Full citation: Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion, ed. “GAMBIT Press Kit.” Zurich:

Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion, 2005.

http://www.environmentandsociety.org/node/3929.

Rights: © 2005 Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion

Made available on the Environment & Society Portal for nonprofit educational

uses only.

[ ]G A M B I TP R E S S K I T

[ ]w w w . d s c h o i n t v e n t s c h r . c h

C O N T E N T

Synopsis 2Characters 3Keydata 5Director'snotes 6Productionnotes 8Internetlinks 9Castandcrew 10SabineGisiger(Director) 11ReinhardKöcher(Photography) 12PatriciaWagner(Editor) 13BalzBachmann(Music) 14PeterBräker(Music) 15DschointVentschrFilmproduktion 16Filmography 17

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Fullofenergy,JörgSambethtakesuphisnewpostastechnicaldirectorofGivau-dan,acompanybelongingtotheSwissHoffmannLa-Rocheconglomerate.Thecustomsandpracticesatmanagementlevelalienatehimandconditionsinsomeofthefactoriesforwhichhebearstechnicalresponsibilityareshocking.Butheiscon-vincedhewillbeabletogetthingsundercontrol.

In1976,outoftheblue,realitystrikes:thereisanexplosionatthesmallIcmesafactoryinthenorthernItaliantownofSeveso.Asinisterpoisonflowsoutofthereactorandtriggersadevastatingdioxindisasterwhichaffectspeopleandtheenvironment.Childreninparticularsufferacutechemicalskinburns,theauthoritiesevacuatetheinhabitants,77000animalsperishorareculled.

Aftertheaccident,JörgSambethisaccusedofwilfullyneglectingtoimplementsafetymeasures.Intheprocessofhisinvestigationintothecausesofthedisaster,JörgSambethdiscoversfactswhichharmthepeoplewhoarepayingforhislawyers:Sambethisgivenafive-yearprisonsentence.Willhetakeontheconglo-merate?

[ ]S Y N O P S I S

3

[ ]C H A R A C T E R S

Thecastinorderofappearance:

B i r g i t S a m b e t h G l a s n e r , L a w y e r , G e n e v a

BirgitSambethGlasner,Jörg’sdaughter,was14yearsofagewhenhershelteredchildhoodcametoasuddenend.Followingtheindictmentofherfather,Birgitexperiencesthefamily’ssocialisolation,witnessesherparents’inabilitytosup-portoneanotherinthesituationandtheeventualdestructionofhermother.Later,whenBirgitrealiseswhatactuallyhappened,shedecidestodevoteherselftomakingtheworldafairerplaceandbecomesalawyer.

I t a l o P a s q u o n , P r o f e s s o r o f C h e m i s t r y, P o l i t e c n i c o d i M i l a n o

AsfarasItaloPasquon,atechnicalexpertcommissionedbyGivaudanandHoffmann-LaRochetodeterminethecauseoftheaccident,isconcerned,therestillisnodoubtthattheaccidentwasnotforeseeable,becausethethermodynamicprocessestriggeredasaresultoftheheatradiationfromthestillhotreactorwallontothesurfaceoftheliquidcontainedinthereactorwereunknownatthetime.Sambeth,ItaloPasquonclaims,wasnonethelessconvictedbecausetheItalianjudi-ciarywasunderenormouspressurefromthepublictoconvictatleastoneofthetoplevelmanagersholdingmoreseniorpositionsthanthemanageroftheIcmesafactory.

T h e o T h e o f a n o u s , P r o f e s s o r o f C h e m i c a l a n d N u c l e a r E n g i n e e r i n g , U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a , S a n t a B a r b a r a

TheoTheophanouswasbroughtinasanexpertbyItaloPasquonandJörgSambethtohelpwithresearchintothecauseoftheaccident.Heprovedthat,althoughthereactorwasnolongerbeingsuppliedwithenergy,athermodynamicprocessledtotheheatingupofthereactorliquid.However,heonlypartiallyagreeswiththethesisputforwardbylawyersbasedontheprofessor’sfindingsthattheaccidentwasunforeseeable.Hestatesthatatbestitwouldhavebeen“verydifficulttoforesee”.Theophanousknowsfromexperiencethataccidentswithcatastrophicconsequencesneverhaveasinglecauseandthatalotofthingswillhavegonewrong.

R o g e r D a g o n , L a w y e r , G e n e v a

RogerDagonwastheonlylawyerSambethknewpersonally,andhewasalsotheonlylawyerpickedbySambethforhisdefence.AlltheotherlawyerswereemployedandpaidforbythelegaldepartmentofHoffmannLa-Roche.DagonisconvincedthatthiswasSambeth’sundoing.Atmeetingsfigureswerearrangedlikeonachessboardwithpawnsandbishopsbeingsacrificedtosavethequeen,Hoff-mann-LaRoche.

