The Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival is proud to present the six films which will compose the new AMAZING SWITZERLAND category. We intend for this to become a great way of promoting Swiss genre features and of offering the various industry players a better way of sharing information. In addition, the NIFFF, which serves as a springboard for a new generation of Swiss filmmakers, unveils the Swiss fantastic short films officially selected as part of the SSA/SUISSIMAGE competition – the perfect opportunity to evaluate the state of Swiss supernatural productions.
Amazing Switzerland – The new category dedicated to Swiss genre cinema
Nowadays genre films have become more popular, which means their presence has increased everywhere in Switzerland, whether it be in arthouse works, popular fiction, or digital creations. Our new permanent section called AMAZING SWITZERLAND is a testament to this, and will become a platform for promoting fantastic cinema. Swiss creators will also be able to meet with international industry players. The programme is composed of six films produced in Switzerland. First, the silent film Das Kalte Herz (1933 - 2016, CH, distributed by Ann Mottier-Schnabel and Raff Fluri) which was started in 1933 by musician and director Karl Ulrich Schnabel, will be shown in a version completed by Raff Fluri, who will attend the festival.
Das Kalte Herz
He will be joined by Tobias Nölle, director of Aloys(2016, CH/FR, Outside the Box), an oneiric drama winner of the international critics Fipresci award at the Berlinale 2016, and Tobias Weber, director of Late Shift (2016, CH, Spot On Distribution), the world's first interactive film to be shown at cinemas, and that gives the audience power over the hero's fate thanks to a smartphone app. This groundbreaking movie will be shown around the country as part of the NIFFF ON TOUR in October/November 2016 before its official release.
Late Shift
Also in the selection,Sybille(2015, DE/CH, Eksystent Distribution) is a very competent thriller from director Michael Krummenacher (co-creator of Heimatland), who will also attend. His peers Lionel Rupp and Carmen Jaquier,two of the ten directors of Heimatland(2015, CH, Look Now !), will join him as well. Their film can be described as an anthology thriller from young Swiss filmmakers that focuses on national issues. Finally, Der Vampir auf der Couch (2014, CH/AT, Outside the Box) from David Rühm, will entertain you with a depressed vampire who seeks the help of a psychoanalyst.
Heimatland
SSA/SUISSIMAGE fantastic short films competition
Every year, the SSA/SUISSIMAGE competition offers the best way to examine the state of Swiss productions in the fantastic genre. The selection includes both student films and independent creations, and highlights the dynamism of said industry in the country. This time, the NIFFF wishes to repeat last year's success by organising a public conference where all of the filmmakers will be able to talk about their work.
Os Love
As a key point in the festival's programme, the SSA/SUISSIMAGE 2016 competition includes three short films co-produced by the SRG SSR: Os Love from Luc Gut (2016, co-produced by Cinéma Copain Ltd), Une Ville Sous La Ville from Stefan Lauper and Consuelo Frauenfelder (2016, co-produced by Garidi Films) – both world premieres -, and the animated film Ivan’s Need from Veronica Lingg, Manuela Leuenberger and Lukas Suter (2015, co-produced by the HSLU).
Ivan's Need
We will also show the Swiss premiere Le Goût Des Choux De Bruxelles from Neuchâtel-based Michael Terraz (2016, produced by Fulldawa Films), which stars Jean-Luc Bideau. Student works have not been left out either, as shown by the selection of animated film Belle comme un coeur from Gregory Casares (2015, co-produced by ECAL and Nadasdy Film Sàrl), as well as two shorts from the ZhdK: Driven directed by Johannes Bachmann (2015), and Hausarrest from Matthias Sahli (2015). Finally, the entirely independent, Aaron Film GmbH and Lithium Studios Productions-backed film Nachtlicht, directed by Samuel Flückiger (2015), will also be shown.
