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The Fool or the Holyman

The Fool Or The Holyman
Two siblings set out to unravel the truth behind their father, a man with many faces, Colonel Albert Bachmann — Switzerland’s most controversial Cold War spy. Through three conflicting narratives, they attempt to piece together the life of a man who was seen as a hero, fool and something much darker.
Genre: Documentary
Director: Daire Collins
Writers: Daire Collins & Philippe Grob
Length: 90min
Languages: English, German
Production: Catpics, Ard Mhacha
State: In financing
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OMBRA DEL MOVIMENTO

Ombra del Movimento
The approaching end of a Sicilian prima ballerina's career becomes an emotional journey of self-discovery. After leaving home at the age of twelve and gracing the greatest stages across Europe, she now sets out to find a new purpose and reconnect with her roots. A dance documentary about identity and belonging.
Genre: Dance Documentary
Director: Chris Santiago
Writers: Chris Santiago & Philippe Grob
Length: 90min
Languages: Italian, German, English
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
State: In development
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And the living is

And The Living Is
While JOAN, a recovering alcoholic, tries to improve her relationships with her daughters, schizophrenia slowly takes control of her life. The younger daughter, ENYA, keeps her distance, while the older daughter, LOLA, does everything she can to save her mother and help her regain control of her life.
Amid constantly shifting crises, the three women are repeatedly faced with the question of whether and how they can reconnect, and what it will cost them.
Three perspectives reveal the struggle of a mother and her two daughters as they contend with the unpredictable, the irrational, and their individual journeys toward acceptance.
Genre: Drama
Writer & Director: Chanelle Eidenbenz
Length: 90min
Languages: German
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
State: In development
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L’ESTIVAGE

L'Estivage
A lone wolf roams the majestic mountains in search of a new home. Something attracts his attention: the alp, a place that reflects the duality between humans and nature. Here, people live with their livestock and preserve old traditions. This apparent harmony and coexistence with the mountains is challenged anew by the return of the wolf. L'ESTIVAGE is a philosophical documentary about people from the perspective of the wolf. It explores the question of how humans interact with the environment. Do they see themselves as a dominant force, or once again as part of a complex system?
Genre: Documentary
Length: 90min
Languages: German
Writers: Tobias Luchsinger & Philippe Grob
Director: Tobias Luchsinger
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
State: In development
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Stock Man

Stock Man
In a hyper-corporatised dystopian future, an AI assistant discovers his unable to perform his function after he is transported from the computer into the real world. He embarks on an emotional journey in search of his purpose as a human being, becoming a social outcast in the process.
Genre: Sci-fi black comedy
Writer & Director: Nic fforde
Length: 90 min
Languages: English
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
State: In development
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CHAGRIN VALLEY

Chagrin Valley
In a warehouse on the outskirts of Cleveland, residents with dementia of an elderly home live in the crystalized past of 1950s America, an artificial indoor village. The home’s residents and their caregivers share in their struggle and dream of a better future. Chagrin Valley reveals the collective fictions that make up the facade of modern-America, as well as our neglect towards those most in need of care – whether you have dementia or not.
Genre: Documentary
Length: 62min
Languages: English
Writers & Director: Nathalie Berger
Production: Zurich University of the Arts
Festivals: Nyon, 29e Visions du Réel; Munich, 38. DOK.fest München; Solothurn, 59. Solothurner Filmtage
Awards: Swiss Film Award, Best Graduation Film 2024; Nyon, Visions du Réel, Prix de la Compétition Nationale 2023
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THE DRIVEN ONES

