Contradict – Ideas for a New World
When two friends collect money for the so-called «suffering in America» in the streets of Accra, is it for fun, political provocation, or a prophecy? Two Swiss filmmakers will answer these questions with the help of seven musicians from Ghana – M3NSA, Wanlov The Kubolor, Adomaa, Worlasi, Akan, Mutombo Da Poet, and Poetra Asantewa – who have written new songs and produced video clips especially for the documentary film Contradict. A film by Peter Guyer and Thomas Burkhalter.
Stream Contradict on demand here and check project website here.
Tomorrow’s ideas and trends are emerging more decentralized than ever in a globalized world. What do global developments and shifts in values look like from the ground up in Ghana and the African continent? How do we want to confront and contradict those changes? Can new visions for the future become global realities?
Contradict shows this new generation of musicians taking on the post-colonial struggles of their parents and grandparents with new means and allies. They produce their work cheaply thanks to new software, and they spread their concerns rapidly over the internet. In their music, they demand a new role for Africa in today’s world, strengthen women's self-confidence, combat environmental pollution, and teach their peers self-acceptance, self-confidence, and self-esteem. They reflect on alternative lifestyles and new career paths and contradict the mainstream views of neighbors, ministers, and the omnipresent priests in the numerous mega churches in their country. In the collaboration with these Ghanaian artists, it becomes clear that anyone who wants to change something is walking a fine line between creativity, anger, exhaustion, and depression. Contradict thus becomes an urgent, fragile, and at times humorous appeal for change.
Trailer
Background Articles on Norient
by Martyn Pepperell
– «Dancing in the Church: Religion in Ghana»
– «Country Music in Africa»
– «A Matter of Representation – Documenting Ghanaian Artists»
– «If Women Ruled the World in Ghana»
by Nana Akosua Hanson
– «Building Kinder Worlds – Mental Health in Ghana»
by Grace Takyi
– «Nobody They Get Us»
Upcoming Screenings
no upcoming screenings announced
Stream on Demand
Past Screenings and Concerts
2023
Jan 6: The Jaffna International Cinema Festival of Sri Lanka
Jan 7: Drik Gallery, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2022
Apr 6: International Festival of Films on Art, Montréal, Canada
Mar 11–27: Chiayi International Art Film Festival, Cha Yi City, Taiwan
Jun 8–11: SoundTrack_Cologne; See the Sound Programm, Germany
Sep 20–25: Blackstar International Film Festival, Ghana
Sep 24: CineHalle, Turnhalle at PROGR Bern, Switzerland
Nov 5: Goethe Institut Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nov 10: Il Cinemino, Milano, Italy
Nov 17: Embassy of Switzerland, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2021
Jan 27–31 / Feb 19–21: Norient Film Festival NFF, Bern/Lausanne, Switzerland, online
Feb 19–25: SEE YOU SOUNDS, Turin, Italy, online
Mar 11–13: Conference IASPM D-A-CH, Paderborn, Germany, online
May 29 – Jun 10: World Village Festival, Helsinki, Finland, online
Jun 2–24: Press Play Festival, Pamplona, Spain, online
Jun 16–28: In-Edit Festival, Brazil, online
Jul 9–17: Festival Résistances, Foix, France
Aug 22, 12.00: Television SRF 1, Switzerland
Sep 9: Musical Écran Festival, Bordeaux, France
Sep 17: Migrants Music Manifesto, Cologne, Germany
Sep 25: Alte Feuerwache, Mannheim, Germany
Nov 30: Le Metronum, Toulouse, France
2020
Jan 26/28: Solothurner Filmtage (World Premiere)
Jan 26: Concert w/ FOKN Bois & Adomaa, Uferbau Solothurn
Jan 29, 18.00: Kino Rex Bern (Premiere – sold out)
Jan 29, 20.30: Concert w/ FOKN Bois & Adomaa, Turnhalle im PROGR Bern (Facebook)
Jan 31: Concert w/ FOKN Bois, Stall 6 Zürich (Facebook)
Feb 1, 20.00: Concert w/ FOKN Bois & Adomaa, Kulturpunkt Flawil37. Französische
Aug 26–28: Festival Pop-Kultur Berlin, Germany
Oct 28 – Nov 4: 37. Französische Filmtage Tübingen/Stuttgart, Germany, online
Oct 29: 30. Weltfilmtage Thusis, Switzerland
Nov 4–16: Soundwatch Berlin Music Film Festival, Germany, online
Nov 11–15: UNERHÖRT! Musikfilmfestival Hamburg, Germany, online
Nov 11–15: Sound Unseen Film Festival Minneapolis, USA
Nov 20–22: BE MOVIE Film Festival Bern, Switzerland, online
Screenings at Freier Film Aarau, kult.kino Basel, Cinématte Bern, Kellerkino Bern, Kino Rex Bern, Filmpodium Biel-Bienne, ODEON Brugg, Cinéma Le Prado Bulle, Cinéma de la Grande Salle Chexbres, Cinéma La Grange Delémont, Cinema Luna Frauenfeld, Cinéma CDD Genève, Kulturschuppen Klosters, Zinéma Lausanne, stattkino Luzern, Cinéma Corso Martigny, Cinéma Plaza Monthey, Le Cinéma Feuerwehrmagazin N°1 Morat, Kino Meiringen Meiringen, Cinéma Minimum Neuchâtel, Cinéma Urba Orbe, Cinéma Les Apollo Payerne, CityClub Pully, Kino Roxy Romanshorn, Cinéma La Bobine Le Sentier, Cinéma Royal Tavannes, Coalmine Winterthur, Kino Cameo Winterthur, qtopia Uster, Houdini Zürich, Riffraff Zurich