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A l b e r t o M o r o - V i s c o n t i , M i l a n

AlbertoMoro-ViscontiisinstructedbyHoffmannLa-Rochetotakechar-geofthedefenceoftheaccusedintheSevesocourtcase.Hesaysthatunderthecircumstancesthe“technicaldefence”strategywastheonlyoption,sinceJörgSam-bethastechnicaldirectorofGivaudanwasafterallalsoresponsibleforsupervisingtheSevesoplant.Haditnotbeenforthestrategyoffindingascientificexplanationfortheaccident,theconsequenceswouldhavebeenfarworse.Anyhow,thankstothisstrategytheinitial5-yearprisonsentencecouldbereducedtoaone-and-a-half-yearconditionalcustodialsentenceintheappealcourt.

C a r o l i n e S a m b e t h , P e r f u m e r , C a b r i s

CarolineSambethwasaresearchperfumeratGivaudan.ShebecamemorecloselyacquaintedwithSambeth,whosheisnowmarriedto,when–sinceitwasimpos-sibletolethimcarryonastechnicalmanageraftertheguiltyverdict–hewaspro-motedtoheadoftheGivaudanresearchdepartmentinDübendorf.Sheadviseshimtoretreatandstartanewlife.Evennow,inretrospect,shefeelsitwasrightnottobringanactionasthismeant,formanyyearstocome,herhusbandcouldusealltheknowledgeacquiredinhisresearchintotheaccidentforthebenefitofthesafetyofothercompanies.

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[ ]K E Y D ATA

A n o v e r v i e w o f e v e n t s i n c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r :

Saturday,10July1976 AccidentatthetrichlorphenplantIcmesa.

Sunday,11July1976 JörgSambethisinformedoftheaccidentbythemanager oftheIcmesaplant.

Monday,12July1976 OnJörgSambeth’sorderssamplesaretakeninthe surroundingareainordertoestablishwhatchemicals escaped.

Wednesday,14July1976 Testsrevealthatdioxinescapedintotheatmosphere.

Thursday,15July1976 FirstcrisismeetinginBasel.TheVicePresidentof Hoffmann-LaRocheinstructseverybodynottomention theparentcompaniesofIcmesa,ordioxin.

Saturday,17July1976 Firstarticlesaboutamysteriousaccidentarepublished. Dyinganimalsandtheskindiseasesaffectingchildren triggerpanicamongthepublic.

Sunday,18July1976 InspiteoftheordertosecrecyJörgSambeth,while payingvisitsinhospitalsinMilan,informsdoctors.

Friday,23July1976 ThepeopleinchargeofIcmesaandtheheadofthe researchlaboratoriesadvisetheItalianauthoritiesto evacuateZoneA,themostcontaminatedarea.

1981-1983 Demolitionofhouses,diggingofpitsforthedisposalof thedioxin-contaminatedsoil,plantingoftrees, dismantlingofthereactorandfilling41barrelswithits toxiccontents.

1983,April-May Barrelscandal.

1983,May StartofthecourthearinginMonza.

1983,September JörgSambethandtheheadoftheIcmesaplantare sentencedtofiveandfour-and-a-halfyearsinprison respectively,thegeneraldirectorofGivaudanisgivena four-yearsentence.Theconvictedpartiesappeal.

1985,September ThesentencesfortheheadoftheplantandJörgSambeth arereducedtoatwoandaone-and-a-halfyear conditionalcustodialsentencerespectively;thegeneral directorofGivaudanisacquitted.

1993,October TheWDRchannelairsthefilm«DasGeheimnisvon Seveso»(ThesecretofSeveso)bythejournalistEkkehard Sieker.

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[ ]D I R E C T O R ' S N O T E S

G a m b i t – g e n e s i s o f t h e f i l m

Inthesummerof2003IspentweeksinJörgSambeth’scompany.Hetoldmehisstoryandshowedmehundredsofmeticulouslycollecteddocuments.Icouldn’tbelievealotofwhathetoldmeuntilIwaspresentedwithwrittenproof.Thelookbehindthescenesofthemultinationalconglomerateshookme,andIwasalsotou-chedbySambeth’sown,verypersonaldrama.

InsidemeapictureoftheintriguesofthecompanyandJörgSambeth’sprivatelifetookshape,anditwasthisthatIwantedtogetacrossinthefilm.Becau-seIwasandstillamconvincedthatneitherofthetwoaspectsmakessensewithouttheother.ThestoryIwashearingwasfullofparadoxes.Itwasthestoryofahumanbeingtryingtoleadaresponsibleandjustlifeinanirresponsibleandunjustworld,andfailing.ThesubjectmatterremindedmeverymuchofDürrenmatt.

“Inthemuddleofourcentury,inthisfinaldanceofthewhiterace,therearenolongeranyculpritsandnobodyisresponsible.Nobodycanhelpthethingsthathappenandcertainlyhadnotwantedthisoutcome.(...)True,anyoneglimpsingthepointlessnessandhopelessnessofthisworldmaywelldespair,butthedespairtheyexperienceisnotcausedbythisworld,butisaresponsetothisworld;anotherresponsewouldbenottodespair,tomakethedecision,forexample,tostanduptothisworldinwhichweoftenlivelikeGul-liverunderthegiants.Hewhowantstoassesshisopponent,whoispreparingtofightorescapefromhim,hetoodistanceshimself,takesastepback.Itisstillpossibletoshowcoura-geousman.”FriedrichDürrenmatt:theatreproblems

IttookJörgSambethalongtimebeforehewasabletotakeastepbackandpluckupcourage.Iwantedtoknowwhythiswasthecase.Afterall,thisisanissueweallhavetoconfrontinourownlives.

