The feature film «Vacuum» by Christine Repond was nominated for the «Prix de Soleure» by the selection committee of the Solothurn Film Festival. The feature films selected in the competition have convinced the jury due to their pronounced humanism and are impressively cinematographic.
We congratulate the team and wish them good luck.

The following films by Dschoint Ventschr are also included in the program of the Solothurn Film Festival:
«Facing Mecca» by Jan-Erick Mack
«Beyond the Bolex» by Alyssa Bolsey
«Welcome to Switzerland» by Sabine Gisiger

Film screening's:

«Vacuum» by Christine Repond
Sat 27.01.2018, 2.30 pm, Konzertsaal 
Tue 30.01.2018, 2.45 pm, Reithalle

«Facing Mecca» by Jan-Eric Mack
Fri 26.01.2018, 3.00 pm, Capitol
Mon 28.01.2018, 11:45 am, Canva

«Beyond the Bolex» by Alyssa Bolsey 
Sun 28.01.2018, 3:00 pm, Palace
Tue 30.01.2018, 2:00 pm, Uferbau

«Welcome to Switzerland» by Sabine Gisiger
Fri 26.01.2018, 9.30 am, Landhaus
Mon 29.01.2018, 6:15 pm, Konzertsaal

The multiple award-winning Swiss short film «Facing Mecca» by Jan-Eric Mack (production: Joël Jent, Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion, ZHdK, SRF) has been selected for the shortlist of the Oscars in the category Live Action Shorts. This was announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on the December 11. The Oscar nominations will be announced on January 23, 2018.

FACING MECCA celebrated its world premiere in June this year at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, where it won two awards: the «Best of the Festival Award» and the «Best Student Live Short Over 15 Minutes». The next milestone in the international career of the Swiss short film was the presentation of the Student Academy Awards in Los Angeles. There, the director received the Silver Medal in the category «Narrative (International Film Schools)». In November, FACING MECCA also received the audience award at the Kurzfilmtage Winterthur.

Jan-Eric Mack, the 34-year-old director from Zurich realized FACING MECCA as a graduation film of the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) with Joël Jent from Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion and coproduced it with SRF Swiss Radio and Television as part of the «Pacte de l'audiovisuel». The script was written by actress Anna Schinz in collaboration with Mack.

The film tells the story of a Syrian refugee in Switzerland, who has to deal with bureaucratic hurdles after the death of his wife, and is based on a true story. The main roles are played by the Swiss actor Peter Freiburghaus and the Syrian actor Jay Abdo, who has lived and worked in the USA for several years. Other roles include Nicolas Rosat and Ruth Schwegler.

The shortlist includes ten short films from which the Academy will nominate five short films for the category «Live Action Short Film» on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars® will be held on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood. SWISS FILMS supports the Oscar campaign of FACING MECCA financially and in aspects of communication.

The postproduction of Christine Repond’s latest feature film «Vacuum» with Barbara Auer und Robert Hunger-Bühler in the main roles has finished. 

On the 26th of November 2017, the film will celebrate its world premiere at PÖFF - Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn.  

The drama tells the story of 60-year-old Meredith, who considers herself happily married to André. It comes as a shock when she's diagnosed as HIV-positive and her husband is the only one who could have transmitted the disease. 

The film was selected for the official competition of the festival.

Jan Eric Mack’s short film FACING MECCA was awarded with this year’s Student Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The film was produced by Joël Jent in coproduction with Zurich University of Arts and SRF swiss Radio and Television and co-funded by Zurich Filmfunds and the Canton of Glarus. The script was written by Anna Schinz and the director Jan-Eric Mack.

Jan-Erick Mack and Joël Jent were present at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills in order to receive the medal in the category „Narrative (International Film Schools)“.

The film has already won the „Best of Festival“ award at the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest and is thus qualified for the Shortlist of the 90th Academy Awards 2018.

FACING MECCA is a short drama about a Swiss pensioner (Peter Freiburghaus) who helps a Syrian refugee (Jay Abdo) to bury his wife according to Muslim rites.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Jan Eric Mack’s FACING MECCA is awarded with this year’s Student Academy Award. The ceremony for the 44th Student Academy Award will be held on October 12 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
With this Award, but also the one the short drama won at the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest in June, it is eligible for the 90th Academy Awards’ Shortlist.
We thank the Jury for awarding the film and for sending us on this magical journey. We would also like to express very special thanks and gratitude towards our cast, crew and partners for helping us create this wonderful project.

FACING MECCA tells the story of a Swiss pensioner who helps a Syrian refugee to bury his wife according to Muslim rites while fighting against the windmills of Swiss bureaucracy. David Ansen, Film Critic, Writer, and Jury President of the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest called it a „moving and penetrating film“ and named Jan-Eric Mack a „young filmmaker in total control of his craft“.

The film has been written by Anna Schinz together with director Jan-Eric Mack. Dschoint Ventschr producer Joël Jent headed production in coproduction with ZHdK Zurich University of the Arts and SRF Swiss Radio and Television.
The film has been supported by Swiss Ministry of Culture, Zurich Film Fund, SRF Swiss Radio and Television and the Swiss Regional Fund of Glarus.