Corina Schwingruber Ilic is a Swiss documentary filmmaker and director whose work focuses on human rights issues. She has worked on numerous projects in countries such as the United States, Mexico, India, El Salvador, and Chile.
Ilic was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1965. She studied film at the University of Zurich and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Film and Video in 1989. After finishing her studies, she began working as a freelance filmmaker for various television stations, including the Swiss public broadcaster SRG and ARTE.
Ilic’s work has been internationally acclaimed, earning her numerous awards. Her debut feature documentary, The Silence of Others, won the Sundance World Documentary Grand Jury Prize in 2019. The film follows three survivors of the Spanish Civil War who embark on a quest to seek justice for their families who were persecuted and silenced during Franco’s dictatorship.
Ilic’s second feature documentary, I Am Not Your Negro, also explores the issue of racism in the United States. The film follows the life and work of James Baldwin, the renowned African American writer, and examines the struggles of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
Ilic is also the director of the documentary series Planet Girls, which follows the lives of four young women living in different parts of the world. Through their stories, Ilic hopes to bring attention to the issues of gender inequality and female empowerment.
In addition to her filmmaking career, Ilic has also worked as a lecturer at the University of Zurich and the University of Arts and Design in Lausanne. She is currently based in Zurich.
Ilic is a passionate advocate of human rights, and her work has been praised for its insight and sensitivity. Through her films and lectures, she strives to raise awareness of social issues and to inspire positive change.