JörgSambeth’sstoriesanddocumentsprovidedthebasisfortheresearchIdidforthefilm,andrevealingtheminthefilmcouldresultinajailsentenceforhimasinSwitzerlandthereisnostatuteoflimitationswithregardtobusinesssecrets.

IdidmyownresearchinSwissandItalianarchivesandcontactedallthepeopleJ.Sambethhadspokentomeabout.OfthesurvivingGivaudanandHoff-man-LaRochemanagerswhowereimplicatedatthetimenonewerewillingtospeaktome.Thismademeallthemoregratefulfortheconversationswithlawyersandtechnicalexpertswhohadbeeninvolvedinthecasebackthenandalsosharetheirviewofeventsinthefilm.

ThemembersofJörgSambeth’sfamilywerewillingtotalkopenlyfromtheoutset.MywishtoincludetheminthefilmcamelessasasurprisetothemthantoJörgSambethhimself,oratleastsoIbelieve.ButhedidrespectthattomakethefilmIneeded–andwanted–todevelopmyownpointofview,myownunder-standing.Henevertriedtoinducemetoportrayhimasahero,leadacampaignofrevengeagainstRocheorattempttorehabilitatehisperson.Hewaswillingtospeaktomeandanswermyquestionsbecausehehadimportantthingstosayandhadmeanwhilegainedenoughdistancetodothisinanhonestway.

Wheneverthesubjectofintentioncameup,healwaystoldmethatitwas

7

importanttohimthathisfamilyunderstoodexactlywhathadhappened.Healsohopedthathisstorymightactasawarningtoothermanagersandinducethemtosaynoearlyon,and,ashesaysattheendofthefilm,healsofeltthatthevictimsofthedisaster«hadtherighttofinallyknowwhatreallywenton».

ItistothevictimsofthedisasterthatGambitisdedicated.Thefilmbeginswiththem.Inthelocationwhichwasmostcontaminatedafterthepoisonouscloudsettled,thedioxin-impregnatedsoilwasremovedandburiedtogetherwiththerubbleofthedemolishedhousesandill-fatedreactor.Nowadays,thewholeaffairisveiledbyalayerofgrass,andtreeshavebeenplantedaswell.LastMaythethuscreatedpark,theso-calledBoscodelleQuercewasofficiallyhandedovertothepublic.

Andbecausethefilmdealswithasuppressedpast,thisiswhereitopens.

G a m b i t – t h e f i l m

JörgSambeth’sexplosiverevelationsnodoubtaccountforaconsiderableamountofthefilm’ssuspense.ButGambittriescontinuallytobringother,humanandoftenalsocontradictorydimensionsintoplayaswell.

Itwasveryimportanttomenottomakeafilmwhich,thirtyyearsaftertheevent,pilloriesthethendirectorategeneralofHoffmann-LaRoche,butinsteadtomakeafilmthat,basedonthisparticularcase,triestoreconstructhowdisastersarecreatedandso-calleddealtwithbyconglomerates–andthisiswhat,onefears,makesthefilmsotopical.

Thedramaticnarrativeofthefilmfollowstheinnerdramaoftheprot-agonist.Itisthestoryofahumanbeingwhowantstoleadagoodlifeinagoodplaceanddoagoodjob:thenabadthinghappensandhefindshimselfhavingtofacetheaccusationofbeingresponsible.Andsothe“journeyofthehero”intheclassicalsensebegins.

ThechemistJörgSambethlefthishomeinBaden-Württemberg,toescapefromtheshadowofthenational-socialistpast.HewantstoliveinSwitzerland,aplacewhichtohimistheepitomeofdemocracyandjustice.Althoughheissur-prisedbythecustomsandwaysthatarerifeintheBasel-basedchemicalcompanyandcomesacrosssomeveryworryingconditionsinoneofthefactoriesforwhichheinhiscapacityastopmanagerhasbecomeresponsible,heignoresthevoicesinsidewarninghim.Whentheaccidenthappens,heisheldresponsible.(Actone)

Hedoeshisverybesttofindoutwhatcausedtheaccident.Whenherealisesthatthecompanyisgoingtousehimasascapegoathelacksthecouragetodefendhimself.This,inspiteofdiscoveringfactswhichprovethatheisbynomeansthemainculpritinthecourseofhisresearch.Thetruthofthematteristhatthingswhichwouldhelphimincourtwoulddamagethosepayingforthelawyers.

