GIFF unveils the ceremonies of its 30th edition
The opening ceremony of the Geneva International Film Festival (November 1) will kick off a vibrant and bold edition, echoing three decades of the Festival’s existence, with the screening of Piece by Piece, a film as creative as it is exhilarating. The closing ceremony on November 9 will feature the Swiss premiere of episode 1 of the event series Dune: Prophecy, right after the announcement of the 30th edition’s awards.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 – OPENING CEREMONY
PIECE BY PIECE | MORGANE NEVILLE | 2024 | US, DK | 93′ | Swiss Premiere
UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL SWITZERLAND GmbH
The first moments of a Festival that celebrates the present and future of audiovisual imagination. To honor GIFF’s innovation in audiovisual fiction, it was only natural to program Piece by Piece, a work that brilliantly breaks the codes of musical film, biopic, and animation. Focusing on the life and career of Pharrell Williams, the American artist lends his voice to the main character, and the most discerning ears may also recognize the voices of Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.
This opening night will be an opportunity to celebrate the longevity of the Geneva International Film Festival on the occasion of its 30th edition. Many guests from the cultural and political world will also be present, including Thierry Apothéloz, Vice President and State Councilor in charge of the Department of Social Cohesion for the Republic and Canton of Geneva, Christina Kitsos, Mayor of Geneva, and Pascal Crittin, Director of RTS. The festive ceremony will be moderated by journalist Muriel Siki.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 – CLOSING CEREMONY
An undeniable myth of science fiction and a true pillar of contemporary audiovisual culture, the universe of Dune is omnipresent on our screens. Three years after Denis Villeneuve’s sumptuous first film, the much-anticipated series produced by the prestigious television network HBO offers a thrilling and furiously contemporary prequel for the Dune galaxy.
The first episode of this highly anticipated project will be screened in its Swiss premiere following the Festival’s closing ceremony. This exceptional evening will mark the end of a ten-day celebration of films, series, and immersive experiences that shape the future of audiovisual creation. On this occasion, three Reflet d’Or awards worth CHF 10,000 each will be presented (Best Feature Film, Best Series, and Best Immersive Experience), as well as the Future is Sensible Award (CHF 10,000), a converging section that yearly honors a production for its humanism and ethical dimension.
DUNE: PROPHECY (S1, ep. 1) | ALISON SCHAPKER | 2024 | US | 6×60′ | Swiss Premiere
Based on the vast universe of Dune, created by the famous author Frank Herbert, and set 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, Dune: Prophecy follows two Harkonnen sisters who battle forces threatening humanity’s future and establish the legendary sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit. Dune: Prophecy is inspired by the novel Sisterhood of Dune, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
