HRFF ZURICH | 10TH EDITION 27th March – 2nd April 2025 | RIFFRAFF

As a lawyer and activist, the indomitable protagonist Aaju Peter is at the center of a struggle for the recognition of indigenous peoples, in a world where colonialism is still present. Transferred from Greenland to Denmark in her childhood, she lost her native language and culture and experienced another form of colonization in Canada. The film follows her on her personal journey, back to the places of trauma, and shows her persistent commitment to justice and a better future for generations to come. A story of resistance and discovery that raises questions about identity, belonging and recognition. (This Human World)

Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta on the West Bank, has been fighting the mass expulsion of his community by Israel's occupation since childhood. He documents the slow-motion eradication of the villages in his home region where soldiers deployed by the Israeli government are gradually demolishing houses and driving out their residents. At some point, he meets Yuval, an Israeli journalist, who supports him in his efforts. An unlikely alliance develops. But the relationship between the two is strained by the enormous inequality between them: Basel lives under military occupation while Yuval lives freely and without restrictions. This film by a Palestinian-Israeli collective of four young activists has been made as an act of creative resistance on the path to greater justice.

The end of school is approaching. Together with their class and a survivor, Frisch, Nitzan and Ido set off on a bus journey through Poland to former concentration camps and Shoah memorials. The journey, which is customary for schoolchildren in Israel, confronts them with a part of their identity, sometimes in a very emotional way. At the same time, as on any school trip, group dynamics, emotional confusion and conflicts of desire develop. Ha'Mishlahat tells of the culture of remembrance from the perspective of young Israelis, whose lively energy clashes with a static system of memorial sites and forms.

In his first documentary, well-known and celebrated Nigerian director Ike Nnaebue embarks on a personal journey. As a young man, he took the route from Nigeria via Benin, Mali and Mauritania to Morocco, hoping to get to Europe from there. But as the crossing seemed too risky at the time, Nnaebue turned back and began studying film in Nigeria. Now, 21 years later, he revisits the stages of his journey as a documentarian, and tries to find out what motivates young people today to expose themselves to all kinds of ordeals and dangers on their way to an uncertain future. In carefully conducted interviews, he also explores the experiences of young women in particular on the long journey and asks them about the dreams and hardships that drive them on. With great respect for his protagonists and a keen sense of the role his camera plays, he succeeds in capturing intimate images and situations without ever being voyeuristic. Rounded off by a densely poetic commentary, the result is an essayistic and self-reflective travelogue that hints at the deep longing of an entire generation for a better life. (Berlinale)

Brunaupark, Zurich: Five residential complexes, 405 flats. The Crédit Suisse pension fund is planning new buildings and has cancelled half of the flats. While many leave the estate, some hold out. Over three years, the film observes the uncertainty and the gradual transformation of this living space. (Swissfilms)

Saâd, Thuruban, Andrija and Luka, Swiss officers of Serbian, Sri Lankan and Tunisian origin, have retained a strong link with their native culture. In a personal documentary, director Luka Popadić portrays three Swiss officers of Serbian, Sri Lankan and Tunisian origin, with humour and sincerity, challenging prejudices about homeland, integration and diversity. (Swiss Films)

Saâd, Thuruban, Andrija and Luka, Swiss officers of Serbian, Sri Lankan and Tunisian origin, have retained a strong link with their native culture. In a personal documentary, director Luka Popadić portrays three Swiss officers of Serbian, Sri Lankan and Tunisian origin, with humour and sincerity, challenging prejudices about homeland, integration and diversity. (Swiss Films)

Exiled in Switzerland, Olga, 15, is a talented Ukrainian gymnast. Like all athletes at the top of their game, she dreams of Olympic gold. She tries her best to fit into her new national team but, as the European Championship draws near, the revolution in Kiev shakes her world and tests her will.

Exiled in Switzerland, Olga, 15, is a talented Ukrainian gymnast. Like all athletes at the top of their game, she dreams of Olympic gold. She tries her best to fit into her new national team but, as the European Championship draws near, the revolution in Kiev shakes her world and tests her will.

In Borneo, Kéria takes in a baby orangutan found on the palm oil plantation where her father works. At the same time, her cousin Selaï comes to stay with them to escape the conflict between his nomadic family and the logging companies. The ancestral forest is under threat more than ever. Together, Kéria, Selaï and the baby monkey named Oshi will brave every obstacle to fight against the planned destruction.

In Borneo, Kéria takes in a baby orangutan found on the palm oil plantation where her father works. At the same time, her cousin Selaï comes to stay with them to escape the conflict between his nomadic family and the logging companies. The ancestral forest is under threat more than ever. Together, Kéria, Selaï and the baby monkey named Oshi will brave every obstacle to fight against the planned destruction.

Brunaupark, Zurich: Five residential complexes, 405 flats. The Crédit Suisse pension fund is planning new buildings and has cancelled half of the flats. While many leave the estate, some hold out. Over three years, the film observes the uncertainty and the gradual transformation of this living space. (Swissfilms)