Claude Barras’ internationally acclaimed My Life as a Zucchini continues to rack up accolades, this time triumphing on its home turf by winning three categories at the 2017 Swiss Film Awards — including the Best Fiction Film prize. The animated short honors went to Rafael Sommerhalder’s Au revoir Balthazar.
Last month, Zucchini took both the Best Animated Feature and Best Adaptation at France’s César awards, adding to an impressive collection which already included the European Film Award for Best Animation Film and prizes from festivals around the world. The emotional and visually distinct stop-motion feature was a box office hi in Switzerland.
Produced by Rita Productions (Switzerland), Blue Spirit and Gebeka Films (France), Zucchini was also nominated for a Golden Globe and Oscar and has sold in more than 50 countries through Indie Sales. GKIDS released the film in North America.
The Swiss Film Awards was also a triumph for Petra Volpe’s live-action fiction The Divine Order, which also won three awards, and Heidi Specogna’s internationally recognized documentary Cahier africain.
Select Swiss Film Award winner:
BEST FICTION FILM
My Life as a Zucchini, Claude Barras (Rita Prod.)
BEST ANIMATION FILM
Au Revoir Balthazar, Rafael Sommerhalder (Freihändler Filmproduktion)
BEST FILM SCORE
My Life as a Zucchini, Sophie Hunger
SPECIAL ACADEMY AWARD
Marie-Eve Hildbrand, Casting Director, My Life as a Zucchini
