ETÈRA
Two sisters separated by a border, a club with opaque rules, a son torn between revolt and submission: ETÈRA explores the violence of power and the ambiguous ties that unite and tear people apart, in a tale that is both sensual and unrelenting.
Fiction feature by Michele Pennetta
Born 1984 in Varese (I), Michele Pennetta studied cinema at ECAL (École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne), the city where he lives. His first feature-length documentary FISHING BODIES (2016) premiered at Locarno, IL MIO CORPO’s international premiere was in the ACID section of Cannes 2020.
Call me when the Wind blows
to connect with their deceased loved ones. Call Me When the Wind Blows is a poetic invitation to face the fear of death and to embrace life and emotions.
Documentary by Arami Ullón
Arami Ullón was born in Asunción, Paraguay, in 1978 ans lives in Basel (CH). She directed the multi-awarded feature documentary EL TIEMPO NUBLADO (CH/PAR – 2014) The film was the first Paraguayan entry to the Oscars (2016). Her second feature documentary APENAS EL SOL (CH/PAR – 2020) was the Opening Film at IDFA (2020) and also represented Paraguay at the Oscars (2021) in two categories. The film received a FIPRESCI Prize, among other 14 international awards.
Le Passeur (The Smuggler)
Ali, a 16-year-old hairdresser, suddenly finds himself thrust into the world of smugglers and counterfeiters in Athens.
Fiction feature by Kaveh Bakhtiari
Kaveh Bakhtiari is a graduate of the ECAL film department. As a student, his short film ‘Les mille, mais une nuit’ was selected for Vision du réel in Nyon. In 2013 his first feature-length documentary ‘L’Escale’ was selected for the Quinzaine des cinéastes in Cannes. Since 2010 he has been giving workshops at the ECAL and various talks at the HEAD, UNIL and EPFL. Since 2015 he has been a script consultant on various fiction and documentary films.
A Year without Summer
1815, the volcano Tambora erupts on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa. Its ash and dust envelope the globe and make the sun disappear behind a dense, grey veil. One year later, the grave consequences are felt the world over. Unknowingly, humans experience what will become known as the last ‘Little Ice Age’ – or ‘The Year Without Summer’.
Selected at Cinéfondation Cannes Résidences 2022, Torino Film Lab 2022
White Mirror Award (at Torino film Lab)
Fiction feature by Flurin Giger
FLURIN GIGER, born in 1995, grew up in the Swiss mountains as part of a big family, being one of seven siblings. At the age of 16, he studied to become an actor and starred in several films. After finishing his degree, he began to work as a writer and director. His first short film RUAH premiered at the Venice International Film Festival 2016. In 2018, his second short film SCHÄCHER premiered in the Critics Week at the Cannes Film Festival. A Year Without Summer is his first feature film.
A World of Images
Documentary feature by Eva Vitija
Born in 1973 in Basel, Switzerland. 2002 Diploma in Screenwriting from the DFFB (German Film and Television Academy Berlin). 2015 Master in Documentary Film Directing from the ZHDK (Zurich University of the Arts). MY LIFE AS A FILM (2015), her first feature-length documentary as a director, was nominated for Best Documentary for the Swiss Film Award and the International Documentary Association IDA Award, Los Angeles, and won the Prix de Soleure, the Basel Film Award and the Zurich Film Award, among others. Her second feature documentary LOVING HIGHSMITH, about the writer Patricia Highsmith, opened the Solothurn Film Festival in 2022, was nominated for the Swiss Film Award, received a Zurich Film Award for dramaturgy and editing and was shown in cinemas in more than 20 countries. THE HEARING (2023) by Lisa Gerig, is Eva Vitija’s first work as a producer, together with Maurizius Staerkle Drux, for Ensemble Film in Zurich, where she was a founding partner from 2018-2022. The film was selected for the European Film Awards in 2023 and received the Prix de Soleure, the Zurich Film Award and the Swiss Film Award in 2024. She lives in Zurich.
Poissons
Humanity is on the brink of catastrophe, and a permanent state of ecological emergency has been declared. Edsger, a 30-something algorithm specialist at “Océan Vert », has been transferred to the Atlantic coast, where preparations are underway to optimize a nature reserve. On arrival, he is told that there is no trace of him in the system. While waiting for this inexplicable misunderstanding to be cleared up, he discovers “Onde Amère”, a wild camp populated by mysterious people. Torn between these two worlds, Edsger must make a choice.
Fiction feature by Valentin Rotelli
Valentin Rotelli is a director and editor who lives and works in Geneva. He has co-directed several short films presented at national and international festivals, including “Big Sur”, nominated for the Swiss Film Prize (Quartz) in 2009. His feature film, “All That Remains”, co-directed with Pierre-Adrien Irlé, won the 2011 Quartz for Best Actress. POISSONS is her first feature film.