Discoveries from Switzerland World Cinema

Director Yuri Ancarani crosses the Persian Gulf to accompany a falconer to an important competition, entering the surreal world of wealthy Qatari sheikhs with a passion for amateur falconry. The opulence of this Middle Eastern gas state is on full display as the men race SUVs up and down sand dunes, fly their prized falcons around on private jets, and take their pet cheetahs out for desert spins in their souped-up Ferraris.

All that stands between one man and murder by the mafia is a penguin.

For the love of the beautiful Elena the young fisherman's son Marcello turns a whole village upside down.

Stockbroker Fred Böhler has an accident on his way to work. While his seriously injured body is taken to intensive care, his soul flies away as an eagle to another world. His journey first takes him into space, where he is repelled by the cold. In his encounter with the elemental nature of Alaska's pristine landscapes, he discovers the power of life. He continues along the path of evolution, where he encounters the most beautiful flowers, playful squirrels, and mighty moose and bison. Does he even want to return? The power of life and love ultimately triumphs over death.

Movie about an expedition in search of a mythical demon in the Himalaya mountains.

Michele "Mike" Lo Russo is a young Italian boxer who has moved to Hamburg to start a professional boxing career. When his German manager refuses to renew his contract, he returns to Trieste, where his older sister Anna lives. Orphaned at an early age, Anna has dedicated her life to her brother's success. His triumph in boxing seems to be the only way to a better life, both for him and for herself. Once again, Anna helps Mike by begging his old coach to train him again. But the hoped-for boxing matches fail to materialize and Mike becomes increasingly impatient. Bargni, a manager whom Mike met in Germany, persuades him to get involved in the illegal fight club business. After Mike hesitates at first, he finally accepts the tempting offer and enters a world without rules.

From the snow-capped Alps to the waves of Western Australia and Tahiti, Human X showcases athletes pushing the limits of fear and danger, navigating nature’s challenges and a changing climate, celebrating self-transcendence, transmission, and harmony with nature. All these athletes embody the drive to surpass limits — we call them Human X. HUMAN X – SAGA is an extended cut of the latest LA NUIT DE LA GLISSE feature film HUMAN X II, tailored specifically for Australian audiences, and includes the brand new 2024 feature in its entirety starring 2024 Female Surfer of the Year and local Sydney legend Laura Enever; and also features a bonus prologue with highlights from 2023’s HUMAN X film including Australian big wave chargers Kerby and Cortney Brown.

Kneuss is an eccentric. He has been hired by his childhood friend Schnaffelmann as a consultant in his advertising agency. During a visit to Schnaffelmann's home, he recognizes his childhood sweetheart Cäcilie Bucher in Schnaffelmann's wife Cécile, and the old familiarity between Kneuss and Cécile, who is frustrated in her marriage, quickly returns. Kneuss realizes that Schnaffelmann is using the advertising agency to cover up his activities in the drug trade.

Teens Linda and Eta are inseparable friends, though they have plenty of disagreements, but one horrific argument has unexpected consequences.

Once again Absinthe Films raises the bar to bring you 'More'. This title marks the beginning of a new era for Absinthe Films as they have broadened their scope to include and properly represent urban riding while still keeping the overall blend fresh and un-repetitive.

The small regional hospitals of Vevey, Montreux, Aigle and Monthey are closing in favor of the new, larger, more adapted and more modern hospital in Rennaz. As the construction of the new hospital progresses, emergency physicians Eric and Frédérique tell us about their daily life in the face of illness and death.

Criminals Rayner and Simon organize a diamond heist, but are outsmarted by Jean and Rémy, two aspiring crooks.

A documentary about Swiss mountain folk.

1640. A man attempts to flee from England, torn apart by religious unrest, to France. He is the philosopher and irreverent cynic Thomas Hobbes. But before he can reach the ship that will save him, civil war breaks out. The chaos inspires him to develop new philosophical theories. While writing his futuristic epic, he is assisted by a nobleman who accompanies him on his escape disguised as a servant. The futuristic epic that Hobbes invents is set in the present day. The main characters are a married couple who run a grocery store and try to compete with a supermarket.

The thrilling Riverdance show live from Geneva.

By the magic of a wish, Dorian Gray retains his grace and youth forever. Only his painted portrait will age. Shielded by an apparent innocence, he commits his crimes with impunity... ultimately leading to his downfall.

When he composed his motet ‘Exsultate jubilate’ K.165, Mozart was only 17 years old. He was then at the height of his fame. He was 35 when he wrote ‘The Magic Flute’ and died shortly afterwards. Dutch conductor Ton Koopman presents a programme that traces the stages of the composer's life. Russian soprano Julia Lezhneva performs the solo parts.