The Driven Ones
Over the course of seven years, THE DRIVEN ONES follows tomorrow’s business elite: from their studies at the University of St. Gallen in the best master‘s program in the worldwide through to the early stages of their careers.
Genre: Long-term documentary
Length: 92min
Languages: German, English, French, Mandarin
Writer & Director: Piet Baumgartner
Production: Catpics
Festivals: Amsterdam, 36th IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.
Awards: Swiss Film Award, Best Documentary 2024 (Nomination)
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POSTERBOY

posterboy
Julia, a director of an NGO is looking for a new face for the company's campaign. In the process, she is tempted to abuse her position of power. A reflection of contemporary authority in a postcolonial context.
Genre: Fiction
Length: 15 min
Languages: English, German
Writers & Director: Urša Kastelic
Production: Zurich University of the Arts
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LEGAL GUILT

Legal Guilt
LEGAL GUILT is a documentary series about young female defense attorneys. They defend people who get into trouble with the law and face a front of antagonists. Nevertheless, the young female defense attorneys fight unrestingly like David against Goliath; for the law, for their clients and for their careers in a male-dominated world.
Genre: Documentary Series
Length: 4 x 50min
Languages: German
Writers: Lisa Gerig, Philippe Grob, Felix Hergert, Dario Schoch
Directors: Lisa Gerig, Felix Hergert
Production: Catpics
close

THE FOOL OR THE HOLYMAN

The Fool Or The Holyman
Two siblings set out to unravel the truth behind their father, a man with many faces, Colonel Albert Bachmann — Switzerland’s most controversial Cold War spy. Through three conflicting narratives, they attempt to piece together the life of a man who was seen as a hero, fool and something much darker.
Genre: Documentary
Director: Daire Collins
Writers: Daire Collins & Philippe Grob
Length: 90min
Languages: English, German
Production: Catpics, Ard Mhacha
State: In financing
close

And the living is

And The Living Is
While JOAN, a recovering alcoholic, tries to improve her relationships with her daughters, schizophrenia slowly takes control of her life. The younger daughter, ENYA, keeps her distance, while the older daughter, LOLA, does everything she can to save her mother and help her regain control of her life.
Amid constantly shifting crises, the three women are repeatedly faced with the question of whether and how they can reconnect, and what it will cost them.
Three perspectives reveal the struggle of a mother and her two daughters as they contend with the unpredictable, the irrational, and their individual journeys toward acceptance.
Genre: Drama
Writer & Director: Chanelle Eidenbenz
Length: 90min
Languages: German
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
State: In development
close

OMBRA DEL MOVIMENTO

Ombra del Movimento
The approaching end of a Sicilian prima ballerina's career becomes an emotional journey of self-discovery. After leaving home at the age of twelve and gracing the greatest stages across Europe, she now sets out to find a new purpose and reconnect with her roots. A dance documentary about identity and belonging.
Genre: Dance Documentary
Director: Chris Santiago
Writers: Chris Santiago & Philippe Grob
Length: 90min
Languages: Italian, German, English
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
State: In development
close

CHAGRIN VALLEY

Chagrin Valley
In a warehouse on the outskirts of Cleveland, residents with dementia of an elderly home live in the crystalized past of 1950s America, an artificial indoor village. The home’s residents and their caregivers share in their struggle and dream of a better future. Chagrin Valley reveals the collective fictions that make up the facade of modern-America, as well as our neglect towards those most in need of care – whether you have dementia or not.
Genre: Documentary
Length: 62min
Languages: English
Writers & Director: Nathalie Berger
Production: Zurich University of the Arts
Festivals: Nyon, 29e Visions du Réel; Munich, 38. DOK.fest München; Solothurn, 59. Solothurner Filmtage
Awards: Swiss Film Award, Best Graduation Film 2024; Nyon, Visions du Réel, Prix de la Compétition Nationale 2023  
close

Stock Man

Stock Man
In a hyper-corporatised dystopian future, an AI assistant discovers his unable to perform his function after he is transported from the computer into the real world. He embarks on an emotional journey in search of his purpose as a human being, becoming a social outcast in the process.
Genre: Sci-fi black comedy
Writer & Director: Nic fforde
Length: 90 min
Languages: English
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
State: In development
close

