FIFF announces complete line up of the 27th edition
Twelve films are in competition in this year’s Fribourg International Film Festival edition (March
16 - 23, 2013) and are vying for the FIFF’s most prestigious award, the Regard d’Or, which carries
a prize of CHF 30,000. Once again this year, productions of notable current interest have been
selected from the regions in which the FIFF has traditionally been focussed. This year’s
competition draws in works from Latin America, the Middle East and an exceptionally high
concentration of Asian films. Films from the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and China
are very prominently represented in competition and demonstrate the exceptionally innovative
film production of this region. Many of the directors will personally present their films in
Fribourg.
Only films making their Swiss, European or International premiere will be shown in competition. The
Festival presents many films that struggle with commercial theatrical releases, and only rarely
make it to local cinema screens. This gives audiences a unique opportunity to gain insight into the
global diversity of film production.
This year, the FIFF will present three films made by women directors from countries and regions
where women have rarely, if ever, directed films in the past. The directorial debut film WADJDA
(Saudi Arabia, Germany 2012) by Haifaa Al-Mansour (*1974 Saudi Arabia) tells the story of an 11-
year-old girl who challenges the rules of Islamic society, likes wearing trainers, competes in races
with a neighbourhood boy and dreams of having a bicycle. The film has already received a number of
awards, garnering enthusiastic international acclaim in recent months. Now at last it will also be
screened in Switzerland. Another first-time director, Rama Burshtein (*1967 New York) has
penetrated a traditionally male domain with her film FILL THE VOID (Israel 2012). As the first
orthodox Jewish woman director, she tells a story that takes place in her own faith community, the
Hasidic community of Tel Aviv. This film has also received international acclaim, as has
WATCHTOWER (Turkey 2012) by Pelin Esmer from Istanbul, a promising Turkish filmmaker. Her
entry at the FIFF presents a social drama in which she candidly attacks the traditional role of women
in conservative Turkish society without glossing over anything.
THREE SISTERS (France, Hong Kong 2012) by Wang Bing (*1967 China) is the only documentary
film represented in competition. For 153 minutes, the film shockingly portrays the dirty flip side of
the coin in China. If Emile Zola were a film director today, he would be called Wang Bing.
Asia takes a prominent place in this year's competition. With the social criticism of SLEEPLESS
NIGHT (South Korea 2012), Jang Kun-jae (*1977 South Korea) presents a film that is as light as a
feather, addressing the essential issues with amazingly meagre means. The recent South Korean
film school graduate Kim Sung-hyun demonstrates just how effective the training at the Korean
Academy of Film Arts in Seoul really is, with his film YOUR TIME IS UP (South Korea 2012). This
thriller also focuses on the issue of social conditions in his homeland. PENANCE (Japan 2012), , , a ,
270-minute thriller centred on the theme of guilt, was directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (*1955 Japan),
who is now recognised as one of the most important artists of modern Japanese film.
Vietnam is represented in competition with the dramatic love story IN THE NAME OF LOVE
(Vietnam 2012) by Luu Huynh. This film has already launched a considerable international career
and received an award at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. BWAKAW (Philippines 2012)
by Jun Robles Lana (*1972 Philippines) was also received with great acclaim at the Toronto
International Film Festival, filling the cinema with fits of laughter – not least thanks to Eddie Garcia,
arguably the most famous Filipino actor, who is now 83 years old. 4
After 15 award-winning short films, Mahmoud Ghaffari (*1976 Iran) has become an established
feature on the Iranian film landscape. IT'S A DREAM (Iran 2012) is his first feature film. The young, )
single Roya lives in a refugee camp and is in debt. In spite of her determination and cleverness, she
soon finds herself confronted with the social obstacles of Iranian society.
The FIFF will also present very promising first works by young filmmakers from Latin America. With
El LIMPIADOR (Peru 2012), Adrián Saba (*1988 Spain, Peru) practically re-invents the disaster
genre with a virus story and, refreshingly, draws a completely new image of Lima. Alejandro Fadel
(*1980 Argentina) hones in on five powerful and violent youths struggling to stay alive in an
adventurous escape in the wild, mysterious fairy tale LOS SALVAJES (Mexico, Netherlands 2012).
The film received its world premiere at the Festival de Cannes, where it was bestowed the ACID
award.
The programme concept
The FIFF is increasingly recognized as a regular feature on the Swiss cultural calendar. Above all, its
continuous development and Thierry Jobin's artistic concept have been exceedingly well received. In
2013, he will serve as the FIFF's Artistic Director for the second time, and be responsible for the
programme selection. He has undertaken a significant restructuring of the FIFF, introducing fixed
programme sections that once again this year will have a prominent place in the programme (see
also the Press Release of 28 January 2013). Moreover, thanks to panel discussions, conferences and
informal meetings, the audience can come into contact with international filmmakers, allowing an
exchange between the film industry and the public.
Trailer FIFF 2013 from FIFF on Vimeo.