Heissentencedtofiveyearsinprison,hiswifehasbeendestroyedbythewholebusiness.Heisovercomebyafeelingofguiltandshame.Healsorealisesthatnobodywantstoknowthetruth.Hisconvictionsuitseverybody:thecompany,thejudiciary,whichhastoprovethatitdoesnotallowbigfishtogetawayscot-free,thealarmedpublic,whichexpectstheirresponsiblemanagerstobemadeanexamp-leof.Inthissituationheconsiderscommittingsuicide.

Inoneofthelawyershefindsanallyandthreatensthecompany.Buthisdepressiononlysometimesissuesinanger.Atothertimeshisemotionsaredomi-natedbyfear.Andwhen,tohisgreatsurprise,hefallsinloveagainandmarriesforasecondtime,hedecidesnottofightthecompany,buttoputitallbehindhiminsteadandstartanewlife.Butthepasthasnotbeencometotermswith,ithassimplybeenrepressed. SabineGisiger,summer2005

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[ ]P R O D U C T I O N N O T E S

Justbeforetheendof2002andstartof2003,LucienLeitessfromtheUnionsverlagpublishinghouseinZurichcontactedus.Heofferedusanuneditedmanuscript,thesubjectmatterofwhichhefeltsuitedourcompany.Itwasanovelbasedonfactsinwhichaformermemberofmanagementrevealsdetailsofthe1976dioxinaccidentinSeveso.

Seveso–tothisdayitisconnectedwithlong-forgotten,terribleimages:cryingchildrensufferingfromchlorine-inducedacne,peopleingasmasksandwhiteprotectivesuitsdisposingofcarcassesofanimalspoisonedbythedioxin.AblotinthehistoryoftheSwisschemicalindustry.

Theuneditedmanuscript,abundleofcountlessloosepages,reachedusbypostthefollowingday.LucienLeitessaskedustotreatitscontentsconfidential-ly.AfterinitialperusalweknewthatthesubjectmatterwasperfectforourdirectorSabineGisiger.Havingreadthemanuscriptcarefully,SabineGisigerimmediatelygotstuckintoresearchingthestorywhicharousedherinterest.Thepublishinghousearrangedameetingwiththeauthor.

Wewerecurioustomeetthemanwhohadexperiencedoneofthebig-gestSwisschemicalaccidentsandbeensentencedasoneofits“keyculprits”.JörgSambeth,formertechnicaldirectorofGivaudan,turnedouttobeacharismaticpersonofintegrity.HesoontrustedusandagreedtoretellhisstoryandgiveSabineGisigerafullexplanationofeventsforGambit.Thefoundationforaninterestingcooperationwasinplace.

SabineGisigerspentsixmonthsminutelyverifyingJörgSambeth’sstate-ments,gatheringfactsandcomparingthemtoexistingdocuments.Throughconver-sationswithhisfamily,hislawyersandothercontemporarywitnessessheinchedeverclosertothelifeofJörgSambeth.ThepeoplewhowereinchargeofHoff-mann-laRocheatthetimeoftheaccidentwereunwillingtotalkandconsequentlytheirversionofeventscouldlargelyonlybeshownthrougharchivematerial.

AsincredibleasJörgSambeth’sdescriptionsare,theyareanexemplaryillustrationoftheattitudeofconglomeratestotheenvironmentandhumanlife.Gambitisadidacticfilmaboutthewayinwhichtruthandresponsibilityareopentomanipulation,atopicwhichatatimeofglobalisationandgeneralprofitmaximi-sationbecomesevermorecontentious.

InDOIT,afilmshemadetogetherwithMarcelZwingli,SabineGisigeralreadyprovedhergoodgraspofhistoricrevelationsandpenchantformeticulousresearch.ThroughherinterviewtechniqueSabineGisigercreatesaleveloftrustwithhercounterpartandmakesanemotionalapproachtotheprotagonistpossible.

AfterDOIT,SabineGisigerbywayoftheartisticrealisationofGambitonceagainshowsthat‘talkingheads’filmscanabsolutelybetechnicallyinspiringandexciting,andsatisfythecinephilerequirementsofacinemaaudience. KarinKoch,summer2005

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R o c h e - H i s t o r y

http://www.roche.com/home/company/com_hist/com_hist_1965.htm

L e g a m b i e n t e S e v e s o : I l Po n t e d e l l a M e m o r i a d i S e v e s o ( I t a l i a n )

http://www.legambienteseveso.org/html/frame02.html

C i t t à d i e S e v e s o : I l P o n t e d e l l a m e m o r i a ( I t a l i a n )

http://www.sevesonline.com/notizie/200603a.shtml

L a c i t t à d e l l e c a v i e n o n g u a r i s c e m a i ( I t a l i a n )

http://www.brianzapopolare.it/sezioni/salute/20021227_seveso_citta_cavie.htm

S e v e s o : A p a r a d o x i c a l c l a s s i c d i s a s t e r

http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu21le/uu21le09.htm#4%20seveso:%20a%20paradoxical%20classic%20disaster

