We are pleased to announce that our producer Sereina Gabathuler has been selected for the renowned EFP programme Producers on the Move in Cannes on the recommendation of SWISS FILMS.

Sereina Gabathuler is a trained actress and started working for Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion in 2008. Most recently she produced the Swiss-Croatian-German-Finnish co-production CHRIS THE SWISS with Samir, Siniša Juričić (Nucleus Film), Heino Deckert (Ma.ja.de.), Iikka Vehkalahti (IV Films Ltd / p.s.72 productions) and SRF. Anja Kofmel's debut film celebrated its world premiere last year in Cannes and was awarded the Swiss Film Prize three times.

As production and unit manager she was in charge of numerous projects, such as David Sieveking's DAVID WANTS TO FLY (2010), as executive producer she was responsible for the feature film VERLIEBTE FEINDE (2013) by Werner Schweizer and the documentary UNERHÖRT JENISCH (2017) by Martina Rieder and Karoline Arn, which was extremely successful in cinemas in Switzerland. Since 2018 Sereina Gabathuler has also been teaching at the SAE Institute Switzerland.

For the 20th time, European Film Promotion is offering 20 up-and-coming European producers the opportunity to present their projects and establish international contacts as part of the film festival in Cannes. Sereina Gabathuler will present her new project FROZEN SOIL, the second long animated film by director Anja Kofmel.

Anja Kofmel's critically acclaimed documentary «Chris the Swiss» won three awards at the Swiss Film Awards 2019: Best Documentary, Best Score (Marcel Vaid) and Best Editing (Stefan Kälin).

On this occasion, the film will be shown in the Dolby Atmos version at KOSMOS in Zurich.
The screening will take place on March 31, 2019 at 20:30.

In addition, the film is now also available on our VOD plattform.

We are delighted that «Chris the Swiss» has been successful in all three nominated categories. We thank the Swiss Film Academy, our co-producers Nukleus Film, ma.ja.de., IV Films, SRF - Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, SRG SSR and Teleclub, our Swiss distributor First Hand Films, our World Sales Urban Distribution International and of course all members of the crew who made the movie possible.

Special thanks also go to all sponsors who supported the project: Eurimages, Bundesamt für Kultur, Zürcher Filmstiftung, Succès Cinéma, Lotteriefonds Kanton Solothurn, SSA, Suissimage, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Focal, Verena Josephsohn, SWISS FILMS, Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), Mitteldeutschen Medien Förderung, Finnish Film Foundation and YLE.

On September 13, 2018, «Chris the Swiss» will finally be released in Swiss cinemas. The theatrical release in Romandy will follow on September 19.

The following cinemas will screen the anima-doc:

German part:
Basel: Kult.Kino Atelier, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel: 16.09., 11am
Bern: Quinnie, Premiere in presence of Anja Kofmel: 13.09., 8 pm
Biel: Cinevital Rex
Chur: Kino Apollo, Pre-premiere in presence of Anja Kofmel: 10.09.
Frauenfeld: Luna Frauenfeld, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel and Marcel Vaid: 15.09., 8pm
Klosters: Cinéma89
Luzern: Bourbaki, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel: 16.09., 6pm
Olten: Lichtspiele
St. Gallen: Kinok, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel: 14.09., 8pm
Winterthur: Cameo, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel: 20.09., 8.15pm
Zug: Kino Hürlimann, Pre-premiere in presence of Anja Kofmel: 11.09., 8pm
Zürich: Kosmos, Houdini, Pre-premiere at Kosmos in presence of Anja Kofmel: 12.09., 6.30pm

Romandy:
Fribourg: Rex, Pre-premiere in presence of Anja Kofmel: 17.09., 6.15pm
Genève: Grütli, Pre-premiere in presence of Anja Kofmel: 18.09., 7.30pm
La Chaux de Fonds: Scala
Lausanne: City Club de Pully, Premiere in presence of Anja Kofmel: 19.09., 8pm
Neuchâtel: Apollo, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel: 21.09., 8.15pm
Pully: City Club, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel: 19.09., 8pm
Sainte-Croix: Cinéma Royal, Screening in presence of Anja Kofmel: 22.09., 6pm

See you in the cinemas...

We are pleased to present the official trailer for Christine Repond's film «Vacuum». The main roles of the drama are played by Barbara Auer and Robert Hunger-Bühler. Auer was awarded the Award as «Best Actress» for her performance of Meredith at the 21st Pöff - Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn in 2017.

The film is distributed by First Hand Films and will be released on 7 June 2018 in Swiss cinemas. Further information will follow.

On Sunday, May 13, 2018, Anja Kofmel’s directorial debut «Chris the Swiss» celebrated his long awaited world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is part of the «Semaine de la Critique» competition, the winners of which will be announced on 16 May.

The international press was impressed by Kofmels animated documentary:
«Kofmel’s emphasis on subjectivism can be seen in the use of near surreal symbolism.» Variety
«Her film is a thinking with hands.» Tagesanzeiger
«It's an exciting investigation, a reflection on the horrors of war, a thriller, an initiation journey, interspersed with animation sequences of a frightening beauty.» Télérama
«A fall into the depths of consciousness, a moral disorientation, given what Anja discovered and what we discover with her.» Quinlan
Interview with Marcel Vaid, the composer of «Chris the Swiss» at filmfestivals.com

We would like to thank the whole team and all supporters who made this premiere possible and are keeping our fingers crossed for the award ceremony.