Creators' Room

Alte Kaserne Winterthur, Technikumstrasse 8

09:30–10:00

Welcome with coffee and gipfeli

Workshop: Game On – Writing Stories with Choices

What changes when the audience no longer just watches a story, but can influence what happens next? This hands-on workshop introduces the fundamentals of game narratives and non-linear storytelling, while also offering an overview of how narrative games have evolved. Through short case studies and practical exercises, participants explore how choice, consequence, character, and emotional stakes work in interactive stories. A particular focus is on translating story into gameplay, understanding the player’s experience, and finding ways for story and gameplay to work together. Participants will explore how to adapt familiar storytelling skills to this distinct form: they will develop ideas, experiment with branching scenes and dialogue, and test how different choices shape the player’s experience. The workshop is designed for writers and filmmakers who are curious about interactive storytelling and interested in discovering what changes when a story is no longer fixed, but can unfold in many ways. No previous experience with games is required.

Workshop facilitator: Alina Brazdeikene, creative lead (LT)

Kamerawerk, Agnesstrasse 65

Workshop: Colour Science – Building the Look

Why does one image feel soft and natural, another cold and digital, and yet another unmistakably cinematic? This workshop introduces the fundamentals of colour science and look design through a practical exploration of how images are built. Participants learn to break a look down into its key elements – contrast, colour, saturation, texture, sharpness, and tonal response – and to understand how these components shape what we see and feel. Using examples from film and photography, the workshop moves from observation to experimentation, exploring how different visual variables interact and how they can be manipulated to create a coherent aesthetic. The aim is to develop a sharper eye, a stronger visual vocabulary, and a more intentional approach to shaping images. No prior knowledge is required.

Workshop facilitator: Leo Weissenbach, digital imaging technician (CH

blue Cinema Maxx 2, Kesselhaus Winterthur

The Pitch

Six Swiss short film projects have been selected, have received pitch training and will now be presented in The Pitch. The projects compete for two great opportunities: One will be selected to participate in The Lab – Writing Hub at SFC | Rendez-vous Industry in Cannes. Another project will receive a seven-week Project Development Residency in Sigriswil, sponsored by the P.AiR.S. Artist Residence, plus a special invitation package to take part in SO PRO, the industry programme at the Solothurner Filmtage. An expert jury will give feedback and select the two most compelling projects for these opportunities. The results will be announced the same evening during the Industry Awards Ceremony.

Jury: Sonja Baksa, Programmiererin, TIFF (CA); Rimante Daugelaite, Head of Baltic Pitching Forum (LT); Morgane Frund, Head of Industry, Solothurner Filmtage (CH); Tam Dan Vu, künstlerischer Leiter, Travelling Distribution (CA)

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Masterclass – Person in Focus: Gala Hernández López

In a moderated Master Class, Spanish artist, filmmaker, and researcher Gala Hernández López, who is this year’s Person in Focus, will talk about her work, which explores digital worlds, online communities, and the impact of new technologies on our lives. Her shorts have screened at international festivals including Cannes, Berlinale, Rotterdam Film Festival, IDFA, Indie-Lisboa, Curtas Vila do Conde, Sarajevo Film Festival, and Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur.

Speaker: Gala Hernández López, Filmemacherin (E)

Would You Buy This?

At this panel, selected short film directors are invited to present their current projects to professionals who work in sales, acquisitions, and distribution. Prominent industry representatives watch the first three minutes of the films, assess their market potential, and offer feedback. The event simulates a realistic situation in the film industry, demonstrating how professionals evaluate films submitted to them.

Experts: Yunah Chung, Samansa (JP); Catherine Colas, ARTE/ZDF (FR); Stine Wangler, Kurzfilmagentur Hamburg (DE); Tam Dan Vu, artistic director, Travelling Distribution (CA)

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Labüsch Bar, Zur Kesselschmiede 27

Industry Awards Ceremony and Reception

The Industry Awards Ceremony marks the festive conclusion of the Industry Events. The Award for the Best Swiss School Film, Best New African Shorts, the Postproduction Award, the invitation to participate in the Lab at SFC | Rendez-vous Industry 2027, and the P.AiR.S Project Development Residency 2027 will be presented.