Movies

We are pleased to announce that our documentary “Souls in Transit”, which has qualified for the 95th Academy Award Oscar 2023, is continuing its successful cinema tour in Germany and Switzerland. After successful screenings at Kinostar Arthaus Kino Heilbronn, Kinostar Neckarsulm, Kinemathek Hamburg, Staufen Kino in Göppingen, Kino Arsenal in Berlin, Kino Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung Wiesbaden, among others, we now have the honor of presenting in Switzerland as well. We have already screened at the Filmpodium Zurich, Kino Sterk Baden and Kino Chur in the presence of Bishop Joseph Maria Bonnemainer, and the next screening on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 8:50 pm at Kino REX in Bern. As seats at the REX cinema are limited, buy your ticket now at: Link: https://www.advance-ticket.ch/sell/567958 We would also be very happy if you could make your community and also your German contacts aware of this important film. Thank you so much & stay tuned! Aida and Film Team https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048874130849 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKA_ApJd-Yg

Director: Aida Schlaepfer Producers: Minority Rights Group International & da Production Film Length: 24.45 minutes Language of film: Arabic, translated in to English The film “NouN” depicts the suffering of Christian Iraqis at the hands of IS. It contains first-hand accounts of terrible atrocities, while revealing the courage of survivors, as well as their hopes and uncertainties about the future.View on Youtube or with english subtitle Interview auf Radio Vatikan zum Film https://youtu.be/MlFI9RlQLPU Genre: Documentary Country, year: Switzerland/Iraq, 2015 Duration: 24 mins Format: DCP Language: Arabic Subtitles: German/English

The movie “To be we also want to be” is about prostitution from men for men. Although the male prostitution is legal in Switzerland, the men who prostitute themselves for other men are exposed to a strong aversion in the society.As both prostitutes and homosexuals are discriminated by society,male sex workers are stigmatized twice. The male prostitution is a taboo and is hidden even though their history is as old as that of female prostitution. Based on four sensitive portrayed protagonists, who are not a homogeneous audience, the director Aida Schlaepfer shows us in the documentary “To be we also want to be” the everyday life of male prostitutes in Switzerland and their dealing with the complexity of their life situation. This collage, composed of the politically active hustler Benjamin, the Cuban emigre luxury Callboy Alexo, the transsexual Sonja and the to bizarre games specialized rubber transvestite named Leila reveals the in many respects’ distinctive origin, motivation, and sexual orientation of the man / male prostitutes in Switzerland. Through interviews and excerpts from the everyday lives of the protagonists, viewers get a glimpse at the lives of the four sex workers and their work-related problems. Topics such as emotion, and exclusion, financial security, life perspectives and the practice of the profession as well as complementary issues such as migration and Coming-Out as prostitutes or homosexuals are shown in this film and also all aspects of this profession and definitively breaks with prevailing platitudes. By a legal representative and a representative of the religion the issue is additionally illuminated from different sides and clarified the current legal and social situation of sex workers. Without any ideological constraints, the director explores in this film primarily the sentient human expressions of the protagonists and lights all facets of their lives. The film shows respect to all people working in the sex trade regardless of their origin, their gender and their life situation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwK7TWYO5sQ Genre: DocumentaryCountry, year: Switzerland, 2013 Duration: 52 minsFormat: Blu-rayLanguages: German/ EnglishSubtitles: German/English/French/Chinese/Arabic/Hindi/Italian/Japanese/Portuguese/Russian/Spanish/Swedish

The film recounts the events of three Egyptian citizens who participated in a peaceful demonstration. By rubberbullets and teargas used by the police, all three men were seriously injured and two of them lose their eyesight. This instance is typical for the governmental use of violence during the demonstrations from 25th January until 11th February 2011. It illustrates on the personal three blows of fate the drama of more than 9,000 other victims. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5e-vkGjEzI Genre: DocumentaryCountry, Year: Switzerland/Egypt, 2011 Duration: 22 minsFormat: Blu-rayLanguage: ArabicSubtitles: English

