08/05/2019 - Swiss producer Sereina Gabathuler, working for Dschoint Ventschr, talks about her previous and future projects in the lead-up to the 2019 Producers on the Move

After completing her training as an actor, Sereina Gabathuler started working for Dschoint Ventschr in 2008. Initially as an intern, Sereina has since worked her way up to become a producer on such films as Werner Schweizer's 2013 film Enemies in Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Karoline Arn and Martine Rieder's Yenish Sounds [+see also:
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film profile] which was the most successful documentary at the Swiss box office in 2017. She subsequently produced Anja Kofmel's anima-doc Chris the Swiss [+see also:
film review
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interview: Anja Kofmel
film profile] which won three Swiss Film Awards in 2019. Gabathuler has been selected as one of the 2019 Producers on the Move by European Film Promotion.

European Film Promotion: Which is the film you are most proud of and why?
Sereina Gabathuler: That would be Chris the Swiss for various reasons. For the fact that we never gave up during the almost 8 years of making it. Despite the many obstacles we had to overcome. Such as the political situation in Croatia, or a medical emergency right at the start of animation production. And of course because of the film itself. It is a very important film, made in a unique way. It shows what it might be that fascinates men to participate in a war out of their on free will and what kind of an effect this participation will likely have on their life after the war. But first and foremost it is an anti-war movie.

What are the challenges and merits of producing in your country?
The merits are that we have solid founding system also for development, which is not so common as far as I know. On the other hand, Switzerland is a very small country so there are limits to the amount of money that can come from Switzerland. And it is not always so easy for co-production due to for example the fact that we have another currency, everything is much more expensive in comparisons to abroad, and sometimes language issues don't simplify it either.

What are your expectations in Cannes as one of the Producers on the Move?
I hope that I get to meet motivated, exiting people to expand my network and maybe find new possible co-production partners for the future or one of my projects at hand. I am sure it will be enriching to meet like minded people and to learn more about their work and about how production works in their countries.

What are your next projects? 
I am thrilled to start with the new project of the director of Chris the Swiss Anja Kofmel. Although we are at the very beginning I am convinced that it will be another extraordinary film, in a way that hasn't been seen before and with a topic that concerns all of us. Also I am working on a documentary called I Am A Bad Girl about gender equality focused on a more private level, presented by the famous writer Erica Jong.