Swiss film industry rendezvous at the Marché du Film
Published: Thursday, May 16th 2024, 17:50
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This year, Switzerland is the guest country at the Marché du Film, which takes place on the fringes of the Cannes Film Festival. This honor enhances the developments and ambitions of Swiss filmmaking. An interview with Guillaume Esmiol, Director of the Marché du Film.
When selecting the host country, "we give preference to countries with which we have had relations for several years and which are long-term partners of the Marché du Film," Guillaume Esmiol told the Keystone-SDA news agency. This applies to Switzerland and in particular to the promotion agency Swiss Films.
Switzerland was also selected because it is "very active in the various programs and events of the Marché", says Esmiol. In addition, the current year 2024 is fundamentally important for Swiss film, not least because the European Film Awards will be presented in Lucerne in December.
Seven programs
Switzerland is represented in seven different programs at this year's Marché du Film. Specifically, these are the programs "Producers Network", "Cannes Docs" (documentaries), "Goes to Cannes" (films in production that are still looking for partners), "Cannes Next" (innovation), "Festival Hub", "Spot the composer" and "Shoot the book" (books by Swiss authors that are to be made into films). Esmiol was personally delighted, as Switzerland is a "real country of innovation" - for Esmiol "a very important aspect of the Marché du Film".
Accordingly, the number of experts who traveled from Switzerland was comparatively high. Only significantly larger countries, such as the United States, France and the United Kingdom, attracted even more experts.
Network for experts
The various programs of the Marché du Film aim to connect professionals with each other: "The Producers Network, for example, introduces Swiss producers." This makes it easier to find co-producers or financing. Esmiol added: "Swiss cinema is making a name for itself above all with international co-productions."
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a dominant theme in the field of innovation this year. Esmiol referred to the start-up Largo.AI from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). The company focuses on evaluating the potential success of a film project. According to Esmiol, the Marché du Film aims to present technology in an educational way, explaining to professionals how to use AI, for example. It is about concrete applications for the film industry. "Of course, AI also raises questions," Esmiol admitted.
15,000 visitors
He himself started at the Marché du Film as Deputy Director in 2021, at a time when the Covid pandemic was casting its shadow over the Marché and the film industry as a whole. In its first year, the Marché du Film was held as a hybrid event, having only been held online the year before.
"This year, with 15,000 participants, we have more visitors at the Marché du Film than before the pandemic." 30 percent of them come from film production, another 30 percent from distribution, 15 percent represent cultural institutions and film commissions, 12 percent come from festivals and markets, as well as other experts, as Esmiol explained. A total of around 500 exhibitors were spread across the festival grounds.
©Keystone/SDA
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