THE DRIVEN ONES

The Driven Ones
Over the course of seven years, THE DRIVEN ONES follows tomorrow’s business elite: from their studies at the University of St. Gallen in the best master‘s program in the worldwide through to the early stages of their careers.
Genre: Long-term documentary
Length: 92min
Languages: German, English, French, Mandarin
Writers & Director: Piet Baumgartner
Production: Catpics
Festivals: Amsterdam, 36th IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.
Awards: Swiss Film Award, Best Documentary 2024 (Nomination)
close

L'Estivage

Herdenschutz
With a whistle and night-vision goggles, two community service workers from the city are assigned to protect the sheep herd from wolves. Who owns the wilderness, the wolf or us humans?
Genre: Documentary
Length: 90min
Languages: German
Writer: Tobias Luchsinger
Director: Tobias Luchsinger
Production: The Friend Film Atelier
close

POSTERBOY

posterboy
Julia, a director of an NGO is looking for a new face for the company's campaign. In the process, she is tempted to abuse her position of power. A reflection of contemporary authority in a postcolonial context.
Genre: Fiction
Length: 15 min
Languages: English, German
Writers & Director: Urša Kastelic
Production: Zurich University of the Arts
close

LEGAL GUILT

Legal Guilt
LEGAL GUILT is a documentary series about young female defense attorneys. They defend people who get into trouble with the law and face a front of antagonists. Nevertheless, the young female defense attorneys fight unrestingly like David against Goliath; for the law, for their clients and for their careers in a male-dominated world.
Genre: Documentary Series
Length: 4 x 50min
Languages: German
Writers: Lisa Gerig, Philippe Grob, Felix Hergert, Dario Schoch
Directors: Lisa Gerig, Felix Hergert
Production: Catpics

The Friend
Film Atelier

Say hello!

documentary & fiction

development   *   production   *   consulting

documentary & fiction

development  *  production  *  consulting

THE FOOL OR THE HOLYMAN

by Daire Collins

in development

Ombra del Movimento

by Chris Santiago

in development

And the living is

by Chanelle Eidenbenz

in development

STOCK MAN

by Nic fforde
‍

in development
‍

L’ESTIVAGE

by Tobias Luchsinger

in development

CHAGRIN VALLEY

by Nathalie Berger

in distribution

LEGAL GUILT

by Lisa Gerig & Felix Hergert

in development

THE DRIVEN ONES

by Piet Baumgartner

in distribution

POSTERBOY

by Urša Kastelic

in distribution

THE FOOL OR THE HOLYMAN

by Daire Collins

in development

And the living is

by Chanelle Eidenbenz

in development

Ombra del Movimento

by Chris Santiago

in development

CHAGRIN VALLEY

by Nathalie Berger

in distribution

STOCK MAN

by Nic fforde
‍

in development
‍

THE DRIVEN ONES

by Piet Baumgartner

in distribution

L’ESTIVAGE

by Tobias Luchsinger

in development

POSTERBOY

by Urša Kastelic

in distribution

LEGAL GUILT

by Lisa Gerig & Felix Hergert

in development

About

Welcome to The Friend Film Atelier. We are an independent film production company based in Zurich, Switzerland. Led by producer and writer Philippe Grob, we craft compelling arthouse movies that captivate audiences worldwide. 

At The Friend, we embrace a creative and unique approach, driven by our love for bringing untold stories to life. We specialize in blending documentary and fictional narratives, without underestimating the importance of authenticity. With a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, we aim to make a positive impact on both our industry and the world at large. A friendly and collaborative atmosphere is at the heart of everything we do as we work closely with a diverse community of creatives. 

Get in touch with us and join our cinematic journey, where we not only function as colleagues but as friends, united by our shared passion for creating exceptional cinema. Together, let's explore the endless possibilities of storytelling and shape the future of film.

The Friend
Film Atelier

hello[at]thefriend.ch +41 78 824 44 05

Say hello!

Wehntalerstrasse 52
8057 Zurich, Switzerland

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