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24. September 2022
NEWS
My "First Feature"
After more than a year and a half of preparation, it's official: BECOMING ASTRONAUT, my first feature-length documentary, follows the new astronauts of the European Space Agency over several years of their demanding basic training. You can find the VARIETY article here.
Produced by Franziska Sonder of Ensemble Film and set to be directed by Roman Hodel, who made a splash with his 2020 short documentary “The Game,” “Becoming an Astronaut” will follow the astronauts, chosen by ESA after an exhaustive selection processes that included more than 22,500 applicants, over a four-year “nerve-wracking odyssey” to see who will be first to travel to space. Ensemble Film has gained unprecedented access to ESA for the project.

18. Februar, 2022
NEWS
THANK YOU !!!
THE GAME is certainly no longer the youngest film in the night sky. Time to look back one last time and say THANK YOU!
A few years ago I kept asking myself: Do you really want to make a film about football? Are you sure? These doubts resulted in this film and I am very grateful for all that I have been able to experience since then.
This film has been screened at over 100 festivals around the world, a number I never expected. Unfortunately, I can't help but mention that this experience has been marred time and again by the pandemic.
However, the film would not have become what it is today without the trust of the protagonists and the incredible dedication of the crew.
THANK YOU Fedayi San!
THANK YOU TEAM:
Lukas Gut, Franziska Sonder, Rolf HellatOscar Parcival van Hoogevest, Ramón Königshausen, Lena Mäder, Salome Wüllner, Justin Stoneham, Eva Meyer
AND THE GREAT SUPPORT OF:
Square Eyes, Wouter Jansen, Ouat Media, SWISS FILMS
My next project takes me into space with ESA - European Space Agency. STAY TUNED XX Roman
1. Dezember, 2021
BACKGROUND
Z.DOK - A Case Study by Oscar Van Hoogevest and Roman Hodel
Oscar (sound design) and I were invited by the Zurich University of the Arts to talk about our work. You can find the talk here.
The award-winning short film THE GAME (DAS SPIEL) offers a detailed exploration of the sonic layers of a football stadium. The camera seems to be anchored in the ground, maintaining a distance from both protagonist and crowd. Whereas the sound transports us directly into the thick of the action.
Oscar van Hoogevest, sound designer and location sound mixer, and Roman Hodel, director, talk about their experiences gained in the working process and show in several examples how the acoustic perspectives were constructed. Of particular importance is the referee, who is at the centre of the film and to whom we get unusually close through the construction of these carefully nuanced aural surrounds.
1. Juli, 2021
NEWS
Update
Festival and Award news!

20. Mai, 2021
NEWS
The New Yorker
DAS SPIEL is now officially part of THE NEW YORKER DOCUMENTARY line up! Finde the Article here.
5. Mai 2021
KINO
Football Inside & Das Spiel CH-Kinos Start
Unser Film läuft im Vorprogramm von Football inside. Kino in der nähe findest du hier.

2. Februar, 2021

NOMINATION
Academy Awards and Swiss Film Award
The year 2021 gets off to an exciting start! "THE GAME" is on the longlist for the Academy Awards and nominated for the Swiss Film Award!
13. Dezember, 2020
AWARD
Cairo Film Festival - Special Jury Award
I was in Cairo at the CIFF. My first festival since the premiere with a physical participation.
9. November, 2020


8. November, 2020
AWARD
Special Mention and two Awards
On Sunday "DAS SPIEL" received a Special Mention at the
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur as well as a award for the "Best Short Documentary" at the Sulmona International Film Festival and a special award for "Best Editing", also at the Sulmona Filmfestival.
Congratulations to our editor Rolf Hellat - well deserved!



14. Oktober, 2020
FESTIVAL
Dutch and Swiss Premier
Two wonderful festivals await us in November: IDFA and Kurzfilmtage Winterthur!



11. Oktober, 2020
AWARD
HIFF - Best Documentary Short
"The Game" won its first prize @ the Hamptons International Film Festival for best short documentary!!!


5. Oktober, 2020
LAB
Zurich Film Festival
I was part of this year's "Academy" at the
ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL. It's been five wonderful, inspiring days with this talented group of filmmakers!

4. Oktober, 2020
FESTIVAL AGENCY
Square Eyes
DAS SPIEL is now part of the SQUARE EYES portfolio, "an agency which helps outstanding non-mainstream films to find the audience and recognition they deserve."

18. September, 2020


11. September, 2020
PRESSE
Luzerner Zeitung: "Luzerner Filmer brilliert in Venedig"
«Durch Anonymität werden die Leute oft ja auch angreifbar – das ist nicht nur beim Schiedsrichter so.» Der Blick aber verändert sich, wenn man mehr über die Person erfährt, die auch ihre Ängste und Zweifel hat – und einen Vater, der beim Spiel mit im Stadion sitzt.
11. September, 2020
PRESSE
Ubiquarian Review
The concept in the film’s centre is rock-solid, while the technical work, such as Lukas Gut’s cinematography, Oscar van Hoogevest’s sound design and especially the editing by Hodel himself and Rolf Hellat, effectively creates the tension of the football match. It is some Champions League finals level of work.
10. September, 2020
FESTIVAL
The Game Premiere in Venedig!
1. September 2020
PRESS
Tagesanzeiger: "Der Schweizer unter den Weltstars"
Adrenalin auf dem Fussballfeld: Der 30-jährige Regisseur Roman Hodel ist mit «Das Spiel» an die Top-Festivals in Venedig und Toronto eingeladen worden.
Link / PDF

PRESS
SRF-Radio: "Wenn der Schiri für einmal die Hauptrolle spielt"
Roman Hodel ist kein Fussballfan. Trotzdem wollte der Filmer wissen, wie ein Fussballschiedsrichter ein Spiel erlebt.
Link
PRESS
PILATUSTODAY: Luzerner Filmemacher: «Für den Schiedsrichter interessiert sich niemand»
- Als ich Fedayi kennenlernte, war auf Anhieb klar, dass ich diesen Film unbedingt machen möchtet.
Link
25. August, 2020
FESTIVAL
The Game @ Toronto International Film Festival!
We are happy about this festival dream start. After Venice, "The Game" is part of TIFF's "Short Cuts" program.
"A welcome tonic for these sports-deprived times, Roman Hodel’s incredibly dynamic and wryly humorous documentary presents a high-tension soccer match from the perspective of an ever-vigilant referee." - TIFF


6. August, 2020
Announcement: "DAS SPIEL" is now working together with the wonderful Canadian sales and distribution company OUATMEDIA!

28. Juli, 2020
FESTIVAL
World Premier 2020 in Venezia:
"DAS SPIEL" will celebrate its Premiere at the 77th Venice International Film Festival 2020! YES!
See the full program here.



25. Juli, 2020
Trailer by PANDEMIE from Brussels. THX! https://www.pandemietrailer.com
11. Februar, 2020
Picture Lock - Color Grading - Sound Design


20. Oktober, 2019
Drehende
Letzter Drehtag in Genf mit Ishak San, Fedayi San & Salih San.


14. August, 2019
Grosser Drehtag 3/3
16 Crewmitglieder, 8 Kameras, über 25 Mikrophone, ein Schiedsrichter.

17. Mai, 2019
Cannes 2019: We were selected to pitch "The Game" at the "Focus Work in Progress" in Cannes! This footage and Music were never used in the final Film:




7. April, 2019
Grosser Drehtag 2/3
4. November, 2018
Grosser Drehtag 1/3
26. März, 2018
Wie alles anfing und ein Audioausschnitt aus der Recherche...

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