We’re thrilled to share that Les Orages Magnétiques (Magnetic Storms), produced by Flavia Zanon, Close Up films, left Locarno with two awards from Alliance 4 Development, the co-development programme of Locarno Pro, held from 7 to 9 August 2026 during the 79th Locarno Film Festival.
The Masé Studios Post-Production Award shared with Cuore Matto a film by Tamer Ruggli.
The MIDPOINT Consulting Award
Alliance 4 Development brings together eleven feature projects from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland for three days of pitching sessions, one-on-one meetings, workshops and networking with international co-production partners. Magnetic Storms was one of two Swiss projects selected this year.
Our warmest thanks to Locarno Pro and the Alliance 4 Development team, to Masé Studios and the MIDPOINT Institute, and to everyone who met with us in Locarno. We can’t wait to bring this film to you.
Locarno79, Locarno Pro Award Ceremony, 09.08.2026Locarno79, Locarno Pro Award Ceremony, 09.08.2026
Les Orages Magnétiques has been selected for one of the three 2025 screenwriting residencies at Casa Pantrovà in Carona, Ticino, awarded by the City of Lugano together with the Ticino Film Commission, the Locarno Film Festival, Castellinaria and their partner institutions.
Four weeks in August in the house above Lugano writing, and a stay that overlaps with the Locarno Film Festival. Later this year Wendy will present Les Orages Magnétiques at the next edition of the Castellinaria Festival del cinema giovane.
Many thanks to the jury and all the partners for this valuable creative time and their trust.
Our film looking back at the terrible tsunami of 2004 and giving a voice to the people who lived the events at their heart is finally finished! It will be broadcast on Thursday December 5 at 20:10 on SRF1.
On December 26, 2004, Matthias Brefin is at home in Switzerland. He has given up his Christmas vacation in Thailand so that his daughter Mireille and his wife Rosette can extend their stay by the sea – giving Mireille the chance to recover from a difficult brain tumor surgery. When news of the devastating tsunami reaches Matthias, a period of fear and uncertainty begins: where are his daughter and his wife?
On December 26, 2004, Matthias Brefin is at home in Switzerland. He has given up his Christmas vacation in Thailand so that his daughter Mireille and his wife Rosette can extend their stay by the sea – giving Mireille the chance to recover from a difficult brain tumor surgery. When news of the devastating tsunami reaches Matthias, a period of fear and uncertainty begins: where are his daughter and his wife?
“Es geschah am… Der Tsunami von 2004” tells the moving story of the Brefin family. This docudrama follows Matthias and his son in their relentless search for Mireille, exploring emotional highs and lows, the challenges of grieving, and the strength to rebuild life after such a tragedy.
The film also gives a voice to people who experienced the events firsthand, sharing how the tsunami profoundly changed their lives.
The tsunami, triggered by the third most powerful undersea earthquake ever recorded, claimed an estimated 230,000 lives, including 113 Swiss nationals. In its aftermath, over a million people were left homeless across the coastal regions of Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.
