Thrilled to announce that VAGABOND, a superb thriller by Swiss filmmaker Philippe Woodtli, has been selected to compete at the 20th edition of the Manhattan Film Festival, New York.
The 20th edition of the Manhattan Film Festival will take place from 11 to 21 June 2026 at the Cinema Village! Every year, for 10 days, it’s a celebration of true independent cinema.
VAGABOND had its world premiere at the first edition of HollyShorts Dubai and has since been screened at film festivals around the world.
VAGABOND is a project by Raphael Hug for the Swiss production company WOOP, featuring top-tier artists and professionals such as Harold Torres, Carlos Leal, Vincent Flückiger, Sandra Zellweger, Elias Gallegos, Stefen Jung, Ingo Ospelt, Ariane Pochon and Lee Staples.
Nino Michel does an outstanding job as director of photography.
What I wanted to tell with this story comes from my fascination with gambling schemes, cons, and the art of misdirection. I’ve always been drawn to the idea that someone can spend years mastering a skill, not to win fairly, but to outsmart the system and take money from a mark with precision. That world has always captivated me, and it’s the kind of story I love watching. With Vagabond, I wanted to show how I would approach a con like this. Not just how to pull it off, but why the con itself is often the easy part. It’s the getaway that really decides everything.
I’m drawn to the gangster world because in that space, only one thing truly matters: trust. Who is really on your side, and who isn’t. The same is true for a card mechanic’s team at the poker table. You need total preparation. You need to know every angle. And most importantly, you need the right partner. If you don’t, things go bad fast.
That’s what I wanted to explore. The precision, the pressure, and the betrayal behind the illusion.
- Philippe Woodtli
Don’t miss this screening in New York, and keep an eye out for more hits.
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