S e v e s o b i b l i o g r a p h y ( G e r m a n )

http://www.flanet.org/aseva/evento.asp?FROM=qryBibliografia&WHERE=ID_Evento=8

U m w e l t l e x i k o n ( G e r m a n )

http://www.umweltlexikon-online.de/fp/archiv/RUBchemieprozesse/Seveso.php

S e v e s o s u n b e k a n n t e G e s c h i c h t e ( G e r m a n )

http://www.wildcat-www.de/wildcat/56/w56seves.htm

[ ]I N T E R N E T L I N K S

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[ ]C A S T A N D C R E W

Director&Script SabineGisiger

Contributors JörgSambeth CarolineSambeth BirgitSambethGlasner RogerDagon AlbertoMoro-Visconti ItaloPasquon TheoTheophanous

DirectorofPhotography ReinhardKöcher

2ndCamera HelenaVagnières

Editor PatriciaWagner

AssistantEditor ClaudiaLorenz

Sound AndreasLitmanowitsch MatteodePellegrini

Light BrunoGabsa

Music BalzBachmann PeterBräker

Producer KarinKoch

ProductionManager ClaudiaEichholzer

Commissioningeditors PaulRiniker,SFDRS MadeleineHirsiger,SFDRS FelixKuballa,WDR

ADschointVentschrFilmproduktion

incooperationwith: SFDRS/TSR/TSISFSF SRGSSRidéesuisse WestdeutscherRundfunk,WDR

withfinancialbackingfrom: BundesamtfürKultur,SektionFilm SuccèsCinema, ZürcherFilmstifZürcherFZürcherF tungilmstifilmstif MIGROSKulturprozent, KulturfondsSuissimage,YLE,Finland, StiftungCorymbo

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[ ]S A B I N E G I S I G E R

SabineGisigerwasborn1959inZurich.ShestudiedhistoryinZurichandPisaandgraduatedin1988withadissertationonthehistoryofmaidservants.

In1989shetrainedasaprofessionalTVjournalistatSwissTelevisionSFDRSandsincethenregularlyproducestelevisionreportsanddocumentaryfeaturescoveringsocialandpoliticalissuesinSwitzerlandandabroad.

In1991,workingasanindependentproducer,shestartedrealisingmorecomprehensivedocumentaries,whichallreceivednationalandinternationalawards.In2000,herdocumentaryDoit,ajointworkwithMarcelZwingli,attractedinterna-tionalattentionandwasawardedthefilmprizeforbestSwissdocumentaryin2001.

Since2002shehaslecturedindocumentaryproductionsattheSchoolofArtandDesigninZurich(HGKZ).

SabineGisigerlivesandworksinZurich.

F i l m o g r a p h y ( s e l e c t i o n )

2005 Gambit,documentary,107min IpotesidiReato(workingtitle),documentary,inpostproduction

2003 Homeland,TVdocumentary,52min

2001 DOIT,documentary,97min,withMarcelZwingli

1998 Moskau–einGedicht,TVdocumentary,28min

1997 DieFarbenderHoffnung,JungseininPalermo,TVdocumentary,20min

1996 LebenimHipHop,TVdocumentary,25min

1995 MotorNasch,documentary90min,withMarcelZwingli

1992 +AllesAndere,TVdocumentary,28min,collectivework

1990 DieletzteJagd.TVdocumentary,49min,withAndreasHoessli

P u b l i c a t i o n s

1988 DieneninderFremde,popularscientificversionofherdissertation, withRegulaBochsler,Chronospublishinghouse

1989 Bewegungen,ThehistoryofDanceandGymnasticsinSwitzerland 1939-1989,Chronospublishinghouse

P r i z e s ( s e l e c t i o n )

DOIT

SwissFilmsPrize;QualityAwardbytheFederalOfficeofCulture;PrizeoftheCritics'Week,Locarno

MotorNasch

QualityAwardbytheFederalOfficeofCulture;1stprize,FestivaleInternazionaleCinemadelleDonne,Turin;1stprize,Women'sFilmFestival,Minsk,Belarus

DieletzteJagd

Goldmedal,NewYorkFilm&TVFestival

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[ ]R E I N H A R D K Ö C H E R

Havingcompletedhissecondaryeducation,cameramanReinhardKöcher,wholivesinCologne,studiedphotographyandfilmattheFachakademieKamera(CameraAcademy)inDortmund.Aftergraduatingfromthere,heworkedasanassistantforthecinematographerDavidSlamaandwasinvolvedinagreatmanynationalandinternational16mm,35mmandcinemascopeprojects.

Asanindependentcameraman,ReinhardKöcherstartedoffworkingasacommissionedcinematographerfortheWDRbroadcastingcompany.Afewshortfilmsfollowed,thenseries,TVdramasandcinemafilms.

Atthesametimehemadehimselfavailableforvariousdedicateddocu-mentariesfor,amongotherthings,theGermanZDFandBayrischerRundfunkbroadcastingcompaniesandindependentfilmproductionssuchasGambit.

Inadditiontothestandardfilmandvideoformats,ReinhardKöcherinrecentyearshasdevelopedhisexpertiseinthenewHDrecordingmethod.Gambittoaconsiderableextentwasfilmedinthisnewformat.

