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News

«E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea»:
Deal with Rise and Shine World Sales
March 14, 2024
We're happy to announce that the prestigious Rise and Shine World Sales has included our co-production «E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea» in their portfolio. «The stunningly beautiful and cinematic docufiction» (CPH:DOX) will have its world premiere at the CPH:DOX Documentary Film Festival in Copenhagen and is in the run for the DOX:AWARD. Please find the schedule and link to the festival's web page on our events page.
«Ruäch – A Journey into Yenish Europe»:
Theatrical Release in Austria
March 1, 2024
«Ruäch – A Journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger will be released in Austrian theaters on March 1st. Special screenings with cast, crew and further guests are planned in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Villach and Innsbruck. Please check our events page for details regarding the schedule.
«Segnali di vita»: Theatrical release in Italy
February 28, 2024
On March 1st, our Italian-Swiss co-production «Segnali di vita» will be released in theaters in Italy. The premiere with the film crew and protagonists will be held on February 29th in Aosta.

«E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea»
nominated for DOX:AWARD
February 15, 2024
In March, our co-production «E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea» by Beatrice Minger and Christoph Schaub will have its world premiere at the renowned CPH:DOX Documentary Film Festival in Copenhagen. The cinematic journey into the mind of designer Eileen Gray will be presented in the international main competition and is nominated for the DOX:AWARD.
Theatrical release in the Romandie:
«Ruäch – A Journey into Yenish Europe»
January 25, 2024
On February 13th, «Ruäch – A Journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Matthias Bächtiger will be released in the Romandie. The film team is also looking forward to specials with film talks presented by Ciné-Doc. The schedule will be updated on our events page regularly.
At the Filmklag Festival:
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor»
January 3, 2024
In February «Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor» by Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi will be screened at the Filmklang Festival in Göppingen, Germany. Please find the details on our events page.
At the Solothurn Film Festival:
«Ruäch – A Journey into Yenish Europe»
December 13, 2023
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger will be shown at the 59th Solothurn Film Festival. Please find the schedule on our events page.
«Play with the Devil» at the BE MOVIE 2023
November 14, 2023
Our co-production «Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor» by Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi will be screened at the BE Movie 2023, taking place November 17th to 19th at several cinemas in the canton of Berne. Please find the schedule on our events page and more information on BE MOVIE here.
«Play with the Devil»: Premieres
in France, England, Finland and the U.S.
October 25, 2023
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor» by Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi will play a series of festivals in France, England, Finland and the U.S., with screenings in Cardiff und London at the 10th Doc’n’Roll Film Festival, at Musical Écran 2023 in Bordeaux, France, at Rokumentti Rock Film Festival in Joensuu, Finland, as well as in New York at DOC NYC 2023 and at the 24th Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival in Minneapolis (USA).
In Prague: «Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe»
October 10, 2023
DAS FILMFEST in Prague has officially selected «Ruäch – A journey in Yenish Europe». The festival presents a fine selection of films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Producer Frank Matter will attend the screening. Details on our events page.
At German Festival:
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor»
October 1, 2023
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor» by Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi is running in the Best Documentary competition at the Filmtagen Oberschwaben. Olivier Joliat will be present at both screenings in Weingarten and Ravensburg for Q&As. The documentary has also been officially selected by the 38th Filmfest Osnabrück, Festival of Independent Films. Please find the schedule on our events page.
In Swiss theaters:
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe»
September 4, 2023
«(...) Of amazing beauty and intimacy.» (Susanne Leuenberger, BKA)
After the wonderful preview tour, «Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger is now in Swiss theaters. Please check our events page for links to theaters and the schedule regarding further special screenings with the film team.
Deal with Austrian distributor:
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe»
July 13, 2023
The Austrian Cinematograph Filmverleih has added«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger to their catalogue and will distribute our documentary in Austria and South Tyrol. We look forward to working with Tanja Helm and Dietmar Zingl.
Netherlands Premiere:
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor»
July 10, 2023
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor» by Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi will have its dutch premiere at the Music Film Festival in Tilburg City. The screening will be followed by a film talk with both directors. More details on our events page.
Outdoor special screenings:
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe»
July 4, 2023
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger will be released in Swiss theaters on August 31st, 2023. Before the regular theatrical preview tour, we are looking forward to some outdoor screenings this summer with engaging film talks and music. Please find the schedule and links to the tickets sale on our events page.
DOK.fest Munich: Special Mention for
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe»
May 22, 2023
«A masterful road movie about a widely unknown people who impress with their strength and free approach to life.» Ysabel Fantou, DOK.fest Munich
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger premiered internationally at the 38th DOK.fest Munich and was honored with an Special Mention by the DOK.deutsch jury. On August 31st, the film will be released in Swiss theaters. Please watch the trailer.
