The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), in cooperation with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF), to screen six films including the new feature from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi and the world premiere of Leaving Greece.

Six films have been selection for ZFF’s Border Lines sidebar dealing with conflict situations and people in need, compiled in coopration with charity parter and international medical and humanitarian aid organization Médecins Sans Frontières.

Receiving its world premiere in this section will be Anna Brass’ German documentary Leaving Greece, which uses Greece as a basis to explore Europe’s refugee policy.

The following films will be shown at the ZFF (all are documentaries except Closed Curtain):

Fire In The Blood (India) Dylan Mohan Gray
Panel discussion with the filmmaker and experts from MSF
“The only reason we are dying is because we are poor”, says an AIDS activist in South Africa as the large pharmaceutical companies take legal action against the distribution of cost-effective medication. The film documents the battle against the pharmaceutical lobby.

God Loves Uganda (US) Roger Ross Williams
This film offers an insight into the free churches of the USA and follows missionaries to Uganda, where they have not only been credited with creating schools and hospitals, but also promoting ultra conservative interpretations of the Bible and homophobia.

Leaving Greece (Germany) Anna Brass
Panel discussion with the filmmaker and experts from MSF
For 90% of all refugees, the Aegean is the gateway to Europe. Long overstrained, no one is allowed to remain in Greece, and yet, according to the EU, no one may leave. The film tells the story of three Afghan refugees.

Closed Curtain (Iran) Jafar Panahi, Kamboziya Partovi
Renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi received a work ban in 2010 – so he now shoots his films in secret – and plays himself. Panahi is actor in and producer, screenwriter and, together with Kamboziya Partovi, director of the film.

Tales From the Organ Trade (Canada) Ric Esther Bienstock
The global demand for organs is on the rise, donors, however, are few and far between. In this film we meet doctors, organ dealers, lawyers and organ recipients – as well as the underprivileged people who are forced to sell their organs.

Who Is Dayani Cristal? (UK) Marc Silver
In August 2010, the US border patrol stumbled across a body in the Arizona desert. Mexican actor Gael García Bernal follows the migration route from Guatemala to the North to find out who this dead man was.

Topics