F i l m o g r a p h y ( s e l e c t i o n )

2006 ForestofHope,TV-documentary,series,directedbyIrisDisse

2005 Gambit,documentary,107min,directedbySabineGisiger

2004 InaundLeo,TVseries,directedbyI.Popow,D.Satin,M.Vajda

2000 HöllischeNachbarn,TVcomedy,91min,directedbySophieAllet-Coche

1998 FreundinnenundandereMonster,comedy,89min,directedbyMikaKallwass

1997 AlarmfürCobra11,TVseries,10episodes,variousdirectors

1996 DerClown,pilotfilm,90min,directedbyHermannJoha

SKBabies,TVseries,8episodes,variousdirectors

1994 KommissarinJulieLescaut,TVthriller,90min,directedbyBettinaWoernle

Casualty,TVseries,8episodes,directedbyBobBlagden

1992 Terror2000,drama,79min,directedbyChristofSchlingensief

DieLok,adventurefilm,84min,directedbyGerdHaag

1990 SisiundderKaiserkuss,comedy,91min,directedbyChristophBöll

1987 Peng!Dubisttot!,comedythriller,98min,directedbyAdolfWinkelmann

1983 Super,sciencefictioncomedy,101min,directedbyAdolfWinkelmann

1982 BonjourCapitaliste,documentary,100min,directedbyWernerGrusch

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[ ]PAT R I C I A WA G N E R

PatriciaWagnerwasborninZurichin1963.AfterhavingstudiedTheatreandFilmattheZurichSchoolofDesign,shetrainedasafilmeditorwiththeSwissTVstationDRSin1986.Intheearly1990s,shebecameself-employedandhassincebeenworkingasafreelanceeditor.

Sincethen,PatriciaWagnerhaseditedmorethan70documentariesfortheTVprogrammeNZZFormatandthedocumentarydepartmentofSwissTVDRS.Sheisalsoofteninvolvedintheconceptualdevelopmentoftheprogrammes.

BesidesherTVworkshehas,since1996,alsobeeneditingindependentshortfilmsanddocumentariesdealingwithculturalandpoliticalissues.ShealreadyworkedwithSabineGisigeronherlastaward-winningdocumentaryDoit.

PatriciaWagnerhasbeenlivinginIrelandsince2001,butstillworksinSwitzerlandonaregularbasis.

F i l m o g r a p h y ( s e l e c t i o n )

2005 Gambit,documentary,107min,directedbySabineGisiger

2004 Studenten,TVdocumentary,directedbyGertiMaader

2003 TravellersinEurope,TVdocumentary,directedbyGertiMaader

2001 BahnhöfederWelt,TVdocumentaryseries,directedbyGertiMaader

2000 DOIT,documentary,97min,directedbySabineGisiger&MarcelZwingli

1999 MoskaueinGedicht,TVdocumentary,28min,directedbySabineGisiger

1998 LaRomandieexiste,TVdocumentary60min,directedbyEdithJud

1997 Liebe,Leidenschaft,Vollendung,TVdocumentary,60min,directedbyE.Jud

1995 PipilottiRistundHannahVilliger,TVdocumentary,directedbyE.Jud

1987 DerTodzuBasel,drama,70min,directedbyUrsOdermatt

1986 Liebesglück,comedy,directedbyBeatKuert

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[ ]B A L Z B A C H M A N N

BalzBachmannwasborninZurichin1971andfrom1989to1992studiedguitaranddoublebassatthejazzschoolinBern.

Hiscareerstartedwithcompositionsforadverts,commissionedfilmsandthemetunes.Since1997hehasbeenworkingpredominantlyasafreelancesongwri-terandcomposerforadverts,featureandanimationfilmsanddocumentaries.

BalzBachmannsoonemergedasoneofthemost-soughtafterSwissfilmcomposersandsuppliedthescoreforboxofficesuccesseslikeErnstfallinHavannaandSternenberg.In2003BalzBachmannwasawardedtheSwissFilmMusicPrizeforhisworkonAnnaLuif ’sfeaturefilmLittleGirlBlue.

Apartfromworkingasacomposer,BachmannregularlyproducesalbumsforyoungSwissbandssuchasFuckingBeautifulorTheFoxwithwhomhealsowentontour.

TogetherwithPeterBräker,BalzBachmannfurthermorewrotethemusicforDoit,SabineGisiger’spreviousdocumentary(directedjointlywithMarcelZwingli).

