The opening ceremony of Switzerland Film Week is held in Beijing on April 20, 2025.

Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland, Switzerland was invited as the Country of Honor during the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) held from April 18 to 26, a move to promote bilateral cultural exchanges and strengthen innovative cooperation. 

The opening ceremony of the Switzerland Film Week was held in Beijing on April 20, 2025, co-organized by the Organizing Committee of the 15th BJIFF and the Embassy of Switzerland in China. 

Tehani Pestalozzi, counselor of the Culture and Media Section of the Swiss embassy in China said that the film festivals connect audiences with different worlds, and they create spaces for dialogue between artists and the public. “The Chinese audience is very admirable, and we are proud to be part of this cultural exchange,” Pestalozzi said. 

Lin Siwei, deputy secretary of the Organizing Committee of the 15th BJIFF said that the Switzerland Film Week is a key component of Beijing Film Panorama. “It is not only a celebration of the films, but also a vital platform for cultural dialogue. It will surely open new chapters in China-Switzerland collaboration,” he said. 

Vincent Perez, Swiss director and one of the international members of the jury for 15th Tiantan Award (the official competition section of BJIFF), said the performance of the actors, the directors, and all the staff on the Chinese films really impressed him. “After I began watching Chinese movies when I was young, I was very impressed with the great diversity and amazing talents portrayed in the movies. Now, every time I come to China, I think about those great wonderful artists... I have learned much about Chin’s history through watching China movies,” he said. 

The BJIFF has become an important platform for the promotion of China-Switzerland cultural exchanges. Oliver Rihs’s Caged Birds was nominated for the 10th Tiantan Award; Cyril Schäublin’s Unrest won the Best Artistic Contribution and Best Cinematography awards at the 12th Tiantan Award; and Maria Brendle’s Friedas Fall has been shortlisted for this year’s edition. 

The film week opened with The Sparrow in the Chimney. The twin brothers, director Ramon Zürcher and producer Silvan Zürcher, described the event as a valuable platform to share their work and engage with Chinese filmmakers in Beijing. They also had interaction with the audience after the screening. 

Five other Swiss films will be presented during the festival, including recent productions The Courageous, Alpha, and The Landscape and the Fury, and classic works The Salamander and Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000. With varied themes and styles, these films highlight Switzerland’s cinematic diversity, offering audiences a rich and varied selection of storytelling.