News

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.

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!

THE SONG OF OTHERS by Vadim Jendreyko will be screened at Porto/Post/Doc in the section "Europe does not Exist, I have been there" and will be discussed in the presence of the director.

• Thursday, November 28th at 14:15 pm at the Batalha Centro de Cinema Room 1

Porto/Post/Doc is focusing on the Georgian director Salomé Jashi. Her films are a poetic approach to everyday life and show ordinary people, forgotten places, the slow and imperceptible passing of time in her home country. TAMING THE GARDEN will be shown as part of the programme.

• Wednesday, November 27th at 22:00 pm at the Batalha Centro de Cinema Room 1

We are delighted that Vadim Jendreyko's documentary film will celebrate its international premiere in Karlovy Vary after its Swiss premiere in the International Competition at Visions du Réel!

Screenings in Karlovy Vary:

• June 30th 2024, 2.30pm, Small Hall
• July 1st 2024, 1 pm, Congress Hall
• July 5th 2024, 9 am, Drahomira Cinema

Vadim Jendreyko's new documentary film THE SONG OF OTHERS - A Search for Europe celebrates its world premiere at this year's Visions du Réel in Nyon and has been selected for the international competition.

It will be screened on the following dates:

• Saturday, April 13th at 4 pm, Grande Salle, in the presence of the director
• Monday, April 15th at 1.30 pm, Grande Salle

REAS by Lola Arias, which celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale and has already won numerous awards, will have its Swiss premiere at Visions du Réel.

It will be screened on the following dates:

• Friday, April 12th at 3.30 pm, Grande Salle
• Wednesday, April 17 at 4 pm, Grande Salle

We look forward to seeing you in the Grande Salle!