Jan Gassmann
Directing
Biography
Jan Gassmann is a director based in Zürich. His first feature documentary CHRIGU premiered at the 57. Berlinale and won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. The movie traveled the world and among others, won the «Filmcritics Switzerland Prize». In 2011 followed his first feature fiction film OFF BEAT. It premiered at the 61. Berlinale, Panorama and was nominated for «Best Camera» by the swiss film academy in 2012. With his next documentary KARMA SHADUB, he won together with Ramon Giger the Grand-Prix of the international Competition at Visions du Réel, Nyon, 2013. His next fiction film HEIMATLAND, a collaborative work, premiered in the International Competition at Locarno Filmfestival 2015 and won the Zurich and Bern Filmprize and got nominated for Best Film by the Swiss Film Academy. EUROPE, SHE LOVES his latest feature, opened the Berlinale Panorama 2016 followed by a worldwide festival career. This sex, drugs and politics documentary about four couples at the borders of Europe, was selected for the European Film Prize and won several national and international prizes.
Known For
Everything is under control, she thinks. Everything is lost, he thinks. And then they meet. And fall.
99 Moons
An apocalyptical storm threatens to wipe out an entire country. A state of emergency is raised while mayhem breaks out.
Wonderland
“Let’s make a documentary together,” says Chrigu. “Then I will get out at some point.” This is the story of a young man who once had great plans for the future, until an advanced-stage tumour was discovered at the age of 21. Jan Gassmann follows Christian Ziörjen’s (Chrigu) fight to live, in a film less about death, but about living life. Christian himself had been making his own films since the age of 16: at parties, concerts, on a trip to India, his camera was always with him. With “Chrigu”, filmmaker Jan Gassmann succeeds in creating a moving and surprising portrait of his best friend.
Chris
Europe on the verge of social and economic change. A close up into the shaken vision of four couples, daily struggles, fights, kids, sex and passion. A movie about the politics of love. Le cinéma politique fait l'amour.
Europe, She Loves
After the birth of her first child, Diane disappears in an unknown city, but her body reawakens her memories and what she is fleeing from.
Paradises of Diane
Lukas is a successful hip hop star on a drug fuelled fade, much to the annoyance of his producer/lover, Mischa. When Mischa opts to include Lukas' brother Sämi on his latest album, jealousy and rivalry tear the three apart.