Visions du Réel’s new Administrative and Operational Director is Mélanie Courvoisier. She will assume her duties on 1 November. Sven Wälti, Head of Film at SSR SRG, joins the Foundation Board on 26 September.
The Visions du Réel Foundation Board has appointed Mélanie Courvoisier to take over as the Festival’s Administrative and Operational Director following Martine Chalverat’s departure.
With a BA in Political Science from the University of Lausanne, Mélanie Courvoisier has worked in film production (Elefant Films), independent cinema programming (Zinema, Minimum, CDD, Cinéma d’Oron), documentary film broadcasting (Association Ciné-Doc) and documentary and fiction distribution (Sister Distribution). She is on the short film selection committee for the Solothurn Film Festival. Besides her film-related activities, she has co-directed a charity that works in the fields of socio-professional integration and training for recognised refugees (Association 1951).
She will assume her duties on 1 November 2022; both the Board and its Artistic Director are delighted about this future collaboration.
Alongside this appointment, the Board will also welcome a new member, Sven Wälti, Head of Film at SSR SRG. The direct connection with this essential media partner is particularly valuable to Visions du Réel, and Sven Wälti will enrich the Board’s spectrum of skills.
Sven Wälti was born and grew up in Fribourg. He studied law, cultural management and political communication. He has been working in the Swiss film industry for more than 20 years. Following appointments at SUISSIMAGE and Cinésuisse, he took on the role of Head of Film at SSR SRG in 2012. He coordinates the “Audio-visual Pact”, the contract between the SSR and independent productions to support Swiss film creation (CHF 32.5 million per year). He also represents SSR at the ARTE channel in Strasbourg in his capacity as a member of Programme Committee.
The Board would like to express its gratitude to the departing Administrative Director Martine Chalverat for her work, her unfailing commitment, and for having successfully co-directed the Festival over the past few years.