Those who have suffered poverty, hunger, and inflationary, along with injustice, oppression and persecution… were people who feared starvation, or being shot to death just for being arabs. Between wars and destructions… death and farewell… they deported to the west. Among those were refugees, fugitives as well as abhorrers who were seeking humanity in its true meaning of security, stability and freedom… leaving their home… pitying it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2L88qLdp3g&t=28s Genre: DocumentaryCountry, Year: Switzerland/Egypt, 2010 Duration: 50 minsFormat: Blu-rayLanguage: ArabicSubtitles: English CO Production: Concave Art ProductionMuhandseen, Giza, Egypt

Gangs of Baghdad a 52-minute documentary – subtitled in english “Gangs of Baghdad” showcases the experiences of people who fell victim to criminal and terrorist deeds that are nowadays widespread throughout baghdad. during the 52 minutes of the film, two families and a young girl share with us the details of terrible events they personally witnessed, such as kidnappings, blackmail and, in some cases, random and deliberate killings. film director, A. Schlaepfer, seeks to shed light on a side of life in baghdad that, even if it has been dealt with before, has not been given enough attention. Schlaepfer especially wants to use her film to highlight the seriousness of the psychological issues that the victims of these atrocities in Baghdad must live with. “Gangs of Baghdad” is an appeal to the human consciousness of all health institutions and humanitarian organizations – entities that are able to extend a helping hand to those psychologically affected by these crimes and horrible deeds –  to take active measures and steps to ensure that these victims are rehabilitated and able to embark on a normal life once again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVuaq1BfGz0&t=25s Genre: DocumentaryCountry, year: Switzerland/Iraq, 2007 Duration: 52 minsFormat: Blu-rayLanguage: ArabicSubtitles: English

Marionette35 mm  My movie is telling the story of a woman, who got into an irrational state of mind, because of her love affair. It is mainly dealing about mental and emotional addiction of women to men; all around the world, but especially in arabic countries, where marriage is still the major aim and financial support of a woman in society. The word “waiting” consists of only seven letters, but the effects of it can be enormous and dramatic. It can change everything in life; it can turn normal and healthy people into sick and insane persons. Genre: FictionCountry, year: Switzerland/Egypt, 2005 Duration: 18 minsFormat: 35 mm Language: ArabischSubtitles: English

Video-Art he main station of Zurich was for me the point of beginning in the western world. In 1993 I arrived at Zurich main station and since then I have built up my existence here. the main station was chosen as the place of action because in the end it is all about my two identities meeting, merging, and yet never doing so. the two identities move around the meeting point, they see each other, but they never meet. Often in my life I have the feeling that I am going in circles. When I meet people from the past, I strongly take on one identity, only to take on the other identity again shortly afterwards at work. when the identities meet, it is 9:15 pm, or like the clock in: east (hour hand) vs. west (minute hand). This was a challenge because the shots were taken at 2 am, because the only time at Zurich main station where filming can take place undisturbed is between 1:30 am and 5 am. at the beginning of the film the clock is in the focus: The clock hands turn in the usual (clockwise) direction. Symbolically this means: the woman from the east arrives in the west. At the end the clock is in the focus again, but the clock hands turn back quickly. Symbolically this means: The woman in the west is looking for her roots in the east. the search for identity has a lot to do with the search for ground, for a firm hold. The camera often switches onto the wheel of the bicycle. The ground and the earth is the connecting element between the two identities. the two identities are riding bicycles. I wasn’t allowed to ride a bicycle in the past. This has to do with the position of women in the Arab world, and with the way a woman sits on the saddle. Saddles for women for bicycles are not available. Riding a bicycle was a big dream for me, which I could only realize in the west. Genre: Video artCountry, year: Switzerland, 2002Duration: 7:36 minsFormat: HD