TV Premiere: «Parallel Lives»
April 11, 2023
«Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter will air on Sunday, April 16th, at 11:40pm on SRF 1 (Swiss-German Public TV). It is the TV premiere of the «visually incredibly powerful and touching» (SRF2 Kultur) documentary. Please watch the film's trailer.
DOK.fest Munich:
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe»
and «Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor»
April 6, 2023
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor» by Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi and «Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger have been selected for the DOK.deutsch competition of the 38th DOK.fest Munich. It will be the international premiere for both productions. The schedule (May) will follow soon on our events page.
World Premiere: «Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe»
March 28, 2023
«Ruäch – A journey into Yenish Europe» by Andreas Müller, Simon Guy Fässler and Marcel Bächtiger has been selected for the national competition of the Visions du Réel in Nyon, Switzerland. Members of the crew and protagonists will attend the world premiere. The portrait of a hidden culture, characterized by love of freedom, marked by wounds of the past. A magical journey through Yenish Europe. Please visit the official web page.
«Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor»:
Swiss Theatrical Release
February 2, 2023
On March 16th, «Play with the Devil – Becoming Zeal & Ardor» will be released in Swiss theaters! Starting on March 9th, there will be special screenings with Zeal & Ardor's Manuel Gagneux, directors Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi and producer Frank Matter. For more information, please visit our events page and thefilm's official website. The screening schedule will be updated regularly.Here's the trailer.
«Arada» in Berne
October 11, 2022
On Wednesday, October 19th, «Arada» by Jonas Schaffter will be screened at the Kino in der Reitschule (Berne), followed by a discussion with the director, the audience and David Furger of the Democratic Lawyers Berne. The venue starts at 7pm. Please watch the trailer.
«Parallel Lives» worldwide on VOD
September 22, 2022
«Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter is now internationally available on video on demand with English or German subtitles. You can stream The «haunting and very touching film» (Kulturzeit 3Sat) on vimeo.
«Ann's Pub» in competition in Germany
September 15, 2022
On October 8th, «Ann's Pub» by Thabea Furrer will open the short documentary competition at the 19th Provinziale – Filmfest Eberswalde. It's the German premiere of the sensitive portrayal of a strong-willed woman and a comforting place fallen out of time. There will be a second screening during the festival with producer Frank Matter. Please find further details on our events page and on the festival's web site.
«Ann's Pub» in competition in Poland
July 10, 2022
«Ann's Pub» by Thabea Furrer has been selected for the short film competition at the 16th Festiwal Dwa Brzegi – BNP Paribas Two Riversides Film and Art Festival, taking place from July 30th to August 7th in Kazimierz Dolny and Janowiec nad Wisłą. Please find further details on the festival's web site.
«I'll be your mirror» on VOD
July 7, 2022
«... A touching, disarming and honest film, breaking taboos.»
Marah Rikli (Tages-Anzeiger)
«I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust has been released on video on demand internationally. The radically honest and sensitive road movie is now available on our vimeo page.
«Arada» TV Premiere
June 21, 2022
«Arada» by Jonas Schaffter will air on Sunday, June 26th, 2022, at 11.45pm on SRF 1. It's the premiere of the acclaimed documentary about home, nationality and identity. Please watch the trailer.
«Parallel Lives» on VOD
June 9, 2022
After over 9 weeks in Swiss theaters, our co-production «Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter has been released on video on demand on June 8th (exclusively for Switzerland). The «visually incredibly powerful and touching film» (Brigitte Häring, SRF 2) is now available on myfilm.ch, Home-Cinema REX, Bern, Pantoffel-Kinok, St. Gallen, Sofa-Cameo, Winterthur, Stattkino, Luzern. Please check out what the critics say.
«Parallel Lives» in Swiss theaters
February 21, 2022
On February 10th, «Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter has been released in Swiss theaters. We're thankful for the many positive feedbacks and reviews so far. Please visit our events page for details on special screenings with crew members and links to the theaters' schedules.
«Parallel Lives» theatrical release
January 25, 2022
On February 10th, «Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter will be released in Swiss theaters. In addition, special events with the film's director and crew members will take place from February 8th. Please visit our events page for more details. The screening schedule will be updated regularly.
«Parallel Lives» and «Ann's Pub» Solothurn
December 14, 2021
«Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter and «Ann's Pub» by Thabea Furrer will be screened at the 57th Solothurn Film Festival in January 2022. Please find the schedule on our events page.
«Parallel Lives» wins BE MOVIE Audience Award 2021
November 25, 2021
After a great film weekend in Berne, «Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter has been awarded with the BE MOVIE Audience Award 2021. Many thanks to the audiences, the event's organizers and the association CinéBern.
«Parallel Lives» and «Ann's Pub»:
Winners of Basel Film Awards 2021
November 23, 2021
Yesterday evening, «Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter has been awarded with the Basel Film Award 2021 and «Ann's Pub» by Thabea Furrer with the Basel Short Film Award 2021! We are very happy and thank the jury and the cultural departments of the cantons Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft.
