Swiss Films Thrive at Visions du Réel with Bold Stories and Strong Funding

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2025 promises a wealth of homegrown talent and stories at Switzerland’s largest documentary film festival, Visions du Réel. With an impressive 31 Swiss productions or co-productions on the schedule, this year’s event (April 4-13) will leave those seeking such content spoiled for choice. The opening film, “Blame” by Christian Frei, joins the lineup, with Frei, a renowned figure who was Switzerland’s first Oscar nominee in 2002 for “War Photography,” sharing the spotlight with emerging talent in feature debuts like Agostina Di Luciano and Leon Schwitter’s “The World Upside Down.

In her remarks about this year’s Swiss film productions and co-productions, Charlotte Ducos, consultant for documentary and marketing strategies at Swiss Films, stressed that it’s “extremely significant” to feature Swiss films throughout the festival lineup and to have the opening film be Swiss as well as a highly anticipated work by an acclaimed director. Ducos also highlighted that 43% of Swiss films are currently co-productions, demonstrating the value of collaborating with neighboring European countries like Italy, Germany, and Austria. Last year, Switzerland was the spotlight country at Cannes’s Marché du Film, which could potentially contribute to further success.

In his own words, Frei expresses heartfelt appreciation for the resources provided to filmmakers in their homeland, specifically mentioning the subsidy system they’ve set up in Switzerland. He attributes being able to devote adequate time to an ambitious project like denouncing COVID-19 misinformation to this support. He emphasizes that he didn’t need to take risks on box office or commercial success while working on this project.

Financially, Switzerland provides multiple funding options at both national and local levels, as well as from private entities. The primary route is the Film Investment Refund Switzerland (PICS), which primarily supports Swiss-international collaborations and is managed by the Federal Office of Culture. PICS returns 20-40% of qualifying film production costs if a project films for at least five days within the country.

This year’s Visions du Réel Swiss film festival explores a diverse array of themes, including AI’s impact on human creativity and the experiences of modern fatherhood. Through traditional journalistic inquiries, creative docu-fiction blends, and personal storytelling, these films provide insights into our past, present, and future. Among the many titles, EbMaster has highlighted a few standout films that you might want to catch, which are listed below:

“Blame,” dir. Christian Frei

Original: Frei, who made history as the first Oscar-nominated Swiss filmmaker with his searing investigation of war photography in the eponymous 2002 doc, comes back to Visions du Réel with a similarly contentious subject: an exploration into the tide of misinformation that transformed scientists battling SARS and the COVID-19 pandemic into social outcasts. The festival’s opening film, “Blame,” presents a crucial examination of the link between politics, science, and media. Rise and Shine manages world sales.

The Oscar-nominated Swiss director Frei, who previously made a powerful documentary about war photography, is back at Visions du Réel with a similarly debatable topic: an in-depth look at the wave of misinformation that caused scientists working on SARS and COVID-19 to be shunned by society. The festival’s opening film, “Blame,” delves into the relationship between politics, science, and media. Rise and Shine is handling global sales for this movie.

“The World Upside Down,” dir. Agostina Di Luciano and Leon Schwitter

This collaborative project between Switzerland and Argentina explores the realms of magical realism, spirituality, and local folklore. By seamlessly combining documentary and fictional elements, it delves into the lives of residents in a secluded Argentine village. Here, an elder named Omar, also a farmer, encounters an unusual celestial phenomenon. Intrigued, he sets off on a quest with his grandson, while Roxane and Lily are readying a vacation home in Buenos Aires. There, they stumble upon something extraordinary that will pave the way for fresh insights. Indox Films manages its distribution at film festivals.

“Wider Than the Sky,” dir. Valerio Jalongo 

Renowned Italian filmmaker Jalongo, whose films have been screened at prestigious festivals like Venice and Rome, and who has worked alongside actors such as Brendan Gleeson and Valeria Golino, is back at Visions du Réel with a movie exploring the relationship between AI and human emotions and creativity. The film, titled “Wider Than the Sky,” takes us on a tour of scientific laboratories and artists’ workspaces to investigate if AI can have a constructive impact on humanity’s future.

“Colostrum,” dir. Sayaka Mizuno

Mizuno’s mid-length documentary “Kawasaki Keirin,” released in 2016, received the Prix du Jury at Visions du Réel for the most innovative Swiss film across all competitive categories. This year, she brings her latest work, “Colostrum,” to the festival once more. This film explores the bond between a Swiss Alps farmer and an urban woman in her thirties who is deeply committed to animal welfare and ecofeminism. The documentary delves into the contrasts between these characters to uncover shared values, while also celebrating the pace of traditional farming. Stranger Films Sales manages global sales for this production.

“Dads,” dir. David Maye

Following his premiere of “Les Grandes Traversées” at Visions du Réel in 2017, Maye returns to the festival this time focusing on contemporary fatherhood. The film explores the experiences of four men who are either fathers or soon-to-be fathers, discussing their expectations, concerns, and societal pressures regarding parenthood, including topics like fear of abandonment, raising girls, and upholding harmful masculine stereotypes.

“Sons of Icarus,” dir. Daniel Kemény

In his third documentary, Kermény delves into personal territory by recounting the tale of his family. Being of European descent himself, his brother is Cuban, with their father having fled West Germany in the 1970s to escape the specters of fascism and eventually finding refuge in Cuba. In “Sons of Icarus,” the filmmaker embarks on a journey across North America to locate his family, encountering challenges in bridging the gap with his reserved father. Employing the art of filmmaking, Kermény discovers a means to heal old hurts and craft a visual narrative where mere words would fall short.

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2025-04-05 10:17