The Festival

"The Emmentaler Filmtage have over the period of three years grown into a professional event which reaches far beyond the region..."
Wochenzeitung Emmental Entlebuch

... and yet we stay the Emmentaler Filmtage! The vitality of shortfilm.

Since the first edition in 2010 the festival has made quite some experiences. Indeed the national media shows interest in an event which so atypically strives to bring the so-called urban short film culture to the countryside whatever the cost.  

Since 2010 the number of visitors has almost doubled. Even though the international short film festival Shnit and the Berne film award festival take place in the same month. The overlap in visitors is only marginal. In 2012 80%* of our audience came from the Bernese countryside and prove that the Emmentaler Filmtage are meeting a need. 

Short films

are the result of filmmakers wanting to work according to their taste. Especially in the professional film business actors, directors and writers often have to make a lot of compromises due to the commercial pressure. These compromises render a creative independent working process impossible. That's why filmmakers often cooperate to realize their own projects. Films which satisfy with their elegant approach and their eye for the detail. No gigantic cinema but stories with depth, charm and humor. 

A respectful cooperation 

with the filmmakers is one oft the basic principles of the Emmentaler Filmtage. This is the main reason why we don't have a competition at the festival. Instead a collection is taken up and the donated sum is distributed equally among all filmmakers who's films we screen. It is our goal to be able to pay a usual screening fee (60-80 CHF) and at the same time to increase the awareness of the audience that independent filmmaking is not free of cost.

A well-balanced festival program

with contributions from all over the world is being shown at the Emmentaler Filmtage once a year. True to its name the festival always includes productions from Switzerland and especially the Emmental region. The entry is free for all. This should enable especially families to visit the festival and at the same time encourage the audience to be brave and explore new types of films.  

Eight unique screening rooms full of atmosphere are available to the audience during the festival weekend. Visitors can chose between any of the screenings and that way put together their own festival program. All foreign-language films are subtitled in German. A special family film room offers an exciting program for our youngest guests from the age of 4. 

Cozy and a feel-good atmophere

are characteristics of the festival that we would like to preserve for the future. That doesn't mean that everything will stay the same. The festival program should allow to discover new things every time and not fall short of the quality of the last years. The image and sound equipment have reached a high standard by now. The choice in food and drinks has been expanded and the outdoor area enlarged. Because in our opinion sitting together and chat should never miss out. We invite you to enter the screening rooms and get enchanted by the world of short films. 

Welcome

to the Emmentaler Filmtage '13! We are happy to share with you the juwels of short film making. On this website you find all the necessary information about the festival. See you soon in the Emmental!

*Source: Survey of the festival visitors