The Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF, 11 – 9 July) unveils its professional NIFFF Extended label (4 – 7 July), a unique programme dedicated to imaginary worlds in Switzerland. NIFFF Extended is a free multidisciplinary event that explores what is at stake with the production of genre stories in Switzerland by studying the ramifications of new technologies (Imaging the Future) and contemporary narratives (Storyworlds), and by involving key players in the field (New Worlds of Fantasy). The label also offers, by monitoring international trends, to discuss virtual productions through video game engines (GAME POWERED CINEMA and A NEW ERA FOR THE VFX INDUSTRY?), to focus strongly on the new wave of Swiss games (AHEAD OF THE GAME triptych), and to meet the queen of international horror and gothic literature Joyce Carol Oates, as well as her worthy successor Mariana Enríquez. Finally, festival-goers will be invited to partake in the INTERACTIVE CASTING of a short film, co-produced by the RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse).
IMAGING THE FUTURE – DIGITAL CREATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES (4-5 JULY)
Imaging The Future is a series of talks dedicated to the links between audiovisual production and technological innovation. Since 2004, it highlights the latest advances in digital creation (VFX, gaming). Since the start of the pandemic, more and more filmmakers are using game engines as cheaper, flexible, virtual production tools. But what is a game engine? What potential does it hold, and what aesthetic possibilities does it offer the filmmaking industry? This new horizon, discussed as part of the introductive conference GAME-POWERED CINEMA, will be explored through the recently produced, unmissable MATRIX RESURRECTIONS (Lana Wachowski, 2021).
Three Swiss game design studios will also be showcased: Okomotive (FAR: CHANGING TIDES), Digital Kingdom (SWORDSHIP), and Naraven Games. In addition to the introduction of video games in the new festival space La Villa, these studios’ representatives will talk about their work with big game design players from around the world: Pete Bottomley (founder, White Paper Games, UK), Felix Bohatsch (CEO, Broken Rules, AT), Jordan Layani (creative director, Sloclap, FR), and Théo Caselli (combat designer on SIFU, Sloclap, FR). And to conclude, Pili International, modern custodians of the ancestral tradition of Taiwanese puppetry, will offer the opportunity to discover up close the history of this craft and its integration with new technologies, notably through their latest production.
MONDAY, 04.07
10:00 – 11:15 : GAME-POWERED CINEMA
Speakers :
· Ben Cowell-Thomas, DFX supervisor, DNEG, UK
· Vesselin Efremov, principal creative director, Unity
· Moritz Zumbühl, founder & president of Blindflug Studios, CH
11:45 – 12:45 : A NEW ERA FOR THE VFX INDUSTRY : HOW DNEG UTILISED GAMING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS
In this session Ben Cowell-Thomas, DFX Supervisor at DNEG, will break down The Matrix Resurrections’ dojo fight sequence. He’ll specifically focus on how DNEG utilised Unreal Engine for rendering, why this convergence of technology is so exciting, and the benefits it offers. He’ll also look forward to the near future to discuss the technology innovations that will positively impact the VFX and film industry.
Speaker :
· Ben Cowell-Thomas, DFX supervisor, DNEG, UK
14:00 – 15:00 : THE EVOLUTION OF TAIWANESE PUPPETRY
How did Pili International turn the Taiwanese glove puppetry (budaixi) that originated more than a century ago into one of the most popular television programs in Taiwan as well as movies? Their latest budaixi movie, DEMIGOD: The Legend Begins, tells the story of Su Huan-jen, the greatest hero in the Pili series. The film’s master puppeteer will go over the history of the art form as well as its modern integration of virtual effects technology.
Speaker :
• Lin Kuei-hsieh, senior puppeteer
• Alex Chen, producer
15:45 – 16:45 : LOVE, DEATH & ROBOTS
From breaking arms in outer space to getting lost in the tall grass, we’ll analyze the art direction behind 3 episodes of Love, Death & Robots and unravel how each narrative got its own unique, aesthetic fingerprint. No story is the same and in true form-follows-function-fashion we’ll break down how each style came to be. Travel with us through handpainted backgrounds and characters, all the way to photoreal worlds and designs.
Speaker :
· Bram Sels, art director, Axis Studio, BE
TUESDAY, 05.07
10:30 – 12:30 : AHEAD OF THE GAME : MOTION & EMOTION
Besides the feelings provoked by their magnificent visual and sonic landscapes, Far: Changing Tides and Gibbon have recently stood out for their ability to construct poignant narratives through the unique language of video games. The creators of these two games, great examples of the expressive potential of this art form, will discuss the strategies they deploy to elicit both emotional and reflective responses.