Mariel and her friends, live happily, surrounded by nature. One day, a corporation arrives to illegally cut down the jungle and sell wood. With the magic of nature, the children are transformed into cartoons to fight an ambitious witch who wants to destroy the jungle. The fight will be hard, but the kids will be the heroes of their story.

In a great rock quarry, an explosion unveils an object from a different time.

An arsonist tries to shake up the despairing inhabitants of a village who can't communicate with each other.

On the order of their spiritual leader, three young Islamists kidnap a group of actors who are about to go on tour with their latest show.

A beautiful, intelligent and flirtatious young girl, Yonta, is secretly in love with a friend of her parents, Vicente, a hero of the war of independence. Vicente is unaware of her passion as she is of the love of a young man who sends her anonymous love letters.

Filmmaking in the silent film era. Stuntman Tom is tired of falling into the dirt for other people and now takes it into his own hands to be promoted to star of the film.

Modern Amazons are fierce heroines. They are ready to fight for what is important to them. Without explaining, without compromising, always persisting. They fight for victory in the ring for acceptance, and too, for fellow sufferers and humanity.

In SUNSPOTS, several 16mm shots of the sun are layered and superimposed, paired with a soundscape consisting of volcanos, fire, plastic and the audible solar sounds recorded by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

Solitude in the Haut-Jura. During the days and nights of winter, Max and his companions split their time between farming activities, skiing, and the pub. Everything is muffled, by the snow and the silence. Up until singing cuts this silence and reunites the community. This is a film that is fascinated by the forms of the landscape and the presence of men, but also by an ambiance that opens the imagination.

Being a politician is a tough job. Federal Councillor Alois Mumenthaler knows this too and makes his way through the sessions as a grumpy and old-fashioned representative of the species. He is pretty much against everything and launches a rigorous anti-drug campaign that turns out to be a flop. His party no longer wants him and his wife even less so. He has also been diagnosed with glaucoma. The man is slowly going blind. A visit to the doctor reveals that cannabis, of all things, has a healing effect and could fight the disease. But a federal councillor and cannabis don't mix. Nevertheless, it is the only way for Mumenthaler to avoid complete blindness and keep his hopes of an operation alive.

A young Dutch girl (my mother, filmed by my father in-love). A little redhead (me, filmed by my father). Boys (my brothers). And through the images of flowers, animals and rallies (super 8s that were found): A chalet (Switzerland), dikes (the Netherlands). And my memories, childhood, teenage years mixed up with the history of women (of my family).

The film is the story of a musical encounter between drummers Pierre Favre, Fritz Hauser, Daniel Humair and Fredy Studer. The filmmaker brought them together in Zurich on January 6, 1997, and followed them over four days of rehearsals. The confrontation between these very different artists culminates in a concert.

An immense love, a car accident that takes away the great love of your life, a dark life full of pain, then suddenly a return to the past and the chance to bring your loved one back to life...

Since its premiere on 2 June 1937 in Zurich, Alban Berg's second opera "Lulu" has the reputation of being surrounded by scandals. On the one hand, this is due to the dubious character of the subject, the man-eating femme fatale, which Berg had taken from Frank Wedekind's two Lulu tragedies – "The Earth Spirit" and "Pandora's Box" – and combined into one opera libretto. On the other hand, Berg's widow had (for personal reasons) repeatedly refused to have the opera completed, which was unfinished when Berg died. This video is of the unfinished two-act torso of "Lulu."

Housewife Therese Karlen has been suffering from insomnia for some time. Overwhelmed by her husband and children, she sets off with pensioner Liselott on a journey of self-discovery to the Bernese Oberland.

An angry punk in Berlin or a pilgrim in Lourdes, a woman with a disability in the 19th century or a film director wallowing in his self-pity, the film embraces different identities, jumping through centuries and landscapes. Until the adventure takes a new turn and unfolds as a mysterious crime thriller with YouTubers, confined to a castle in France.

A production of Mozart's opera recorded live at Zurich Opera House in 2000. Cecilia Bartoli leads an all-star cast including Roberto Saccà, Liliana Nikiteanu, and Agnes Baltsa. The conductor is Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Filmed live at the Zurich Opera House in February 2000 on a set which visualises the subtitle "The School for Lovers", the plot revolves around two army officers arguing about the fidelity of their brides, then setting out to test their chastity. Despite the often playful humour, this is not only psychologically telling music-making, but reveals Mozart exploring the structure of opera, discarding convention to mix large ensemble sections with arias for as many different combinations of singers as possible. With Liliana Nikiteanu attractively contrasted with Bartoli, and thoroughly convincing performances by Roberto Sacca (Ferrando) and Oliver Widmer (Guilelmo), this Così has a freshness and flow which, coupled with the timeless romantic themes, feels very contemporary.

