The postproduction of Christine Repond’s latest feature film «Vacuum» with Barbara Auer und Robert Hunger-Bühler in the main roles has finished. 

On the 26th of November 2017, the film will celebrate its world premiere at PÖFF - Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn.  

The drama tells the story of 60-year-old Meredith, who considers herself happily married to André. It comes as a shock when she's diagnosed as HIV-positive and her husband is the only one who could have transmitted the disease. 

The film was selected for the official competition of the festival.

Jan Eric Mack’s short film FACING MECCA was awarded with this year’s Student Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The film was produced by Joël Jent in coproduction with Zurich University of Arts and SRF swiss Radio and Television and co-funded by Zurich Filmfunds and the Canton of Glarus. The script was written by Anna Schinz and the director Jan-Eric Mack.

Jan-Erick Mack and Joël Jent were present at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills in order to receive the medal in the category „Narrative (International Film Schools)“.

The film has already won the „Best of Festival“ award at the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest and is thus qualified for the Shortlist of the 90th Academy Awards 2018.

FACING MECCA is a short drama about a Swiss pensioner (Peter Freiburghaus) who helps a Syrian refugee (Jay Abdo) to bury his wife according to Muslim rites.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Jan Eric Mack’s FACING MECCA is awarded with this year’s Student Academy Award. The ceremony for the 44th Student Academy Award will be held on October 12 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
With this Award, but also the one the short drama won at the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest in June, it is eligible for the 90th Academy Awards’ Shortlist.
We thank the Jury for awarding the film and for sending us on this magical journey. We would also like to express very special thanks and gratitude towards our cast, crew and partners for helping us create this wonderful project.

FACING MECCA tells the story of a Swiss pensioner who helps a Syrian refugee to bury his wife according to Muslim rites while fighting against the windmills of Swiss bureaucracy. David Ansen, Film Critic, Writer, and Jury President of the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest called it a „moving and penetrating film“ and named Jan-Eric Mack a „young filmmaker in total control of his craft“.

The film has been written by Anna Schinz together with director Jan-Eric Mack. Dschoint Ventschr producer Joël Jent headed production in coproduction with ZHdK Zurich University of the Arts and SRF Swiss Radio and Television.
The film has been supported by Swiss Ministry of Culture, Zurich Film Fund, SRF Swiss Radio and Television and the Swiss Regional Fund of Glarus.

After the successful world premiere at the Festival Locarno, we now proudly announce the official trailer of «Welcome to Switzerland».

The cinematic release in the German speaking part of Switzerland is on 19th October.
On the following dates there will be previews at which the director Sabine Gisiger will be present:

Tuesday, 17th October 2017          Zurich, Kosmos
Wednesday, 18th October 2017     Aarau, Kino Ideal
Thursday, 19th October 2017        Zürich, Riffrraff 
Friday, 20th October 2017             Basel, Kult.Kino Camera 
Saturday, 21st October 2017         Baden, Sterk Kino 
Saturday, 21st October 2017         Brugg, Kino Odeon

Katrin Rothe's animated documentary «1917 - The Real October» is currently travelling through Russia very successfully and can be seen at international festivals, but it soon makes a trip to Switzerland again. The International Animation Film Festival Fantoche has selected the film in which the artists of the Russian Revolution are brought to life via cut-out figures for its 15th edition.

The film will be shown on Saturday, 9th (Kino Trafo), and on Sunday, 10th September (Kino Orient), at 14:15. Katrin Rothe will be present at both screenings and is already looking forward to interesting discussions.