Colostrum
Pascal, 45, a dairy farmer in Val d’Illiez (VS), looks after the family business, with his elderly mother Nelly. One summer, Solène, who is curious about the world of farming, comes to help on a voluntary basis. Between the day-to-day work and difficult choices, such as sending a less productive cow to the abattoir, a sincere dialogue develops between them. COLOSTRUM is a poetic exploration of dairy farming, combining industrial reality with the deep bond between humans, animals and nature.
Documentary by Sayaka Mizuno
Born in Geneva in 1991, Sayaka Mizuno graduated from ECAL/HEAD with a Master’s degree in 2018. Her medium-length documentary Kawasaki Keirin (2016) won several awards (Vision du Réel, Nara, Clermont Ferrand). In 2016, she was the winner of the Hans Wilsdorf Excellence Award in Cinema, and in 2017, she took part in the Locarno Filmmakers Academy. Her first feature-length documentary Colostrum won the Prix RTS Perspective d’un Doc 2021.
The White Club
Nina wakes up in the White Club, a luxury brothel at the Italian/Slovenian border. Her sister Lejla is missing: she was kidnapped by paramilitaries at the border crossing. Mirko, their smuggler, and the son of the owner of the Club, Ofelia, struggles with his guilt. Will he go against his mother to help Nina get her sister back?
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.
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 “Green Ocean”, 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 wilderness 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.
Call me when the wind blows
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.
A year without summer
1815 – The Indonesian volcano Tambora erupts. The ejected ashes create an invisible veil that slowly envelops the globe. One year later. Somewhere in Europe lives Anna (16), the oldest daughter of a large peasant family.The young peasant girl and her family face a 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.
Charming Mary
17-year-old Amish girl Hannah and her family cross the Ocean aboard the Queen Mary II. They plan to visit Switzerland (the origin country of their religion). Hannah is forced to confront her expelled older sister and make the choice of her life: staying with the rest of her family or live freely…
Fiction feature by Arne Kohlweyer
Arne Kohlweyer was born in 1981 in Wolgast (D). In 2008 he finished film directing at FAMU in Prague. He has made various short films, directed for German television and got nominated for the Grimme-Award.
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.