by Nicolas Rossier, Founding Director Swissam

Why SwissAm?

I had always dreamt of opening up the pulsating world of independent film in NYC to Swiss Filmmakers. In a country with so much talent there are too few avenues for those in the film arts to travel with their talents and flourish in their careers. I came to NYC four years ago to study acting and film directing and I found a world of opportunity that was just a dream to me when in Switzerland. As I explored the film world in America, I knew I had to give a piece of this experience to Switzerland. In the same respect the US film community needed to be informed on the emerging film movement in Switzerland. The image that had developed in America as to what Switzerland had to offer in the arts had to change. Switzerland is exploding with talented and emerging filmmakers who quite simply have few opportunities to make themselves known and I was happy to try to change that. Hence, the concept of the Swiss American Film Festival seemed like the perfect way to start. The idea of an event that would enable filmmakers from the U.S and Switzerland to collaborate together, to share their work and ideas would open the exchange between both communities. I began talking to a few industry contacts and the idea of such and event was received with great enthusiasm. The question of when to debut the festival was quickly answered when I heard about the Swiss Peaks celebration.

SwissAm’s First Editon: A True Success

The Swiss American Film Festival made its debut within the Swiss Peaks Celebration and launched on the 27th of April. It ran for three intensive days presenting more than 80 productions. It was the first festival in America to be totally dedicated to Swiss and American independent filmmakers. The program included shorts , animations and documentaries primarily by Swiss filmmakers but also contained a small number of (15 pieces) American producers. SwissAm also organized educational seminars focusing on issues relevant to the independent filmmaker (see under special events). The festival enabled Swiss Emerging artists to showcase their work in the independent film capital of the world -NYC- and allowed them to network with US based producers & filmmakers, film critics and distributors. The event was attended by roughly 3000 individuals. This number included attendees to the opening night party and special events. The Media attention was significant despite the war on terrorism and SwissAm was covered in: the NY POST, NY Resident, NY Press, Indie Wire, Reel Roundtable, Film Festival Today, Le Temps, Village Voice, the Luzerner Zeitung and more. The event was also listed on over 30 websites dedicated to the independent film community in America and Switzerland. SwissAm worked in collaboration with Location: Switzerland for the business seminar, AIVF for the distribution panel, First Run for the special discussion around the film “The Tube”. SwissAm also successfully partnered with more than 15 additional organizations for example: the VanAlen Institute, BAM in Brooklyn, IFP New York, Anthology Film Archives, the Swiss Film Center, the Swiss Short film Agency, Pro Helvetia, the Lincoln Center, Cinetyp, Fujifilm, TLInteractive, Reel Round Table, SSR Idee Suisse, AIVF, Cass World etc. for the programs, special screenings, promotional partnerships, film transport management etc.

SwissAm next edition will take place again in April/May 2004. The event will open itself to first features, experimentals, more USA based productions and will continue its successful seminar programs.

Suggestions and sponsorship questions are welcome to info@swisscinema.org.

Swiss Film History

Film production was born in Switzerland in the late 1930’s. World War two plunged Switzerland into isolation which proved to be a time of creative development. During the Second World War over 40 feature films were produced in Switzerland, with subject matter that was geared at promoting national political and cultural awareness. Films such as Lindtberg’s refugee film received international recognition. Several “classics” were created in the late 30’s early 40’s such as “Fusilier Wipf” 1939, “Gilberte de Courgenay” 1941 and “Die Missbrauchten Liebesbriefe” 1940 are those which make Swiss Film History. The end of the war also ended the first boom of Swiss film. During the 50’s and 60’s many successful productions were created which dealt with patriotic ideals and nineteenth-century farming life. The casts of films were filled with popular actors at the time, creating many Swiss film stars such as Ursula Andress. Social documentaries about everyday life came became popular during this period. The pioneers of this movement include Henry Brandt, Reni Martens, Walter Marti, Alain Tanner and Alexander J.Sailer. In the 1970’s it was Alain Tanner and Jean-Luc Godard who helped bring Swiss cinema to the international arena. More recently many film-makers have concentrated mainly on documentaries of Swiss life they include Richard Dindo, Bernhard Giger, Kurt Gloor, Marlies Graf, Peter von Gunten,Villi Hermann, Markus Imhoof, Thomas Koerfer, Remo Legnazzi, Rolf Lyssy, Fredi M. Murer, Francis Reusser, Daniel Schmid and Yves Yersin.