Matthias Lerf, born in 1959, was cultural journalist for the ‘SonntagsZeitung’ and the ‘Tages-Anzeiger’ in Zurich for 25 years. He studied ethnology, philosophy and journalism and was a film and media critic for the ‘Berner Tagwacht’, the “Bund” and the ‘Berner Zeitung’. He hosted his own film programme on Radio Förderband. Winner of the Prix Pathé for outstanding film criticism and ‘Cultural Journalist of the Year 2008’. Since February 2023, he has been working independently as a writer, presenter of cinema events and consultant for film festivals. He has been President of the Bern Orienteering Group since 2016. Matthias Lerf is married, has two grown-up children and lives in Bern.