Every day we experience how physical and ideological borders are rapidly expanding and how dialog and understanding are falling by the wayside. On 4 April we are hosting a panel discussion on this development at the Debattierhaus Karl der Grosse in Zurich:

Borders, walls and the polyphony of thought

Using film clips from the documentary The Song of Others, guests from the worlds of culture and peace-work will reflect on and debate the current polarization of thought and its impact on public discourse. In addition, they will also discuss the fundamental idea of a polyphonic Europe and encouraging examples of understanding.

On the panel:

 • Alida Bremer, author of «Tesla oder die Vollendung der Kreise» and «Olivas Garten», literary scholar and translator. Current scholarship holder of the Landis & Gyr Stiftung, Zug

 • Vadim Jendreyko, director and producer, from whose current film «The Song of Others» excerpts will be shown

 • Claudia Josi, lawyer for international law, program director of the swisspeace program «Dealing with the Past»

The discussion will be moderated by Sacha Batthyany, author of the book «Und was hat das mit mir zu tun?» and journalist, among others for the NZZ am Sonntag magazine.

The event is being held in cooperation with the Anny Klawa-Morf Foundation.

Date: April 4, 2025

Time: 19:00 - 20:30 (doors open: 18:30)

Location: Saal of the Debattierhaus Karl der Grosse, Kirchgasse 14, 8001 Zürich

Tickets: CHF 15.00 / reduced CHF 10.00 -> reservation hier

The documentary The Song of Others will be shown on April 13 at 10:30 am in the Riffraff 1 cinema, followed by a discussion with the director Vadim Jendreyko.

As part of the Antigel festival in Geneva, Argentinian director Lola Arias is presenting the theatre piece Los días afuera, a sequel to her award-winning film REAS. The musical documentary, which tells the stories of women and transgender people in prison in Buenos Aires, will be shown in selected cinemas from 24 February to mid-March:

• Geneva, Les Cinémas du Grütli
• Lausanne, Bellevaux
• Fribourg, Korso
• Neuchâtel, Minimum
• La Chaux-de-Fonds, ABC
• Vevey, Rex
• Martigny, Corso
• Orbe, Urba
• St. Imier, Espace Noir

The theatre piece LOS DIAS AFUERA is a documentary musical performed by the protagonists of REAS. These people spent years in Argentinian prisons and are now free. Since the moment of their release, their biographies have been thwarted by unforeseen events - they work as taxi drivers, play in a rock band, sing cumbia, earn their living with sex work and organise demonstrations for the visibility of trans* people. The play, which is a kind of re-enactment of the past, offers an intense look at the themes of freedom and self-determination.

After a successful premiere in German-speaking Switzerland at the 60th Solothurn Film Festival, the documentary THE SONG OF OTHERS by Vadim Jendreyko will start with a special screening tour in the presence of the director on 31 January 2025 in Basel!

"At a time when history and all its nightmares are in danger of repeating themselves in Europe, I went in search of people whose thoughts and actions are a source of hope. After several years, the result is a film that follows the often dark traces of the past across Europe and repeatedly encounters rays of hope in the present. There are surprising, touching encounters with people whose actions open up new perspectives: a conductor or an old general in Sarajevo, a bird researcher in Poland, a geologist in Greece, a writer or a fisherman. In the film, they form a polyphonic chorus proclaiming tolerance and confidence in a common future." – Vadim Jendreyko

PREMIERES with the director:

31.01.25, 20h15, Stadtkino, Basel - with protagonist Daan Verfaillie

02.02.25, 11h00, Riffraff, Zurich - with protagonist Alma Ganz

03.02.25, 18h00, Stattkino, Lucerne

04.02.25, 19h45, Rex, Bern

06.02.25, 20h30, Stadtkino, Basel - with protagonists Luigi Rotolo und Guy Spenle

16.02.25, 11h00, Cameo, Winterthur

05.03.25, in the evening, Fribourg - Special screening with panel discussion in cooperation with the Centre for European Studies of the University of Fribourg.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS:

01.02.25, 14h00, Riffraff, Zurich

Following a 35-minute film excerpt, protagonist Daan Verfaillie, Zurich City Council member Marcel Tobler, and Vadim Jendreyko will discuss the culture of remembrance and the legacies of history. In collaboration with the Anny Klawa-Morf Foundation and the European Movement Switzerland.

13.02.25, 19h00, Literaturhaus Basel, Event: «In Search of Europe»

Based on film excerpts, a moderated discussion will explore contemporary Europe, historical amnesia, and the role of patriarchal structures. Featuring author Sacha Battyany (author), Claudia Josi (Swiss Peace), and Vadim Jendreyko – Moderated by Katrin Eckert.

See you soon at the cinema!

It has been a busy year for us, with many exciting projects completed. You can see the results at this year's 60th Solothurn Film Festival.  

World premiere: OUR MONEY by Hercli Bundi scrutinises: Do we serve money or does it serve us? People created it themselves, but it only works because they believe in it. Over the centuries, our financial system has become so complex that even those familiar with it can only partially explain it. A bank robber, a crypto expert, a pair of publishers, an artist, a philosopher and employees of financial institutions try anyway.

• Thursday 23.1.2025 at 17:30h in the Reithalle. Screening in presence of the production team and the protagonists
• Saturday 25.1.2025 at 09:45h in Capitol cinema. Screening in presence of the production team

World premiere: ARCHITEKTUR DES GLÜCKS by Anton von Bredow and Michele Cirigliano tells the story of a fishing village that for a hundred years derives enormous wealth from a monumental casino. There is hardly a resident who has not profited economically or socially from it. But the bankruptcy of this colossus destroys all prospects and autonomy. The reopening gives the village one last chance. What does it take to step out of the shadow of habit?

• Saturday 25.1.2025 at 20:45h in Konzertsaal. Screening in presence of the production team and the protagonists
• Wednesday 29.1.2025 at 12:30h in Landhaus in presence of the production team

A SISTERS' TALE by Leila Amini: Leila accompanied her older sister with her camera for seven years. She witnesses the liberation process of a woman who rediscovers her voice as a singer and self-determined individual: From a vulnerable spouse, Nasreen transformed into a woman who takes her destiny into her own hands. Nasreen's emancipation leads to fundamental changes for her children, her sisters and her mother. And inspires many of her contemporaries, in Iran and beyond, to take their future into their own hands.

• Thursday 23.1.2025 at 09:45h at the Canva Club
• Saturday 25.1.2025 at 15:00h in Uferbau. Screening in presence of the protagonist and the producer

THE SONG OF OTHERS by Vadim Jendreyko explores the question of whether it is inevitable that history, with all its nightmares, must repeat itself again and again? The encounters along the way lead the filmmaker step by step deeper into the question of how we deal with history and memory. And they allow him to recognise patterns that are passed on from generation to generation and in which we as a society seem to be trapped.

• Sunday 26.1.2025 at 13:15h in Landhaus. Screening in presence of the director
• Tuesday 28.1.2025 at 14:45h at the Canva Club. Screening in presence of the director

We look forward to seeing you again in Solothurn and hope to welcome you to our screenings!