Genre: Docudrama Year of production: 2024 Color Length: 91 min Shooting Format: HD Aspect ratio: 16:9 Sound: Stereo Languages: Swiss German, Thai, German
Cast
MATTHIAS BREFIN Michael Neuenschwander MIREILLE BREFIN Magdalena Neuhaus ROSETTE BREFIN Grazia Pergoletti LUKAS BREFIN Julian Anatol Schneider URS SCHNEIDER Samuel Streiff THAILÄNDISCHER ARZT Thaddy Spörri AIRPORT EMPLOYEE Rhea Careddu CUSTOM OFFICER Edita Škalic WOMAN ON THE PHONE Kathrin Veith WAITRESS Pimjan Thongkumngam
Themselves (many thanks for your stories) Matthias Brefin Anita Moor Raymond Moor Beat Schweiter Urs Schneider Pascal Bornoz Sawanee Na Takuathung
Crew
Director Wendy Pillonel Screenplay Rolf Elsener Assistant director Micha Muhl Crowd AD Juliana Bearth
Cinematography René Schönenberger Assistant camera Christian Mathis 2nd assistant camera Idoia Felis-Casillas
Sound Niel Bieri
Chef electrician Roland Koch Best boy David Frauenknecht Electricians Mica Sedlacek
Production Design Antonia Dobler Set dresser Seraina Zolliker Additional Helpers Production Design Irene Kueng Birrer, Karin Nyffenegger
Costumes Doris Marti Costumes assistent Maude Vuillemier Make Up Prisca Hofer Make up support Lilian Eggenberger, Cornelia Kohler
Casting Nora Leibundgut – Glaus Casting Casting extras Sonja Levy – Background Action Executive Producer Rolf Elsener Line Producer Oliver Bolt Line Producer Thailand Nat Sumon Set manager Davide Oliveri Runner Harrison Kremo
Editing Nicole Hussy
Music Alexandre J. Maurer
VFX supervisor Robin Disch – Das Alte Lager Colorgrading Claudia Remondino Sounddesing & Mix Christoph Lüthi
Redaktion Corinne Naef Head of entertainment Alexa Brogli Set Photographer Sava Hlavacek
CREW THAILAND
Line Producer Nat Sumon Production assistant Elga Delio Gaffer Kriengsak Kokanutranont Best Boy Khamla Rungroj 1st AC Metawat Bunyasakwuttikul Drone operator Eak photographer Production Design Dvis Nichathaaman Runner Ploywarin Cheevaraksa Drivers Sakonsak Thongleung & Thonglim Thaworn
While Swiss band Ogmasun was working on the album Into The Void, they also recorded “Do Know Where The Fear Comes From” that unfolds like a soundscape. They asked Wendy Pillonel to make a music video for this piece.
The director used the soundtrack to make an experimental film inspired by our collective fears. A series of interviews lead< each member of the group to talk about their fears. For Wendy, images came up again and again: overconsumption, dehumanisation and destroyed ecosystems. Among others.
Here is the result of this collaboration, magnificent to watch and to listen to. A Pandora’s box that must be opened. Enjoy!
“LES NOUVELLES ÈVES” made in collaboration with Thais Odermatt, Annie Gisler, Anna Thommen, Jela Hasler, Camille Budin, Judith Lichtneckert and Lily Ott wins a Central Swiss Film Award!
COME AND WATCH ONLY FOR 5CHF in Lucerne: Saturday March 4th, 4pm – BOURBAKI 1 Sunday March 5th, 8pm – Stattkino
Un Monde Parfait and the ten episodes our collective series FUTURA celebrates their world premiere at Zurich Film Festival. Our films will be screened on Wednesday 28th of September at 18:00. See you there!
Giulia is the smallest in her class and suffers every day from the teasing of her classmates. Through Brandy Butler’s “Free Thinkers Academy” workshops, Giulia can let out her anger and dream of a different, better world.
“Un Monde Parfait” is one of ten episodes of the series FUTURA produced by Akka Films, Dschoint Ventschr and Cinédokke. 10 eclectic and fascinating portraits of different communities created by young directors from all over Switzerland.
Genre: Documentary Year of production: 2022 Color Length: 18 min Shooting Format: 2K Aspect ratio: 16:9 Sound: Stereo Language: Swiss German
Crew
Written and directed by: Wendy Pillonel Producer: Sophia Rubischung Cinematography: Natascha Vavrina Editing: Rolf Hellat Sound: Oliver Rogers, Wendelin Schmidt-Ott Music: Jakob Eisenbach Production: Dschoint Ventschr in co-production with SRG SSR
Our collective documentary will be available on VOD on Play Suissefrom June 14th 2022.
It also will be broadcasted on national TV on Sunday 19th of June at 23:30 on SRF1 and at 22:55 on RTS2.
One year after the national women’s strike, the issue of equality is far from settled. In the collective documentary LES NOUVELLES ÈVES, six filmmakers delve into the everyday lives of six women from different professions and explore what it means to be a woman in today’s Switzerland. Alternating glimpses into the lives of these “everyday heroines” show how the protagonists consciously resist role attributions and fight for their personal goals – even against social barriers. An exciting and illuminating look at a highly topical subject.
