The

film industry The film industry or motion picture industry comprises the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking, i.e., film production companies, film studios, cinematography, animation, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, p ...

based in Switzerland dates to the 1930s. It is influenced by the neighboring countries of France, Germany and Italy, with which it shares languages. Before the mid-1960s Swiss films were often sentimental, but the French New Wave led to more experimental cinema. The

Solothurn Film Festival The Solothurn Film Festival (SFT) is the most important festival for Swiss film productions. Founded in 1966 in the Swiss city of Solothurn, the annual festival presents a representative selection of Swiss feature, documentary, and short film produ ...

was founded in 1966 with a declaration of showing the modern reality of Swiss Life. It is the most important festival for Swiss film productions. The

Locarno Festival The Locarno Film Festival is an annual film festival, held every August in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narrative, documentary, sh ...

founded in 1946 is an annual film festival held every August in

Locarno , neighboring_municipalities= Ascona, Avegno, Cadenazzo, Cugnasco, Gerra (Verzasca), Gambarogno, Gordola, Lavertezzo, Losone, Minusio, Muralto, Orselina, Tegna, Tenero-Contra , twintowns =* Gagra, Georgia * Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic ...

, Switzerland. As of 2014,

The Swissmakers ''The Swissmakers'' (german: Die Schweizermacher) is a 1978 Swiss comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionall ...

(1978) (''Die Schweizermacher'') is the highest grossing Swiss film of all time.Statistik Schweiz - Die erfolgreichsten Schweizer Filme
. Bfs.admin.ch (2014-04-30). Retrieved on 2014-05-12. In German-speaking cantons, French-language films usually have German subtitles. Likewise, in French-speaking cantons, German-language films usually have French subtitles. Adult-oriented films in foreign languages are often screened with original audio and double subtitles in German and French. Children-oriented films in foreign languages are usually dubbed.

Notable personalities

Directors

Richard Dembo Richard Dembo (24 May 1948 – 11 November 2004) was a French director and screenwriter. Dembo achieved worldwide recognition with his first film: '' La diagonale du fou'', which received an Oscar in 1984 for best foreign film, as well as ...

* Tim Fehlbaum *

Marcel Gisler Marcel Gisler (born 18 March 1960) is a Swiss film director and screenwriter. Life Marcel Gisler was raised in the Canton of St. Gallen. Since 1981 he lives in Berlin and studied Theatre studies and Philosophy at the Free University of Berlin ...

* Jean-Luc Godard *

Claude Goretta Claude Goretta (23 June 1929 – 20 February 2019) was a Swiss television producer and film director. Life and Career His 1973 film '' L'Invitation'' was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His 1981 film '' La pr ...

Xavier Koller Xavier Koller (born 1944, Schwyz, Switzerland) is a Swiss film director and screenwriter. He is most known for his work on the Disney live action film '' Squanto: A Warrior's Tale'', an adventure historical fiction film based on the life of Squa ...

Markus Imhoof Markus Imhoof (born 19 September 1941) is a Swiss film director, screenwriter, theatre and opera director. Biography He began his career as a documentary maker, focusing on controversial issues. His 1968 film ''Rondo'' was a critical look at ...

* Leopold Lindtberg * Fredi Murer *

Dominique Othenin-Girard Dominique Othenin-Girard (born 13 February 1958) is a Swiss-French film director, producer and screenwriter. He is known for films such as '' Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers'', '' The Crusaders'' and '' After Darkness'' which was no ...

Daniel Schmid Daniel Walter Schmid (26 December 1941 – 5 August 2006) was a Swiss theatre and film director. Biography In 1982, his film ''Hécate'' was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival. His film ''Beresina, or the Last Days of Swi ...

Franz Schnyder Franz Schnyder (5 March 1910 – 8 February 1993) was a Swiss film director and screenwriter. He directed 15 films between 1941 and 1968. His film ''Der 10. Mai'' was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival. Filmography * '' ...

* Alain Tanner * Yves Yersin

Actors

Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss-German actress, former model and sex symbol who has appeared in American, British and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962 ...

* Anne-Marie Blanc *

Sibylle Blanc ''Sibylle Blanc'' (born January 3, 1974''L'illustre, Lausanne, N. 21, p. 74, May 25, 2005. in Aubonne, Vaud) is a French-speaking Swiss actress, writer and director who is actively involved in theatrical, film, television and radio productions in ...

* Zarli Carigiet * Eliane Chappuis *

Bruno Ganz Bruno Ganz (; 22 March 1941 – 16 February 2019) was a Swiss actor whose career in German stage, television and film productions spanned nearly 60 years. He was known for his collaborations with the directors Werner Herzog, Éric Rohmer, Franc ...

Heinrich Gretler Heinrich Gretler (1897–1977) was a Swiss film and television actor, who also starred on stage at the Bernhard-Theater in Zurich. Selected filmography * '' The Mysterious Mirror'' (1928) * '' Struggle for the Matterhorn'' (1928) * ''The Man ...

* Emil Hegetschweiler *

Max Haufler Max Haufler (4 June 1910 – 25 June 1965) was a Swiss actor and film director. Partial filmography * ''Le règne de l'esprit malin'' (1938) - Criblet * ''Farinet ou l'or dans la montagne'' (1939) - Gendarm * ''Steibruch'' (1942) - Näppi * ' ...

Marthe Keller Marthe Keller (born 28 January 1945) is a Swiss actress and opera director. She is perhaps best known for her role in the film ''Marathon Man (film), Marathon Man'' (1976), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting ...

* Maximilian Schell *

Ella Rumpf Ella Rumpf (born 4 February 1995) is a Swiss actress, best known for her role as Alexia in the 2016 horror drama film '' Raw'', which won the Sutherland Trophy at the 2016 BFI London Film Festival. Her other notable roles include, critical acclaim ...

Notes and references

Bibliography

* Olivier Moeschler, ''Cinéma suisse. Une politique culturelle en action : l'État, les professionnels, les publics'',

Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes The Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes (PPUR, literally "Polytechnic and university press of French-speaking Switzerland") is a Swiss academic publishing house. It is based in Lausanne, on the Lausanne campus, in the Rolex Learni ...

, collection "Le savoir suisse", 2011.

External links