12th edition HRFF ZURICH | 8–14 April 27 See you next spring!

The Bildrausch Film Fest will take place in Basel from May 13–17. Under this year’s festival theme, “Mit Zuversicht, und du?”, Bildrausch highlights the transformative power of cinema and invites the audience to remain proactive through cinematic discoveries, engaging discussions, and performances.

Cherry Season in Sangerhausen. Lotte is a maid at the castle where the poet Novalis is staying for some days. Without knowing, he encourages her to flee to France with Norbert, the stone-eater. But the escape fails and ends with Lotte having to hide in a cave. Ursula is exhausted and stuck in a passionless marriage. Early in the morning, she cleans a furniture store, and during the day, she works as a waitress. An unexpected encounter with musicians passing through sparks hope in her, but leads her into new troubles. The Iranian YouTuber Neda is stranded in Sangerhausen, where she runs into an acquaintance from back home and the tour guide Sung-Nam, with whom she sets off for the Kyffhäuser. On the way there, Ursula runs into their car and together they embark on a mysterious journey. In a cave, the ghost of Lotte appears to them. Neda leaves Sangerhausen and takes hold of the blue stone that Nobert once swallowed. (Bildrausch)

The Bildrausch Film Fest will take place in Basel from May 13–17. Under this year’s festival theme, “Mit Zuversicht, und du?”, Bildrausch highlights the transformative power of cinema and invites the audience to remain proactive through cinematic discoveries, engaging discussions, and performances.

Cherry Season in Sangerhausen. Lotte is a maid at the castle where the poet Novalis is staying for some days. Without knowing, he encourages her to flee to France with Norbert, the stone-eater. But the escape fails and ends with Lotte having to hide in a cave. Ursula is exhausted and stuck in a passionless marriage. Early in the morning, she cleans a furniture store, and during the day, she works as a waitress. An unexpected encounter with musicians passing through sparks hope in her, but leads her into new troubles. The Iranian YouTuber Neda is stranded in Sangerhausen, where she runs into an acquaintance from back home and the tour guide Sung-Nam, with whom she sets off for the Kyffhäuser. On the way there, Ursula runs into their car and together they embark on a mysterious journey. In a cave, the ghost of Lotte appears to them. Neda leaves Sangerhausen and takes hold of the blue stone that Nobert once swallowed. (Bildrausch)

From June 11th to 14th, 2026, the Riffraff cinema will host the Showtime! Musical Film Festival for the first time. A total of 15 films will be shown in three sections, ranging from classics from the 1950s to new discoveries.

Shot in secret and featuring extraordinary performances by real underground bands, NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS follows a pair of young musicians, recently released from prison, on a mission to take their rock band to Europe. Forbidden by the authorities to play in Iran, they plan their escape abroad with a fast-talking music promoter. Vowing to play one last show before leaving Tehran, their dangerous mission takes them on a free-wheeling journey through the City’s vibrant and diverse underground scene, home to an estimated 2,000 illegal independent bands. (Human Rights Watch Film Festival)