The Zurich Film Festival's first Industry Day will take place at the Seefeld Razzia on Tuesday, September 29. Sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture and Swiss Films, this event is aimed at all professionals involved in the filmmaking industry including producers, directors, authors and actors.

The Zurich Master Class participants can take part at the Industy Talks without charge! Apply now!

Zurich Film Festival's Industry Talks
New Industry Day for producers, directors, actors and authors

"The Industry Day offers professionals from various fields of the filmmaking industry the opportunity to exchange information, share knowledge and establish new contacts", says Karl Spoerri, co-director and artistic director of the Zurich Film Festival. "It is here that current developments and trends can be taken up and reflected upon." In addition to the Zurich Film Festival's already established Zurich Master Class and Zurich Producer's Forum, the Industry Day gives professionals a further opportunity to create and expand their international network.

In four English-language podium events, selected professionals from various countries will discuss topics designed to give background information and input for career management to young talent from the filmmaking industry: "Representing Talent","Casting Directors - Discoverers or Suppliers?", "Creating the Perfect Package" and "Publicists - Talents as Brands". The mutual lunch and subsequent Talent Night Party will offer further opportunities for networking and exchange.

Application is possible with immediate effect via the Zurich Film Festival's website at www.zurichfilmfestival.org Closing date for applications is September 27, 2009; a total of 150 places are available.

Mechthild Holter, the influential German agent and CEO of the Players Agency (which represents stars such as Moritz Bleibtreu, Johanna Wokalek and Jürgen Vogel), Dale Launer (My Cousin Vinny), one of the best-paid unrepresented screenplay writers, and Lindy King, co-owner and chair of the British talent agency United Agents, whose clients include Ewan McGregor and Kate Winslet, will participate in the panel discussion on "Representing Talent".

"Casting Directors - Discoverers or Suppliers?" brings together three female international casting professionals: Deborah Aquila, USA (Twighlight, The Shawshank Redemption), Beatrice Kruger, Italy (Solino, Casino Royale) and Corinna Glaus, Switzerland (Vitus, Die Herbstzeitlosen), who will additionally present her initiative "Junge Talente" ("Young Talents"), whose aim it is to popularize young Swiss actors and actresses. This year's Young Talents will be present on the Industry Day.

Within the framework of the "Creating the Perfect Package" event, professionals will discuss how a film project can be best conceived in order to secure financing. US producer Stephen Nemeth (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Flow: For the Love of Water) will moderate this discussion. The head of film at the Federal Culture Office Nicolas Bideau, Alexis Garcia, packaging and finance agent for William Morris Endeavor and Thorsten Ritter, director of Bavaria Film International, will join him on the podium.

The "Publicists - Talents as Brands" discussion will be presided over by Heike Melba-Fendel, owner and managing director of Barbarella Entertainment, Germany. She will be joined by Nikki Parker, executive vice president of the entertainment, public relations and marketing agency Rogers & Cowan, one of the top PR agencies in the USA & England, and a foreign and Swiss journalist.

 

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