Cinema-ye Azad – Songs of Becoming brings together four films from Iran’s Cinema-ye Azad movement of the 1970s, where childhood dreams, faith, love, loss, and memory become ways of searching for meaning. Created on the eve of the 1979 Revolution, these films capture a society in transition through intimate, poetic stories. Together, they offer a rare glimpse into a vibrant cinematic movement whose existential questions continue to resonate today.
An entity that is all ears, living in an apartment complex in a city with towering skyscrapers and full of noise, finds life difficult to bear due to its sensitivity to noise. It discovers a solution: a record that, when placed on a gramophone, broadcasts negative frequencies of outside environmental sounds. And the result of the sound played from this is the sound of silence… silence.
Every image has a frame. And each frame determines what is visible and what remains out of sight. This applies to news reporting as much as to cinema. How Iran is framed, which stories are told, and what becomes visible depends on historical and political contexts.
Iran has been shaped by profound political and social changes. Over the course of a century, the country has experienced two revolutions: the Constitutional Revolution of 1905–06 and the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The empowerment of social groups defined these movements as much as the repeated influence exerted by imperial and ideological forces. The country’s political situation and perceptions of Iran have had a lasting impact on both domestic and diasporic filmmaking.
At least since the spring of 2026, the world’s attention has once again turned towards Iran, as war is shaking the country to its foundations. Our Focus programme Shifting Grounds – Framing Iran takes this as an occasion to challenge Eurocentric views of the country and to sharpen our awareness of the complexity of Iranian cinema and society – a complexity that defies simple explanations.
This Focus on Iranian cinema emerged from a collaboration between two non-Iranians and one Iranian curator. We conceive of «Iranian cinema» not as a fixed category, but rather as a perspective shaped by a range of attributions, contexts, and experiences. Questions about production conditions, the diaspora, and national identity intersect with interrogations of Western views and narrative patterns. What is perceived as Iranian cinema emerges from the interplay of festival practices, audience expectations, and cinematic self-representation. These diverse perspectives and their connections served as the starting point for this collaborative curation.
Six programmes bring together historical and contemporary works created in Iran and the diaspora, combining various documentary, fictional, and experimental forms. They range from the imagery of oil to issues of identity and self-determination outside social norms, from myth and reality to diverse forms of resistance. Works from the independent Cinema-ye Azad film movement of the 1970s are also represented. Many of the films navigate the space between inside and outside – between national borders, real walls, and fictional spaces, as well as the invisible borders in people’s minds.
The focus is not on the country itself, but on how Iran is seen, narrated, and imagined – and how cinema can keep reframing these images.
Vincent Förster, Lynn Gerlach, Afsun Moshiry
Cinema-ye Azad: Songs of Becoming
Cinema-ye Azad – Songs of Becoming brings together four films from the Cinema-ye Azad movement that explore the search for meaning across childhood and adulthood. Produced during the 1970s, a decade of profound social transformation and mounting political tensions in Iran that culminated in the 1979 Revolution, the films deal with questions of identity, belonging, faith, and the possibility of the future. Rather than offering political statements, they reflect an atmosphere in which existential inquiry became inseparable from a society in transition. In «Jadeh» (1972) by Mohammad Jafari Harandi, we encounter a dreamlike childhood filled with hope, where life's grand aspirations still emerge from the smallest moments. Music becomes the first soundtrack of life, accompanying memories and longings. «Dar Falagh» (1975) by Zavon Ghokasian takes us to Isfahan, following a man in his search for meaning as he navigates faith, love, and belonging. At the same time, the film offers a rare glimpse into Jolfa, the Christian district of Isfahan, whose culture and music have seldom found representation in Iranian cinema. In «Nahang» (1972) by Hassan Bani-Hashemi, a man is found dead by the sea. A former companion sets out to understand the circumstances of his death. His search for the meaning of the man's life and death evolves into an existential reflection on memory. «Seda-ye Tazeh» (1976) by Soheil Souzani concludes with a search for meaning not in answers, but in an open question.
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur is Switzerland’s major short film festival. For six days every November, we transform the city into a dynamic short film hub.
Kurzfilmtage offers discoveries for everyone: our thoughtfully compiled thematic programmes address current events or topics that our curators are passionate about. The competition programmes showcase the latest filmmaking from around the globe, while installations, performances, and other specials highlight the diversity of audiovisual forms. And a programme of special events including concerts, readings, and more enhance the festival experience.
The programme of the 30th Kurzfilmtage will be released on 14 October 2026.
A short film is not just a shorter film. Shorts are a distinct art form, which we showcase at our annual festival.
Short films come in all shapes and genres, and how long – or short – they are, varies quite a bit. Simpler production processes allow filmmakers to capture the zeitgeist and quickly respond to trends. Shorts can be entertaining or surprising, they can analyse society, take a political stance, or offer glimpses of worlds unknown to us.
We compile our short films into thematic programmes or specific sections, such as our competitions, paying close attention to the selection and sequence of films in each programme. All you need to enjoy short films is an open mind for new discoveries and surprises.
Competitions
Recent short films from around the world. The best shorts will be presented with awards on Sunday evening.
Hors Concours
Recent short films from Zurich, Switzerland, and around the world screened out of competition.
Focus
Films that explore a region, a social phenomenon, or an artistic trend.
Person in Focus
A spotlight on the work of a filmmaker.
Special Programmes
Short film programmes dedicated to topics that our curators are passionate about – or that are simply fun.
Family Programmes
Short film fun for young viewers aged 6+ and for the whole family.
Expanded Cinema
Installations, performances, and exhibitions present the medium of film in unfamiliar forms.
Special Events
Concerts, parties, readings, and many other events enhance the festival experience.
Talks & Panels
Moderated talks and panels after the screenings offer additional context and insight into films and themes.
Industry Events
A wide range of educational events and networking opportunities.
