by Amy Borrett

THE RECENT Les Rencontres du 7ème Art Lausanne Film Festival First Edition attracted a host of Hollywood celebrities and shone a spotlight on the Crans-Montana ski area in Switzerland.

And there was more good news this week when it was announced the ongoing dispute which had led to the indefinite closure of the ski lifts had been resolved for the time being. Day tickets are now on sale at a vastly reduced price, and Crans-Montana’s slopes will now stay open until 17 April.

More than 7,000 individuals took part in the festival between the 24 and 28 March. It was conceived and created by the Chairman of Le Régent Crans Montana College, Karim Sghaier, and actor and ambassador to the school Vincent Perez.

Pictured with some of the festival visitors are film ‘stars’ and organisers David Bagnoud, Bérengère Primat, Victoria & Tim Pope, Pierangelo Bottinelli, Christopher Walken, Darren Aronofsky, Bérénice Bejo, Barry Levinson, Didier Boutroux, Giorgia Levinson, Felicity Boutroux and Karim Sghaier.

Many ‘stars’ from in front and behind the film cameras attended including  Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Christopher Walken (Deer Hunter), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), Tim Pope (Video clip director for The Cure and David Bowie) and Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam).

The event was aimed at celebrating the history of cinema and featured screenings of classic and cult movies alongside public conversations between renowned directors, actors and industry professionals.

As well as showcasing the works of these directors and actors, the festival paid tribute to the films of the Hollywood New Wave through screenings in six different movie theatres.

The success of the Festival generated extra tourism to the area, but the closure of the ski lifts in Crans-Montana on 3 April caused some concern.

The closures were an unexpected move incited by a dispute between the lift company’s majority shareholder and local councils.

The conflict originated from claims made by the head of the CMA lift company, Philippe Magistretti, that the three local municipalities had not paid the CHF800,000 (£592,000) that had been agreed in September 2017 to help with the management of the ski area.

The dispute was brought to a close after  local minister for the economy, Christophe Darbellay organised a mediation session between the affected parties.

Categories: News, Switzerland