Piaffe: A Striking Debut at Locarno Film Festival

Piaffe, the 2022 German fantasy drama directed by Ann Oren and starring Simone Bucio & Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau, made a striking debut at the 75th Locarno Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 11 August 2022. 

Competing in the International Competition for the Golden Leopard, the film captivated audiences and juries alike with its unique blend of fantasy and drama, ultimately earning the prestigious First Prize Award from the Junior Jury. 

This recognition at Locarno marked an auspicious start for Oren’s feature directorial debut.

Synopsis

When her sibling Zara suffers a nervous breakdown, the introvert Eva is forced to take on Zara’s job as a Foley artist. She struggles to create sounds for a commercial featuring a horse, and then a horsetail starts growing out of her body. Empowered by her tail, she lures a botanist into an affair, through a game of submission. Piaffe is a visceral journey into control, gender, and artifice.

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Director: Ann Oren | Producers: Kristof Gerega, Sophie Ahrens, Fabian Altenried | Cast: Simone Bucio, Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau, Sebastian Rudolph, Bjørn Melhus, Lea Draeger, Josef Ostendorf | Writers: Ann Oren & Thais Guisasola | Director of Photography: Carlos Vasquez | Editors: Ann Oren & Haim Tabakman | Editing Consultant: Benjamin Mirguet | Sound Concept & Mix: Robert Hefter | Sound Design: Danilo Okulov | Production Design: Ilaria Di Carlo | Costume Design: Anna Philippa Müller | Hair & VFX: Sada Leigh Sherrin | Music: Daniela Lunelli aka Munsha, äbvsd, VTSS | Production: Schuldenberg Films | International Sales: Rediance | Funded by: BKM (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien) | With the support of: We Fade To Grey

Jaikiriuma Pateau Simon(e), actor, Piaffe by Ann Oren on Red Carpet at the 75 Locarno Film Festival, Locarno, Friday 12 August 2022 © Locarno Film Festival / Ti-Press / Massimo Pedrazzini
More information at: Ann Orren Piaffe