F i l m o g r a p h y ( s e l e c t i o n )

2006 Jeunehomme,comedy,90min,directedbyChristophSchaub

Lenz,drama,96min,directedbyThomasImbach

2005 Gambit,documentary,107min,directedbySabineGisiger

2004 VillaHennriette,comedy,88min,directedbyPeterPayer

Poldek,animation,directedbyClaudiusCentinetta

Sternenberg,drama,88min,directedbyChristophSchaub

2003 LittleGirlBlue,drama,82min,directedbyAnnaLuif

2002 ErnstfallinHavanna,comedy,82min,directedbySabineBoss

Meile/Peter,TVdocumentary,directedbyChristophSchaub

2001 Poochi,shortfilm,directedbyAlexanderMeier

StudersersterFall,TVthriller,90min,directedbySabineBoss

2000 Doit,documentary,97min,directedbySabineGisiger&MarcelZwingli

Summertime,shortfilm,27min,directedbyAnnaLuif

1999 IDSWISS,documentary,90min,variousdirectors

Blush,shortfilm,directedbyBarbaraKulcsar

1998 Timing,shortfilm,directedbyChrisNiemeyer

P r i z e s

LittleGirlBlue

PrizeforBestFilmScore,Inter-nationalFilmFestivalofLocarno,2003

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[ ]P E T E R B R Ä K E R

PeterBräkerwasborninBiasca/TI.From1980to1990heworkedasasoundengi-neerandsoundeffectsdesignerforSwissTVDRSandmixedcurrentaffairsbroad-castsandvariousdocumentaries.

Since1990PeterBräkerhasbeenworkingasafreelancesoundandsoundeffectsdesignerand,inadditiontoworkingonadvertsandjinglesforCondor,Pea-cock,GlassandWirz&Fräfel,hassuppliedthescoreforseveralfeaturefilmsanddocumentaries.

F i l m o g r a p h y ( s e l e c t i o n )

2006 Lenz,drama,96min,directedbyThomasImbach

2005 Gambit,documentary,107min,directedbySabineGisiger

2004 Sternenberg,drama,88min,directedbyChristofSchaub

2003 SkinheadAttitude,documentary,90min,directedbyDanielSchweizer

Homeland,TVdocumentary,52min,directedbySabineGisiger

2002 Mamahatdichlieb,shortfilm,33min,directedbyCarlaLiaMonti

Gambling,Gods&LSD,documentary,180min,directedbyPeterMettler

ErnstfallinHavanna,comedy,82min,directedbySabineBoss

2001 HappinessisawarmGun,experimentalfilm,directedbyThomasImbach

StudersersterFall,TVthriller,90min,directedbySabineBoss

2000 Doit,documentary,97min,directedbySabineGisiger&MarcelZwingli

Summertime,shortfilm,27min,directedbyAnnaLuif

1999 Vaterdiebe,shortfilm,24min,directedbyEsenIsik

1998 Pastry,Pain&Politics,shortfilm,32min,directedbyStinaWerenfels

1997 Ghetto,documentary,122min,directedbyThomasImbach

1995 MotorNasch,documentary,85min,directedbyS.Gisiger&M.Zwingli

1994 WellDone,documentary,75min,directedbyThomasImbach

1991 Immer&Ewig,drama,90min,directedbySamir

Pickelporno,experimentalfilm,13min,directedbyPipilottiRist

1 6

[ ]D S C H O I N T V E N T S C H R

DSCHOINTVENTSCHRFILMPRODUKTIONdevelops,producesandmar-ketsfilmsdealingmainlywithcrosscultural,politicalandsocialissues:prominentfeaturefilmsanddocumentariesfocusingonthemeetingofdifferentcultures.DschointVentschrconstantlystrivestofurtherdevelopmodernvisualapproachesandtakesadvantageofthecreativepotentialofferedbymoderntechnologies.

PeryearDschointVentschrproducesanaverageoftwofeaturefilmsalongwithseveraldocumentarieswhicharescreenedincinemasandonTV.Since1994,over40dedicateddocumentariesandcinemafilmshavebeenproduced–mostofthemco-productionswithothercountries(including,amongothers,Ger-many,France,Austria,England,Canada)orwell-knownTVinstitutions,includingArte,3sat,WDR,ZDF,SWR,RTBFand,ofcourse,SFDRS.

DschointVentschrworkspredominantlywithyoungauthorsandhas,inSwitzerland,gainedareputationasa‘talentfactory’.ManyofthefilmsproducedbyDschointVentschrhavewonawards;theseincludeLittleGirlBluebyAnnaLuif,StrählbyManuelFlurinHendry,MieletCendresbyNadiaFares,ClandestinsbyWadimoff/Chouinard;thedocumentariesForgetBaghdadandBabylon2bySamir,NoelField–dererfundeneSpionandVonWerrabyWernerSchweizerandDoItbySabineGisigerandMarcelZwingli;theTVdocumentaryTarifaTrafficbyJoakimDemmer,aswellastheshortfilmsPastry,Pain&PoliticsbyStinaWeren-fels,BabamiHirsizlarCaldi(TheStolenFather)byEsenIsik,SummerstimebyAnnaLuifandExitbyBenjaminKempf.

In1997SamirandSwissreceivedaspecialawardfromtheCityofZurichinrecognitionoftheiroutstandingworkasproducers.Theirworkasdirectorshasalsoearnedthemrecognition:in1996WernerSchweizerwasawardedtheprixLaSarrazforthebestdocumentaryoftheyearandin1998SamirwontheSwissFilmPrizeforhisshortfeaturefilmAngelique(BlindDate).