Speakers :
· Felix Bohatsch, CEO, Broken Rules, AT
· Fabio Baumgartner, programmer & sound designer, Okomotive, CH
Moderation: David Javet, narrative designer & co-founder of the GameLab UNIL-EPFL, CH
13:30 – 15:30 : AHEAD OF THE GAME : ENVIRONMENTAL STORYTELLING
Speakers :
· Pete Bottomley, founder, White Paper Games (UK)
· Julia Jean, creative director, Naraven Games, CH
· Lucie Robert, lead designer, Naraven Games, CH
Moderation: David Javet, narrative designer & co-founder of the GameLab UNIL-EPFL, CH
16:00 – 18:00 : AHEAD OF THE GAME : THE ART OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT
Speakers :
· Sandro Dall’Aglio, game designer, Digital Kingdom (CH)
· Benjamin Vurlod, artistic director, Digital Kingdom (CH)
· Théo Caselli, combat designer (Sifu), Sloclap (FR)
· Jordan Layani, creative director (Sifu) and founding member of Sloclap (FR)
Moderation : David Javet, narrative designer & co-founder of the GameLab UNIL-EPFL
STORYWORLDS – AUDIOVISUAL STORYTELLING (6 JULY)
In a time when new technologies are reshaping our perception of reality, Storyworlds examines, since 2014, their impact on the production of fantasy stories, and offers attendees a unique opportunity to discuss and share insights with specialists. Korea will be in the spotlight this year during HOW FEMALE WRITERS ARE SHAPING KOREAN SERIES, as three renowned screenwriters, namely Lee Kyoung-mi (THE TRUTH BENEATH, Lee Kyoung-mi, 2016), Chung Seo-kyung (DECISION TO LEAVE, Park Chan-wook, 2022) et Kim Eun-hee (the KINGDOM TV series, Kim Seong-hun, 2019 – 2021) will talk about their writing process. Furthermore, the NIFFF and the RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse) will join forces for a never-seen-before interactive casting experience. DANS LA PEAU DE SIR THOMAS, an interactive fiction project, will make the audience active participants in the casting process. With the help of an original on-screen mechanism, the audience will be able to partake in directing the actors and actresses and to cast a mysterious character.
WEDNESDAY, 06.07
14:00 – 15:00 : HOW FEMALE WRITERS ARE SHAPING KOREAN SERIES
Speakers :
· Chung Seo-kyung, screenwriter, KR
· Kim Eun-hee, screenwriter, KR
· Lee Kyoung-mi, director & screenwriter, KR
Moderation: Pierce Conran, IR
16:30 – 17:30 : CASTING INTERACTIF: DANS LA PEAU DE SIR THOMAS
18:00 – 18:30 : TECHNOLOGIES VISUALISED
Speakers :
· Jean Gueissaz, concept artist, FR
· Arthur Haefeli, concept artist, CH
· Janos Rais, concept artist, CH
NEW WORLDS OF FANTASY – CONTEMPORARY FANTASY LITERATURE (7 JULY)
New Worlds of Fantasy is a free literary forum for all audiences where a number of important writers of contemporary fantasy literature can speak. In 2022, a gust of new wind is blowing on the forum thanks to the attendance of two leading figures of horror literature. The great genre priestess Joyce Carol Oates (ZOMBIE, THE BARRENS, THE MAN WITHOUT A SHADOW, BLONDE), iguest of honour of the festival, will give a masterclass about her works and her relationship to imagination. Also in attendance will be Argentinian novelist and journalist Mariana Enríquez (OUR SHARE OF NIGHT, THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE), winner of the 2022 Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire, who represents the next generation of gothic authors. Her layered works examine Argentinian society through the lens of the macabre and fascinating fantasy genre. Finally, French author Romain Lucazeau (LATIUM, LA NUIT DU FAUNE), a rising figure of hard science fiction, will cross analyse literature and geopolitics.
THURSDAY, 07.07
13:15 – 14:15 : A CONVERSATION WITH ROMAIN LUCAZEAU
Fans of demanding science fiction will have a chance to listen to one of the most fascinating contemporary French authors, namely Romain Lucazeau, the creator of space opera Latium and more recently of La Nuit du faune. As a disciple of philosophy, the writer imbues his futuristic worlds with rich concepts that offer the reader an intellectually stimulating experience. Exciting discussion on the horizon!
Speakers :
· Romain Lucazeau, author, FR
· Boris Brückler, consultant New Worlds of Fantasy, CH
15:00 – 16:00 : A CONVERSATION WITH MARIANA ENRIQUEZ
For nearly 20 years, Mariana Enriquez has been examining Argentinian society – past and present – through the lens of the macabre and a richly gothic style. Equally chilling in the epic horror genre (Nuestra parte de noche) and the short stories compilation format (the furious Things We Lost in the Fire), the reporter and author has established herself as a (dark) shooting star of contemporary literature.
Speakers :
· Mariana Enríquez, author, AR
· Dolores Phillips-Lopez, chargée de cours et de recherche en littérature hispano-américaine (Universités de Genève et de Lausanne)
17:00 – 18:30 : A CONVERSATION WITH JOYCE CAROL OATES
Multiple-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize throughout a more than 60-year long career, Joyce Carol Oates has made a name for herself with her many incursions in the fantasy genre, more specifically the gothic and the horror genres, which earned her several Bram Stoker awards. The audience will have the opportunity to meet one of the greatest authors of American literature, who will be discussing her relationship with the imaginary.
Speakers :
· Joyce Carol Oates, auteure, US
· Anne Laure Gannac, journaliste RTS, CH