“Romans d’ados” is a guest in Beijing

The "Filmmaker in Focus" project is one of the cultural exchange programmes in China organised by SWISS FILMS. Béatrice Bakhti is now the seventh documentary filmmaker from Switzerland to travel to Beijing and present her work in an intensive cultural exchange with Chinese filmmakers within the framework of the CCD Workstation. The project was initiated with Peter Liechti in autumn 2008; Edna Politi and Fernand Melgar were guests in Beijing in 2009, Vadim Jendreyko and Christian Frei in 2010, and Anka Schmid in spring 2011.

"Is it really possible to show everything? How much caution is necessary as regards the images, with respect to the protagonists, as well as towards the viewers? Such questions are discussed until late into the night after the screenings and render the value of these workshops entirely unique. They are reflections on ethical issues which have to be rediscovered and raised here, as if learning a new language again. The work in the CCD Workstation here transcends far beyond the boundaries of the documentary film genre," explains Vadim Jendreyko, summing up his experience.

Several works by Chinese filmmakers have since been invited to international festivals, including "Self-portrait and Three Women" by Zhang Mengqi and "Starving Village" by Zou Xueping at the Tampere Film Festival 2011.
The Crossing Festival in October and the May Festival in May have established themselves as important independent platforms for documentary films, for experimental video works, contemporary dance and theatre. Apart from showcasing works by Béatrice Bakhti, the Crossing Festival also features recent Chinese documentary films and theatre performances.
The four parts of "Romans d'ados" (Teen Stories) by Béatrice Bakhti can be seen on Arte until October 12, 2011.

Zurich, September 23, 2011