Reynold D’Silva, CEO of Silva Screen Music Group.
Abacus MD Jonathan Ford said: “Using rare archival footage, an array of unseen recordings and photographs, eye-witness accounts and stunning location shoots across India, ‘The Beatles and India’ energetically reveals a fascinating journey which was to have a profound impact on The Beatles’ spiritual lives and their music.”
“The universal appeal of the subject has been one of our main aims in...
Abacus Media Rights has sold documentary “The Beatles and India” to HBO Max for Latin America, BritBox North America for the U.S. and Canada, Channel 4 for the U.K., Foxtel for Australia, Channel One for Russia, and A Contracorriente Films for Spain, with more deals in the pipeline.
Inspired by Ajoy Bose’s “book Across The Universe – The Beatles in India,” the film marks Bose’s directorial debut, is co-directed by Peter Compton and is produced by Reynold D’Silva, CEO of Silva Screen Music Group.
Abacus MD Jonathan Ford said: “Using rare archival footage, an array of unseen recordings and photographs, eye-witness accounts and stunning location shoots across India, ‘The Beatles and India’ energetically reveals a fascinating journey which was to have a profound impact on The Beatles’ spiritual lives and their music.”
“The universal appeal of the subject has been one of our main aims in...
- 9/21/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
French sales agent heads to Belgium to set up new company. First slate includes Belgian Hans Herbots’ crime thriller The Treatment.
Long-time Films Distribution sales agent Pamela Leu has launched her own Brussels-based sales company, Be for Films.
Leu left Nicolas Brigaud-Robert and François Yon’s Paris-based Films Distribution on amicable terms last month.
The company will provide some initial back office support while Leu rolls out her first independent slate at Cannes.
“After 11 years of collaboration with Films Distribution, running a company and creating Be for Films was the obvious step to achieve my own dreams and desires for doing business in the film industry,” Leu told ScreenDaily.
Be for Films is the only fully-fledged sales company based within Belgian borders, although state-backed organisations like Wallonie Bruxelles Image and Flanders Image do a lot of promotional work for local productions.
“My first goal is to support local French and Flemish-speaking productions and bring news talent to the...
Long-time Films Distribution sales agent Pamela Leu has launched her own Brussels-based sales company, Be for Films.
Leu left Nicolas Brigaud-Robert and François Yon’s Paris-based Films Distribution on amicable terms last month.
The company will provide some initial back office support while Leu rolls out her first independent slate at Cannes.
“After 11 years of collaboration with Films Distribution, running a company and creating Be for Films was the obvious step to achieve my own dreams and desires for doing business in the film industry,” Leu told ScreenDaily.
Be for Films is the only fully-fledged sales company based within Belgian borders, although state-backed organisations like Wallonie Bruxelles Image and Flanders Image do a lot of promotional work for local productions.
“My first goal is to support local French and Flemish-speaking productions and bring news talent to the...
- 4/30/2014
- ScreenDaily
Released in Swiss cinemas back in November, Recycling Lily looks to be the sort of film that very rarely travels internationally but I really wish would: A quirky, crowd pleasing romantic comedy executed with bags of style. In many ways what I see here from Pierre Monnard's debut feature reminds me a great deal of Swedish director Patrik Eklund (Flimmer) and it will likely run into the same sort of issues finding an international audience: It's too mainstream for the festival crowd and yet too odd to become a major crossover hit. Here's how Monnard describes the story:This offbeat comedy tells the story of a perfection-obsessed Bin Inspector, Hansjörg Sthäli, who falls for the wrong girl, Lily Frei, a charming waitress at his local diner...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 1/6/2014
- Screen Anarchy
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