March 2025 will mark the debut of Swiss Focus, a new event under the #FIFDH Impact Days initiative, designed to foster dialogue and collaboration among Swiss impact stakeholders, international guests, and filmmakers from all Swiss language regions. As part of Impact Days, the event aims to bridge connections and facilitate collaborations between filmmakers, NGOs, impact producers, and foundations.
In its inaugural edition, Swiss Focus will spotlight four Swiss film projects addressing critical social and global issues. The projects, ranging from women’s rights and technology to poverty and mental health, will offer insight into pressing challenges through the lens of compelling storytelling.
Selected Films for 2025
A Satellite for Burulaï
Directed by Suium Sulaimanova and Antonin Lechat and produced by Emmanuel Gétaz (Dreampixies), this documentary highlights the Kyrgyz Space Program (KSP), founded by Zhibek, a 28-year-old advocate for women’s rights. The program not only challenges traditional gender roles in Kyrgyzstan but aims to launch the country’s first satellite dedicated to a victim of forced marriage.
Expected Completion: May 2026
Issue Areas: Women & Girls’ Rights, Technology, Social Justice
Chess Behind Bars
Directed by Ivo Zen and produced by Kaleo La Belle (La Belle Film), this film delves into the transformative power of chess for incarcerated individuals. Exploring prison chess programs across the globe, the documentary highlights how the game fosters personal growth and rehabilitation, culminating in a prison chess world championship.
Expected Completion: November 2026
Issue Areas: Civil Rights, Social Justice, Incarceration, Rehabilitation
Nathalie
Directed by Tamara Milosevic and produced by Madeleine Corbat (Recycled TV), this intimate portrait sheds light on poverty and debt in Switzerland through the story of Nathalie, a single mother navigating the challenges of subsistence living. The film explores the intersection of economic hardship, mental health, and resilience.
Expected Completion: May 2024
Issue Areas: Poverty, Debt, Mental Health
Priceless Forests
Directed and produced by Orane Burri (Les Regardiens), Priceless Forests immerses us in the heart of local Swiss forests and their sustainable management. Gradually, the film reveals the limitations of this ideal example by confronting it with the needs of its citizens, who directly impact other forests like the Amazon. It offers a critical perspective that connects the local to the global, challenging Western values and certainties.
Expected Completion: TBD
Issue Areas: Sustainability, Environmental Justice, Global Responsibility
The event will feature brief presentations of the selected films, followed by informal networking facilitated by the Impact Days team. Accredited members of the Swiss industry and holders of Impact Days Daily Passes are invited to join, providing a unique opportunity to engage directly with filmmakers and stakeholders.
