Program 2021

Born in 1977, Swiss director, filmmaker and essayist Milo Rau is one of the most sought-after and controversial artistic figures of his generation. For Rau, art is above all a "combat sport" and a confrontation with the political violence that has plagued recent history. Together with members of the NTGent, which he heads, and the International Institute of Political Murder, which he founded in 2007, he conducts meticulous historical research before tackling his subject. By blending history, art and politics, Milo Rau uses a unique creative process that interweaves levels of reading to bring about intimacy, compassion, solidarity and political awakening. This is how he recalls The Last Days of the Ceausescu (2009), gives voice to La Déclaration de Breivik (2012), summons the Rwandan genocial perpetrators in Hate Radio (2012) or provokes reality in The Tribunal sur le Congo (2015, adapted for cinema in 2018). Rau has recently directed Mozart's The Clemency of Titus at the Geneva Opera. His latest film Le Nouvel Evangile is presented in official selection at the FIFDH and will be distributed in Switzerland as of March 2021. This exceptional Masterclass is given at the ECAL as part of a documentary workshop for students in their second year of cinema studies.

©Photo Bea Borgers

Art & Activism

The masterclass will be held in French.

Co-presented with the ECAL