For our first program of this second edition of WF Online Series, we gave focus to
Bridge Builders
April 12 - 19, 2022

Strong bridges have five essential parts: the foundation, the beam, the bearing, the pier cap, and the pier. Each of these five parts can be engineered in different ways, but each plays a vital role in the overall stability of the bridge. For this curatorial thematic, we seeked out bridges builders of our societies, people and institutions striving to bring us closer together.

Alleswasichberühre
C
by Marion Täschler
Switzerland, 2020, 5 min 04, German with English subtitles

In a constant search for closeness, C experiences emotions in all their highs and lows. Even if a familiar phase of togetherness is followed by a rejection of the other person and, accordingly, a sad loneliness, C does not give up. Again and again, new ways are found to find the longed-for closeness and tenderness. And to lose.

Meryem
by Reber Dosky
the Netherlands, 2017, 15 min 50, Kurdish with English subtitles

Filmed during the battle of Kobani, this film reveals the women at the heart of the fight against IS. With stoical perseverance and the aid of American airstrikes, these women are leading the fight for freedom.

Calling Ukraine
by Jean Counet
the Netherlands, 2015, 12 min 21, Russian with English subtitles

Through a Skype call the daily life, dreams and fears of a family in Eastern-Ukraine is revealed while the bombs are falling in the background. A grandmother in Latvia phones with her sister and child who live in the war zone of Eastern-Ukraine, months without often having water and electricity. We see the traces of the war on the face of the grandmother who, like the viewer is powerless.

Volunteer
by Anna Thommen & Lorenz Nufer
Switzerland, 2019, 93 min., Swiss-German, German, French, Italian, Arabic, English with English subtitles

A film about the unprecedented Swiss grassroots movement of regular citizens who rise to aid thousands of refugees stranded at the European borders. In rich and safe Switzerland people from all backgrounds leave their regular life behind to support people in need.

WF Online series second edition include four curated screening programs each giving a curatorial focus featuring Basel, Swiss and international productions. Each program is available for one week.

September: Where we stand
October: Focus: International Short Film Festival Oberhausen with Hilke Doering, Head of the International Competition, the Children's and Youth Cinema and the Market of the International Short Film Festival
November: Circling the garden (in collaboration with Treibsand
and the exhibition: The Other Kabul. Remains of the Garden)


This project is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Mary & Ewald E. Bertschmann-Stiftung and the Division of Cultural Affairs Basel-Stadt.