Inadditiontothetwowriters/directors/producersSamir(inchargeofacquisitionandhandlingoffeaturefilmprojects)andWernerSchweizer(inchar-geofdocumentaryprojects),theDSCHOINTVENTSCHRteamincludesKarinKochandSusannRüdlinger(executiveproducers),FrankSteffen(administration),ClaudiaEichholzer(assistantproducer),TunjeBernsandTamiBerkovits(assistantproducer).

W e r n e r S c h w e i z e rDirector,Author,Producer

K a r i n K o c hProducer

S a m i rDirector,Author,Producer

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[ ]F I L M O G R A P H Y D S C H O I N T V E N T S C H RS E L E C T I O N

2007 MüetisKapital,documentary,59min,directedbyKarolineArn&Martina Rieder BhüetdiGott,documentary,55min,directedbyMarcelZwingli2006 Fraulein,drama,81min,directedbyAndreaStaka Goingprivate,drama,98min,directedbyStinaWerenfels DieChronomanen,short,13min,directedbyKarimPatwa Feltrinelli,documentary,80min,directedbyAlessandroRossetto

2005 SnowWhite,drama,113',Samir Gambit,documentary,107',SabineGisiger WhiteTerror,documentary,89',DanielSchweizer RicordareAnna,drama,96',WaloDeuber

2004 KarimPatwa'sSpaceship,experimentalfilm,60',KarimPatwa LaFidanzata,shortfilm,10',PetraVolpe Strähl,drama,82',ManuelFlurinHendry Höllentour,documentary,120',PepeDanquart ZwischenSprach,TVdocumentary.,52',Samir DieletzteMauer,TVdocumentary.,52',SilvanaCeschi

2003 SkinheadAttitude,documentary,90',DanielSchweizer LittleGirlBlue,drama,80',AnnaLuif MeierMarilyn,TVcomedy,90',StinaWerenfels Aline,musicalfairytale,55',KamalMusale Homeland,TVdocumentary.,52',SabineGisiger TarifaTraffic,TVdocumentary,60',JoakimDemmer

2002 ForgetBaghdad,documentary,90',Samir(CH/D) Birdseye,mediathriller,90',MikeHuber&StephenBeckner(CH/USA) Peiden,TVdocumentary,22',MatthiasCaduff Mamahatdichlieb,drama,34',CarlaLiaMonti Exit,drama,10',BeniKempf VonWerra,documentary,90',WernerSchweizer(CH/D) EpsteinsNacht,drama,90',UrsEgger(D/A/CH)

2001 AufallenMeeren,documentary,90',JohannesHolzhausen(A/D/CH) Camenisch,TVdocumentary,87',DanielvonAarburg B-52,documentary,90',HartmutBitomsky(D/USA/CH) StudersersterFall,detectivethriller,90',SabineBoss ReiseohneRückkehr,drama,45',EsenIsik ImSpiegelderMayaDeren,documentary,100',M.Kudlàcek(A/CH/D)

2000 Yugodivas,documentary,60',AndreaStaka Doit,documentary,97',SabineGisiger&MarcelZwingli(CH/D) GesprächimGebirg,exp.documentary,60',MattiasCaduff(D/CH) Summertime,drama,27',AnnaLuif

1999 IDSwiss,documentary,90',7episodes,variousdirectors ViehjudLevi(JewBoyLevi),drama,97',DidiDanquart(D/CH/A) BabamiHirsizlarCaldi–TheStolenFather,drama,24',EsenIsik

1998 Projecziunstibetanas,TVdocumentary,24',Samir Pastry,Pain&Politics,comedy,30',StinaWerenfels

1997 Laetaknabino,silentfilmfable,7',Samir Clandestins,drama,90',N.Wadimoff&D.Chouinard(CH/F/CDN)

1996 MieletCendres,drama,85',NadiaFares(CH/Tun) TakeOffFromTheSand,documentary,60',WagehGeorge NoelField–DererfundeneSpion,Dok,104Min.,WernerSchweizer

1994 Babylon2,Dok,91Min.,Samir

S w i s s F i l m P r i z eforDschointVentschr

Strähl(2005)BestLeadingRole:RoelandWiesnekker;BestSupportingRole:JohannaBantzer;JuryAwardforBestCinematogra-phy:FilipZumbrunnMeierMarilyn(2004)BestMainRole:BettinaStuckyDoit(2001)bySabineGisiger&MarcelZwingliSummertime(2001)byAnnaLuifBabamiHirsizlarCaldi(2000)byEsenIsikPastry,Pain&Politics(1999)byStinaWerenfels

N o m i n a t i o n s f o r S w i s s F i l m P r i z eforDschointVentschr

RicordareAnna(2005)BestLeadingRole:MathiasGnädingerLittleGirlBlue(2004)byAnnaLuifSkinheadAttitude(2004)byDanielSchweizerForgetBaghdad(2003)bySamirExit(2003)byBenjaminKempfYugodivas(2002)byAndreaStakaJourneywithoutReturn(2002)byEsenIsikIDSWISS(2000)byvariousdirectorsClandestins(1998)byNicolasWadimoff&DenisChouinardMiel&Cendres(1998)byNadiaFares