Switzerland Meets Austria and Germany

Weina Zhao, born in Beijing, raised in Vienna. Director, writer, producer, sinologist. Co-founder of the BIPOC filmnetwork GEWÄCHSHAUS and Perilla Zine, a publication for the Asian Diaspora. ELECTRIC SHADOWS LAUFBILDERZEUGUNGSANSTALT OG was founded in Vienna in early 2020 by the filmmakers Weina Zhao and Thomas Fürhapter. Electric Shadows stands for genre diversity and a colourful production landscape. We offer filmmakers a high degree of creative autonomy and freedom of action. Essentially, it is about fair and solidary cooperation, the creation of a creative production environment and joint decision-making in all essential phases of a film project.

Pink Shadow Films, funded in 2018, develops feature-length documentary and hybrid films for cinema and television. Titles include Germany Film Academy Award winner THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER by Antonia Kilian (2021) & Film Critic Award winner EXILE NEVER ENDS by Bahar Bektas (2024) and co-production LISTENING TO THE WORLD by Yelizaveta Smith (pitched at VdR work in progress) Future projects are titled THE RAIN OF EYES (hybrid) by Arash Asadi, THAT OTHER SUNRISE (doc) by Antonia Kilian & ANE (doc) by Sevinaz Evdike. I truly believe in collective support in filmmaking, the empowering aspect of co-producing and the swam intelligence in artistic exchange. In Nyon I am looking for co-producers, which share our artistic and organisational vision. I am open for all sorts of input, exchange and collaborations.

Bandenfilm, founded in 2019 by Britta Strampe and Laura Klippel in Berlin, produces feature films, documentaries and series for cinema and televison. Our first documentary NO PLACE LIKE HOME (wt) by Daniel Abma is currently in editing. As producers believe in creative and trusting partnerships on equal footing with a constantly expanding network of professionals from all kind of departments. Our principle is the common vision: We focus on audience-driven content that we create with a sense of zeitgeist, humor and intellect, exceeding the limits of traditional storytelling regardless of format or genre. We’re looking for possible co-production opportunities as well as distribution partners and would generally like to expand our international network.

ROSENPICTURES ranks among the select German production firms that focus on the creation of artistic documentary films, not just for theatrical release but also awarded at international festivals. Their movies often address socio-political themes of significant importance and are marked by a distinct aesthetic and formal excellence. The continuous dedication and enthusiasm of ROSENPICTURES to make a mark in cinema have earned them several significant awards, such as the Golden Lola for COLD VALLEY (2016), the Golden Bear at the Berlinale for UMBRA (2019), and the Documentary Film House Support Award for NASIM (2023). The documentary “La Duna” made its world premiere in the Burning Lights international competition at this year`s festival.

Langfilm was founded in 1980 and has produced more than 70 films and series, many of them in coproduction with European partners. We love producing a wide range of audiovisual works: fiction and documentaries – features and shorts – live action and animation. Most recently, Langfilm released the first feature “L’Amour du monde” by Jenna Hasse, which premiered at Berlinale Generation 2023 and “On Solid Ground” by Jela Hasler, selected for the short film competition of the Semaine la Critique in Cannes 2021. In 2020 their coproduction “The New Gospel” by Milo Rau premiered at the Venice Days and won the Swiss Film Award for Best Documentary. Our latest documentary “Brunaupark” by Felix Hergert and Dominik Zietlow premieres in the National Competition of VdR 2024.

Michela Pini graduated in Cinema Studies at Brescia University in Italy. She worked as executive producer for various production companies such as Amka Films, Turnus Film, Hugofilm and directors such as Alice Rohrwacher, Ursula Meier, Denis Rabaglia, Daniele Ciprì. In 2007, she founded her company Cinédokké in Lugano, and in 2019 she also became a co-owner and producer at Zurich-based 8horses. She produced ‘Love Me Tender’ by Klaudia Reynicke (selected among others in Locarno, Toronto IFF and BFI London FF) and ‘Unrest’ by Cyril Schäublin (Best Director award at Berlinale Encounters 2022), two highlights among the emerging voices of Swiss cinema of the last years. In 2020, she presented the first documentary by Daniel Kemeny, ‘Sòne’: in the Burning Lights competition at Visions du Réel, and in 2021, ‘Miraggio’, a documentary by Nina Stefanka at the Zurich Film Festival.

At DokLab we are passionate about producing documentary films which are devoted to geopolitical, social or cultural topics. We aim to create films that stimulate thought and action, but which also stand the test of time. Meticulous story development lies at the heart of everything we do. Looking for coproduction possibilities…