The Newt Congress
Switzerland, Germany / Fiction / 16’ / 16mm/ Color / 2022
The Newt Congress takes place at a conference building surrounded by nature where participants have come together to optimize the exploitation of the animals. The short film is a free adaptation of Karel Čapek's "War with the Newts".
Director: Matthias Sahli, Immanuel Esser
Script: Matthias Sahli, Immanuel Esser
Director of Photography: Miriam Rutherfoord
Producer: Zürcher Hochschule der Künste
Editing: Matthias Sahli
Sound: Jan Godde
Cast: Wiebke Mollenhauer, Ursula Bienz, Tobias Bienz
CV
Matthias Sahli studied directing at the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK. His protagonists often appear in weird suburban, industrial or natural landscapes only to disappear again all so quickly. Alien to their surroundings, they encounter talking devices or animals that challenge their worldview.
Filmography
2020: A Brief Appearance of Neon
2017: Intervention in einer Bank
2015: Hausarrest,
Festivals Attended
Locarno Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis
Vilnius International Film Festival (Kino Pavasaris)
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur
Awards
2nd place: Best Swiss Short Film - Locarno Film Festival
Best Short Film - Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival