Thematic showcases will highlight today’s hottest Swiss film and animation exports. God You’re So Square, curated by Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, breaks down the conventional image of the Swiss psyche (efficient, boring, predictable) by exploring dysfunctional males who are struggling to find their place in society. The selection includes The Living Also Cry by rising star Basil da Cunha, who recently presented his first feature at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.

The gala event of the Focus invites Franz Treichler, founder of legendary Swiss band The Young Gods, to perform a specially designed soundtrack for an overview of experimental films of the 20th century. Based on the instigators of the Dada Movement (Hans Richter, Man Ray), its self-proclaimed heirs of the 1960s and more recent experimental films, this will be the UK premiere performance of ‘Franz Treichler Plays Dada’. Treichler, who is also confirmed for the Brief Encounters International Jury, draws on rich experimentation from the music he has created over 20 years for cinema.