The 11 projects of Alliance 4 Development 2022 have been revealed

Among those selected for this year’s edition, a majority of the projects were directed by women and an even higher number were the filmmakers’ first feature films. Some are intimate portraits in luscious 16mm. Others the fictional debuts of directors celebrated for their work in documentary. Others still take us to Africa, to a far-flung island off the coast of Australia, or, closer to home, to the fantastical highs of the Swiss Alps.

Whatever the subject or context, the potential to forge partnerships across regional borders will be artistically and developmentally fruitful for all of those just now stepping into the feature director’s chair for the first or second time.

Aimed at developing the market potential of these projects as well as fostering long-term creative and business ties between the five targeted countries, the program of Alliance 4 Development will take place over three days (5-7 August) at the Locarno Film Festival and will welcome delegates from the 11 selected projects (two from Austria, France, Germany, and Italy, plus three from Switzerland).

In the context of Locarno Pro, the producers and directors will be offered bespoke feedback from international experts on their presentations, to partake in one-on-one meetings with potential partners, and attend panels and high-profile networking events.

For the first time the eleven selected projects will also compete for the Alphapanda Market Breakout Award and which consists in consultancy services in the value of 3 000 €.

Selected film projects

• Allegra by Giorgia Wurth, produced by Nicola Bernasconi (Rough Cat, Switzerland);
• A Song That Slays by Mo Scarpelli, produced by Luigi Chimienti (Dispàrte, Italy) and coproduced with Mo Scarpelli (Rake Films, USA).
• Am Anfang der Schwerkraft oder die schicksalshafte Reise einer noblen Familie und ihrer Dienerschaft über die Berge (The Beginning of Gravity or the Fateful Journey of a Noble Family and Their Servants Across the Mountains) by Thomas Woschitz, produced by Gabriele Kranzelbinder and Barbara Pichler (KGP Filmproduktion, Austria), Thomas Woschitz (takethemoneyandrunproduction, Austria), coproduced with Katrin Renz (Tellfilm, Switzerland).
• Bottom of the Ocean Electric Fish by Malina Mackiewicz produced by Valeria Belardo (Ascent Film, Italy).
• Der Fleck by Willy Hans, produced by Julia Cöllen, Karsten Krause, Frank Scheuffele (Fünferfilm UG, Germany), coproduced with Michela Pini (8horses, Switzerland).
• Element by Mariko Minoguchi, produced by Jorgo Narjes (X Filme Creative Pool, Germany).
• Le jour qui vient (Songs of the Fallen Mountains) by Manon Coubia produced by Emmanuelle Latourrette (El Film, France), coproduced with Manon Coubia, Nicolas Rincon Gille, Jeremy Van der Haegen (The Blue Raincot, Belgium)
• Le Vampire de Ropraz (A Vampire in Ropraz) by Vincent Veillon & Vincent Kucholl, produced by Jean-Marc Fröhle (Point Productions, Switzerland).
• Molécules (Molecules) by Vero Cratzborn produced by Thomas Lambert (Tomsa Films, France).
• Orphée (Orpheus) by Stéphane Riethauser produced by Véronique Vergari (Luna Films, Switzerland) and coproduced with Thomas Lambert (Tomsa Films, France).
• The Village Next to Paradise by Mo Harawe, produced by Oliver Neumann (FreibeuterFilm, Austria).

Alliance 4 Development is possible thanks to partnerships with CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée), France; DGCA-MiC (Direzione Generale Cinema e Audiovisivo del Ministero della Cultura), Italy; FFA (Filmförderungsanstalt), Germany; the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) / MEDIA Desk Suisse, Switzerland; and OFI (Österreichisches Filminstitut), Austria. A4D is also made possible by contributions from Eurimages, which promotes and sponsors one of the initiative's networking events, and from the European Producers Club, an active promoter of the project which also offers consultancy on the issues covered.

The Project Manager of the Alliance 4 Development is Francesca Palleschi.