Swiss nominated for Oscar
For the first time ever, a Swiss documentary has been nominated for an Oscar, with film-maker Christian Frei hoping to land one of the coveted golden prizes.
Frei’s “War Photography” has been recognised in the category of best long documentary and is up against four other films: “Children Underground”, “Lallee’s Kin: The Legacy of Cotton”, “Murder on a Sunday Morning” and “Promises”.
“War Photography” is Frei’s fifth documentary, which was screened at last year’s Amsterdam festival and most recently at the Solothurn Film Festival.
It explores the work of American war photographer, James Nachtwey.
Frei, who hails from the central Swiss town of Solothurn, currently lives and works in Zurich.
Some 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences are set to select the winners behind closed doors. The winners will be presented with their prizes on Oscar night, scheduled for March 24.
It is more than a decade since a Swiss brought home one of the golden statuettes. If Frei wins, he will succeed Xavier Koller, who won for his film, “Voyage vers l’espoir” in 1991.
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