A World Premiere to Remember

The world premiere of Taming the Beast was never meant to be just another film screening.
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It became a celebration of strength, resilience, and community—bringing together athletes, filmmakers, business leaders, celebrities, and supporters from Switzerland and beyond for an unforgettable evening in Basel.

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A Night That United the Strength Community

As presenting partners of the premiere, IFBB Switzerland, the Swiss Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (SBFV), and Mr. Universe Switzerland helped turn the event into a true gathering of the strength sports community.

Elite bodybuilders, powerlifters, fitness professionals, and former champions travelled from across Switzerland to attend the premiere. Many of them later shared that the film exceeded every expectation—not because of Eddie Hall's achievements, but because of its deeply human message.

The partnership doesn't end with the premiere.
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We're excited to announce that Taming the Beast will also be part of Mr. Universe Switzerland 2026, taking place on September 4, 2026, where audiences from the bodybuilding and fitness world will once again have the opportunity to experience the film.

​More Than a Premiere—A Cultural Event

What surprised us most was how diverse the audience became.

While many guests came from the world of strength sports, the premiere also attracted personalities from entertainment, fashion, film, business, and public life across Switzerland and Germany.

Among the guests was Swiss entertainer DJ Alan, internationally known for his spot-on portrayal of "Alan" from The Hangover. He had just returned from a performance engagement in Las Vegas to be part of the premiere.

Also joining the celebration were last year's Bachelorette, the current Mrs. Fashion Week Basel, internationally recognised actors from Germany—some arriving with their security teams—as well as representatives from the Swiss Federal Film Commission and the former Ambassador and Consul General of Switzerland to Canada, a famous blues singer with his competition winning dancer, or the British lead singer of Magma Ocean.

The evening showed something we had hoped for from the beginning: Eddie Hall's story reaches far beyond the world of sport.
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His journey resonates with people from every walk of life.

​Ending the Night the Swiss Way

Following the screening and the audience Q&A with Eddie Hall, the celebration continued at the official after-party.

There was laughter, countless conversations about the film, new friendships—and, naturally, plenty of Jägermeister shots.

During the live Q&A, Lead Executive Producer Guido Baechler closed the evening with a promise to Eddie:
"We're about to drink a lot of Jägermeister tonight... and every single shot is one you'll have to catch up on the next time you visit Switzerland."
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The audience erupted with laughter, making it the perfect ending to an unforgettable premiere.

​The Premiere Almost Never Happened

Looking back now, it's hard to believe how close we came to losing the premiere altogether.

Just two weeks before the scheduled event, the original venue in Zurich—part of Switzerland's third-largest cinema chain—unexpectedly cancelled the premiere.

The disagreement centred around beverage and catering sponsorships, a decision that surprised not only us, but even the professional catering company we had already contracted for the evening.

After nine years of making Taming the Beast, however, another obstacle simply felt like another chapter in the story.

The film itself survived years of uncertainty, financial challenges, production delays, a global pandemic, and countless moments when walking away would have been the easier option.

Compared to everything we'd already overcome, this was simply another hurdle.

One phone call changed everything.

Oliver Martinez, operator of the historic Küchlin Varieté Theater in Basel, immediately believed in the project and opened the doors to one of Switzerland's most beautiful and unique venues.

In hindsight, the last-minute change couldn't have worked out better.
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The atmosphere, the historic theatre, the audience, and the emotion of the evening combined to create something truly special—perhaps even more memorable than we had originally imagined.
Sometimes the greatest setbacks simply redirect you to where you were meant to be all along.

​Would I do all of this again?

Without hesitation—yes, I would.

Because Taming the Beast was never just about making a documentary. It became a journey of resilience, belief, friendship, and purpose. Every setback, every sleepless night, every doubt, and every obstacle made that evening in Basel even more meaningful.

Seeing the audience laugh, cry, reflect, and leave the cinema inspired reminded us why we started this journey nine years earlier.

Some stories are simply worth fighting for. Taming the Beast is one of them.

Guido Baechler, Lead Executive Producer, Producer, Line Producer