«Parallel Lives» and «Ann's Pub» nominated for
Basel Film Awards 2021
October 29, 2021
Two of our productions have been nominated for the Basel Film Awards 2021: «Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter in the category feature film and «Ann's Pub» by Thabea Furrer in the category short film. The award ceremony will take place on November 22nd.
«Parallel Lives» at the BE MOVIE 2021
October 25, 2021
Our co-production «Parallel Lives» by Frank Matter will be screened at the BE MOVIE 2021, taking place November 19th to 21st at several cinemas in the canton of Berne. Please find the schedule on our events page and more information on BE MOVIE here. On February 10th, 2022 «Parallel Lives» will be released in Swiss Theaters. Please check out the film's official web page.
«Arada» on myfilm.ch
September 16, 2021
«Arada» by Jonas Schaffter has been released as video on demand (exclusively for Switzerland). The artfully woven study of home, nationality and identity, is now available myfilm.ch.
«Arada» In Competition At the 18th PROVINZIALE
September 2, 2021
«Arada» by Jonas Schaffter has been selected for the Documentary Competiton of the 18th PROVINZIALE – Filmfest Eberswalde in Germany (October 9th–16th). The festival focuses on films telling stories of coming and going, staying and shaping one‘s surroundings. Director Jonas Schaffter will attend the screening and following Q&A. For more details please visit our events page.
«I'll be your mirror» U.S. premiere
August 26, 2021
«I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust will have its U.S. premiere at the ReadingFilmFEST. The festival will feature a hybrid approach to screening films by offering ticket holders the option of participating virtually or in person. On October 2nd, there will be a on-site screening in Reading, Pennsylvania. Director Johanna Faust will participate in a streaming Q&A. For more details please visit the festival's web page.
«I'll be your mirror» nominated for film editing award
August 12, 2021
Rune Schweitzer, the editor of our documentary «I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust, has been nominated for the Picture Art Editing Award by Edimotion, the oldest film festival in Europe that focuses exclusively on the art of film editing. In October, outstanding works of film editors on German, Austrian or Swiss films will be honoured.
«Ann's Pub»: World Premiere
August 3, 2021
Our short documentary «Ann's Pub» by Thabea Furrer has been selected to premiere at the 25th Rhode Island International Film Festival. This year's editon is a hybrid festival, taking place August 9th to 15th. «Ann’s Pub» is a sensitive portrayal of a strong-willed woman and a comforting place fallen out of time. Please watch the trailer.
«Arada»: Turkish Premiere
July 5, 2021
«Arada» by Jonas Schaffter will be screened at the 14th Documentarist Film Festival in Istanbul. Director Jonas Schaffter, Location manager Dilara Tigli and protagonist Vedat are attending the Turkish premiere of the film. For more details please visit our events page or the festival's web page.
«I'll be your mirror» on myfilm.ch
July 4, 2021
After eight weeks in Swiss theaters, «I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust has been released as video on demand (exclusively for Switzerland). The radically honest and sensitive road movie is now available on myfilm.ch.
«Arada» in Swiss theaters
May 3, 2021
On May 27th, «Arada» by Jonas Schaffter will be released in Swiss theaters. Details on screening times and special events will follow soon under events and on the film's facebook page.
«I'll be your mirror» in Swiss theaters
April 19, 2021
On April 29th, «I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust will be released in Swiss theaters. For details on screening times and special events, please visit our events page and the film's facebook page.
«Arada»: at the 36th DOK.FEST MUNICH
April 12, 2021
«Arada» by Jonas Schaffter has been selected for the DOK.deutsch competition of the 36. International Documentary Film Festival Munich. The DOK.fest will take place online from May 5th to 23rd.
«I'll be your mirror» in Scotland
April 12, 2021
The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival will present the UK premiere of «I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust online. The SMHAF, led by the Mental Health Foundation, will take place from May 3rd to 23rd and explore the theme of «Normality?». For more information please visit the festival's web page.
«Arada»: special award
November 23, 2020
The Basel Film Award jury has awarded Roland von Tessin for his editing work on «Arada» by Jonas Schaffter. We congratulate the editor. Please watch the film's trailer.
«I'll be your mirror» in Sydney
November 19, 2020
On November 28th, the Sydney Women's International Film Festival will present the Australian premiere of «I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust at the United Cinemas Opera Quays Sydney. For more information please visit the festival's web page.
«Arada»: Documentary Award 2020
of the Alexis Victor Thalberg Foundation
October 29, 2020
Jonas Schaffter, Simon Denzler (cinematography) and Thomas Jeker (music) have been awarded with the Documentary Film Award of the Alexis Victor Thalberg Foundation for their achievements on «Arada».
