Swiss Filmmakers, Creators Make Their Mark at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City
Two decades after its launch, Tribeca Film Festival, founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, continues to bring filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the creative community from around the world to New York City.
More than 300 films were shown and Switzerland successfully put its name on the map with Swiss films, directors, and actors featured. The annual film festival usually happens every spring (in April), but took place in-person this year from June 6 to June 20.
In celebration of the incredible Swiss creative talent featured this year, we thought it was only right to highlight some of their work and stories about what it means to be representing Switzerland on the global stage and making their mark at one of North America’s powerhouse film festivals.
While in New York City, the Embassy of Switzerland was able to have a quick conversation with Swiss film director Jean-Cosme Delaloye and Swiss actor and screenwriter Noémie Schmidt. But before we dive into those interviews, let’s take a look at the entire lineup of the Swiss talent represented at this year’s festival.
June 12: “Esther in Wonderland” by Swiss Filmmaker Stephanie Bollag
Featured in: Shorts
An award-winning filmmaker from Zurich, Switzerland, now based in New York City, Stephanie Bollag tells the story of a young, married Hasidic woman in the 1990s in Crown Heights, NY, who joins a group of female hip-hop and break-dancers and risks being discovered.
The Swiss filmmaker and screenwriter, who has kept women at the center of her storytelling said during an interview with Shore Scripts that “both as a woman and as a Jewish person, I am continuously redefining my identity, asking myself: Who am I really? And how much of who I am is a construct of society, religion, parental hopes, etc.?”
She elaborated, explaining that “Esther in Wonderland” came about organically over time; however, the crew was able to shoot a lot of the film over the span of just two days. WATCH TRAILER
June 12: “Roaring 20’s” by Elisabeth Vogler
Starring Swiss Actress and Screenwriter Noémie Schmidt
Featured in: International Narrative Competition
All it took was one shot to tell the story of the “Roaring 20’s,” an experimental and unique film that focuses on human connection and random passersby in the time of the pandemic.
The French film featuring 24 actors, including Swiss actor Noémie Schmidt, was created with only 16 crewmembers in 6 takes. The creative film takes the audience on a stroll through Paris while accompanying a variety of people throughout their day. They all cross paths with one another and the narrative then quickly changes to where the previous story left off. Think: strangers crossing paths, but never fully interacting.
Following the screening of “Roaring 20's” the Embassy of Switzerland had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Schmidt, who is also one of the film’s screenwriters. The Valais native spoke to us about representing Switzerland at the Tribeca Film Festival, her journey to harnessing her creative force, how American culture inspired her, and, of course, her love for raclette.
June 17: “Wake up on Mars” by Swiss-Albanian Filmmaker Dea Gjinovci
Featured in: 2020 Official Selection: Features
“Wake up on Mars” explores the real-life story of two teenage sisters, Ibadeta and Djeneta Demiri, who are both in a coma-like state due to a mystery illness known as resignation syndrome.
As their parents navigate between keeping the two teenagers alive and the family’s pending legal immigration status in Sweden, their youngest son, Furkhan, is caught up in the middle and watching it all unfold. In this documentary, Swiss-Albanian director and filmmaker Dea Gjinovci follows life through Furkhan’s eyes, as he spends his days building a rocket ship in order to escape the complications of this world and start anew on Mars, according to a Variety interview.
During Gjinovci’s interview with Variety, she elaborated by saying “I wanted to focus on the metaphorical elements of this illness. I didn’t want this film to just be a fly on the wall documentary. I thought the metaphorical elements would be more interesting, they would offer more depth I wanted to be at the same level as a child’s point of view, in a sense, in order to evoke this childhood syndrome.”
“Wake Up on Mars” is the filmmaker’s first feature-length documentary. She won Best National Film at Dokufest in 2017 for her award-winning documentary short “Sans le Kosovo.”
June 18: “Harley” by Swiss Filmmaker Jean-Cosme Delaloye
Featured in: 2020 Official Selection: Features
In his documentary “Harley,” Swiss filmmaker and journalist Jean-Cosme Delaloye shares the riveting and unusual journey of Harley Breite, a 53-year-old criminal defense lawyer in Paterson, New Jersey, who lives with his mother.
Delaloye allows Breite’s unique personality and his vast range of emotions to tell the story, while the audience follows along as he trains for a mixed martial arts fight in Brazil in order to impress a mysterious European woman he meets online.
The Embassy of Switzerland caught up with the Swiss filmmaker a week before the screening and discussed his Swiss roots, his latest documentary “Harley,” and how New York City inspired his journey and success. “This is a New York film,” Delaloye noted during the interview. “It’s the most unlikely story you can think of. He is like a Don Quixote.”
Although unforeseen and not a film meant to feature Switzerland, “Harley” happens to have a couple of Swiss connections, including the fact that Breite was born in Basel, Switzerland. Additionally, the mysterious European woman he meets online and is determined to impress happens to be from Zurich, Switzerland. Fun fact: Delaloye shared with us that there was actually a scene shot in Zurich, but it ended up on the cutting room floor.
The filmmaker has plenty of projects in the pipeline and is still shooting with Breite, because he believes he can tell the story of the American justice system through his eyes. Furthermore, he hopes to continue to tell impactful and relevant stories in different formats.
While the Swiss Romand (from the French-speaking part of Switzerland) does not plan to return home (other than for vacation) any time soon, he admits that Switzerland helped him on his path. “I had more opportunities because of my Swiss background and access to great education.”
Of course he will always have ties to Switzerland through his other profession as a Swiss journalist, through his Swiss family back home, and, of course, by continuing to follow his favorite Swiss soccer team back home.
June 20: “Cru” by Swiss Writer and Director David Oesch
Featured in: 2020 Official Selection: Shorts
Swiss writer and director David Oesch tells the story of a young chef from a good family working at a Michelin-star restaurant in his film “Cru.”
The young and talented chef, still learning the ropes in the business, is hopeful and eager to rise up in a ruthless hierarchy, but she must prove herself and win over the head chef of the kitchen in order to do so. This leads to tension both inside and outside the kitchen, and the young chef must decide how far she is willing to go to further her career.
The short film, which runs 10 minutes, is Mr. Oesch’s final graduation project for his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Zurich University of Arts and is now a long way from home and being featured at the Tribeca Film Festival.
“Cru” won the Student Visionary Award at Tribeca Film Festival in 2020.
More about Tribeca Film Festival and Swiss Films
It’s not too late to enjoy the cinematic experience of the Tribeca Film Festival right from the comfort of your own home.
Visit: https://tribecafilm.com/festival/at-home to join in the fun and experience storytelling from Switzerland and around the world.
You can also learn more about other Swiss films by visiting: https://www.swissfilms.ch/en/
