The literature on the history of film in Switzerland is notable for the way it overlooks certain substructures such as experimental film or animated film. The project entitled 'Swiss Film Experiments 1950-1988' (SFE) provides access for the first time to the history of experimental film in Switzerland.
The literature on the history of film in Switzerland is notable for the way it overlooks certain substructures such as experimental film or animated film. The project entitled 'Swiss Film Experiments 1950-1988' (SFE) provides access for the first time, thanks to comprehensive research and interpretive analysis of sources scattered far and wide, to the history of experimental film in Switzerland and its strong international links.
Written sources are complemented by the oral reminiscences of contemporary witnesses. As such, the project supports an overall perspective of the history of experimental film in Switzerland – something which has so far been lacking.
Historically speaking, experimental film-making has always been very close to the visual arts or seen as distinct from them. This is why the project is at pains to frame the data made available not just in the context of film studies, but also the history of art. The purpose therefore of rehabilitating the history of this marginalised form of cinema is to achieve a more detailed understanding of the history of Swiss film and art and facilitate a selective reappraisal of it.
The results of the research project have been made available in the form of a book, an exhibition, lectures, and a DVD since 2013. The objectives are as follows: an anthology of experimental film in Switzerland for the period studied; a collection of material which offers access to sources currently scattered far and wide (only some of which are in writing); an in-depth dissertation on a partial aspect of the history under consideration; an exhibition involving films and other artistic works by the film-makers concerned; and a DVD containing a representative selection of film. A physical video library housed at the two research institutions involved should also provide a comprehensive overview of the films studied.