Now ninety-three years old, Claudia Andujar managed to survive the Holocaust as a child. The award-winning photographer has been travelling the Amazon since the 1960s. This has resulted in a profound contact with the Yanomami people. The Yanomami learnt from Andujar how to defend themselves against the overexploitation of the rainforest and their expulsion. Victims become activists.

A strong, independent girl has to struggle in the society because her way of dealing with her life is not socially accepted and appreciated.

Two film students document the fate of an ex-prisoner from Guantanamo who is granted asylum in Switzerland.

Jyzone has just got out of prison. He has found a new job, but the people he meets on the way to work risk making him late for his first day. Through a choreographic and poetic portrait outlined by skillful camera work, director Basil Da Cunha explores the violent neighborhood of Cova da Moura in Lisbon, with the participation of its inhabitants.

Alfred is a constipated painter, he feels used and doesn’t paint anymore. While in transit in an airport, he goes to the bathroom and starts to have a vision that will free his inspiration.

In February 1971, a majority of Swiss men finally granted women equal political rights. However, eight cantons were still unable to bring themselves to take this step, including three cantons with a long tradition in Switzerland.

A three-chapter 720-minute cinematic exploration inspired by historical explorers like Adelbert von Chamisso. The film intertwines past and present travel experiences, using readings and visual materials to explore themes of cultural knowledge loss and change, drawing parallels to Chamisso’s “Wondrous Story” of Schlemihl and his shadow.

Young brothers Konrad and Baschi get into a fight that spirals out of control and leads to dire consequences. While the world outside their home crumbles, Konrad has just one chance to right his wrong.

Anna, Francesco and the eight years old Giorgio can't afford a fancy holiday. Afraid of losing their reputation, they decide to fake the vacation. They hide in their own house and they post on social medias photoshopped pictures of the family at the Bahamas. Inebriated by likes and folowers, the parents forget their son's needs.

A man turning 50 (Walter Faber) narrates his liaisons with three women: Hanna, who was pregnant and left him many years ago in Zurich; Ivy, who broke up with him recently in New York; Sabeth who is 20 and whom he just met on a boat to Europe. Sabeth and the narrator travel to France, Italy and Greece. But who is Sabeth? What does she feel towards the narrator? What does he feel towards her? The entire movie is shot in subjective view (we only see what the narrator sees); there are no dialogues, just his post-synchronised voice.

The film is set in the Bronze Age: Anuk's mountain village is attacked by a tribe of horsemen. He sets out on a journey to save his people. He must follow the path of the warrior.

Ruined and abandoned by his wife, Francis is ready to do anything to win her back. With the help of his friend Simon, he decides to kidnap Catarina, the wife of the man who scammed him, in order to blackmail him and recover his savings.

Diary sketches of a young gigolo of Arab origin who is confronted with experiences and impressions in the big Parisian world that overwhelms and confuses him.

David Miller wants to die and chooses assisted euthanasia. He planned everything: the place, the time and the manner. However, nothing goes right. With Esperanza, member of the association, and Tréplev, young prostitute, David embarks on his ultimate night with total strangers.

A time-travelling Android from the future seeks the Last King to record his beautiful voice which will deliver existential answers to the machines of the future. It’s the year 2022 and the King is about to sing.

No es (It isn’t) is a cumulative poem by Mariano Blatt, whose constant writing process extends over a lifetime. The text of the poem, to which verses are added over days, months and years, can cover anything: images, people, memories, landscapes, phrases, ideas, etc. Having that list of “what seems to be but isn’t” ringing in his head, Eduardo Williams’ film Parsi observes in a perpetual movement the spaces and people to create another poem that is caressed, crashes and spins next to No es.

An experimental conclusion to Klopfensteins trilogy of walk-and-talk philosophical films, presented mostly in negative black-and-white pictures

In a fairy tale world, a winemaker creates the most exquisite wine in the world. When Death herself wants to taste the wine, he discovers that his bride is next on Death list.

Inès, a professional photographer, decides to complete a book she is working on before she gives birth to her first child. This photography project, related to the memories of her childhood, always brings her back to the same place: the family home in southern Argentina that shaped her youth and forged her character. It also contains the only photo Inès still has of her with her father, before he disappeared as a victim of the military dictatorship. This photo is the starting point of a jigsaw puzzle of fragmentary memories about the relationships Inès had with her mother and her brother.