Sabine Gisiger was born in Zurich in 1959, studied history in Zurich and Pisa, and completed her studies in 1988 with a dissertation on the history of maids. In 1989, she trained as a television journalist at Swiss Television and then worked for many years as a reporter in Switzerland and abroad. Since 1990, Sabine Gisiger has been making documentary films as a freelance filmmaker. In 2000, her documentary DO IT, which she shot together with Marcel Zwingli, caused an international sensation and received the Swiss Film Award for Best Documentary in 2001. She enjoyed further international success with the feature films GAMBIT, GURU – Bhagwan, his Secretary and his Bodyguard, and YALOM’S CURE, all of which were nominated for the Swiss Film Award. Her film “DÜRRENMATT – eine Liebesgeschichte” (Dürrenmatt – a love story) has attracted great interest in cinemas and on European television stations. WILLKOMMEN IN DER SCHWEIZ sparked political debate in Switzerland. In THE MIES VAN DER ROHES – A FEMALE FAMILY SAGA, she turned her attention to women in modern times, and in JELMOLI – BIOGRAFIE EINES WARENHAUSES, she explored the history of our consumption.

Sabine Gisiger’s debut work will be shown on the opening night as part of our festival motto. The director will also take part in a masterclass.