«Arada» nominated for Basel Film Award
October 22, 2020
«Arada» by Jonas Schaffter has been nominated for the Basel Film Award 2020! The award ceremony will take place on November 23rd. Please watch the film's trailer.
«From One Day to the Next» on TV
June 15, 2020
«From one day to the next» by Frank Matter will air on Sunday, June 28th, 2020, at 11.25pm on SRF 1. The acclaimed documentary will be part of the Swiss-German Public TV's series «CH:Filmszene». Please watch the trailer.
soap factory films on myfilm.ch
May 4, 2020
Within Switzerland, you can now stream the following films on kult.kino's curated video platform myfilm.ch: «Thomas Hirschhorn ‐ Gramsci Monument» by Angelo A. Lüdin and «La buena vida – The Good Life» by Jens Schanze. These and other titles are still available as DVD and/or VOD in ourstore.
«The Beauty of my Island» in Great Britain
January 30, 2020
In March, «The Beauty of my Island - Shooting Klaus Lutz» by Frank Matter will be screened along with «Arabia 1+2» and «Titan» by Klaus Lutz in London, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne. The screenings will be introduced by film artist Hannes Schüpbach. Please find more details on our events page.
«Arada» and «Who’s afraid of Alice Miller?»
nominated for the Prix de Soleure 2020
December 12, 2019
The following productions are nominated for the Prix de Soleure 2020 and will have their world premiere at the 55th Solothurn Film Festival:
«Arada» by Jonas Schaffter, co-produced by soap factory GmbH and ZHdK, tells the story of three men of Turkish descent who grew up in Switzerland, but never got a Swiss passport. After run-ins with the law and having served their prison terms, they where deported to the country of their parents, a place they hardly know. In his first feature documentary, Jonas Schaffter explores a hidden milieu, bringing to light the unknown consequences of a immigration policy that classifies people according to their passports and not their cultural identity.
«Who’s afraid of Alice Miller?» by Daniel Howald has been produced by Frank Matter for the SwissDok GmbH. The documentary traces the tragic relationship between Martin and his mother, the world-famous Swiss child psychologist Alice Miller. After her death, Martin sets out to discover the drama behind everything: the Shoa, the annihilation of the Jewish people, from which his mother in Poland had barely escaped.
Please find the schedule on our events page. Tickets can be purchased via the festival's web page.
«Ciao Babylon» in Saridinia
November 25, 2019
On December 3rd, «Ciao Babylon» by Kurt Reinhard and Christoph Schreiber will be presented at the Babel Film Festival, in competition for the UNICA award of the city of Cagliari. The festival exists since 2010 and is the first international competition dedicated to the cinema of linguistic minorities. Please find more details on our events page.
«Grozny Blues»: Swiss-French TV Premiere
November 21, 2019
«Grozny Blues» by Nicola Bellucci will air on Tuesday, December 3, at 00.15hrs on RTS 2. It's the premiere on Swiss-French Public TV of Belluccis hauntig documentary.
«I'll be your mirror»: World premiere at the ZFF
September 12, 2019
On October 1st, «I'll be your mirror» by Johanna Faust is having its world premiere at the 15th Zurich Film Festival. The documentary will compete in the section Focus with eleven new feature and documentary films from Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Please find more information and the schedule on our events page and the festival's web page.
«Ciao Babylon»: French Premiere
August 20, 2019
On October 18th, «Ciao Babylon» by Kurt Reinhard and Christoph Schreiber will be presented at the Le Grand Bivouac, documentary film and book festival, in Albertville. Director Christoph Schreiber will be attending the french premiere. Since 2002, the festival is dedicated to convey current social, cultural and environmental problems. Please find more details on our events page and the festival's web page.
«Thomas Hirschhorn - Gramsci Monument» on TV
June 4, 2019
On July 21st, the short version (52 minutes) of the documentary «Thomas Hirschhorn - Gramsci Monument» by Angelo A. Lüdin will air on Swiss-German Public TV. For more details please check our events page. The film's theatrical version can be purchased at our store.
«La buena vida» in Basel
March 4, 2019
On March 30th, our co-production «La buena vida ‐ The good life» by Jens Schanze will be presented at the 14th Intercultural Film Festival Cinema Querfeld, in Basel. This year's theme is «provenance» and the festival shows films from Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Turkey, Greece, Palestine, Germany and Switzerland. Producer Frank Matter will attend the screening. For more details please check our events page and the web page of the festival.
«Ciao Babylon»: Deal with North American distributor
January 28, 2019
soap factory and Windrose (its international distributor) are proud to announce that a deal was closed with DER, Documentary Educational Resources, to allow them to exploit the educational, institutional, home video, digital and TV rights mainly in North America of the documentary «Ciao Babylon» by Kurt Reinhard and Christoph Schreiber.
 
 
Film still: «Arada»