A new format set up in twelve months. This is the challenge that the Farel Prize took on for its 2024 edition which began this Friday in Neuchâtel. The international festival of ethical, spiritual and religious cinema is taking over the Rex cinema until Sunday with a program focused on contemporary issues.
Spotlight on current events
The theme of conflicts is, for example, strongly present in the programming of this edition. “The Farel Prize raises in particular the question of its long-term impacts on the civilian population and in particular women,” we can read in a press release from the festival. Another hot topic, ecology is approached from several facets. “It is precisely the mix of points of view which, in my opinion, will allow for very interesting discussions,” rejoices the new director of the Farel Prize, Camille Andres.
Attacking young audiences
Forced to rethink itself in 2023, notably for financial reasons, the Farel Prize did not take place last year. To bounce back, the festival is banking this year on opening up to young audiences. To do this, a new category was designed by the organization, that of the Explainers-Bonhôte Prize, which rewards explanatory videos made popular by the Youtube platform.
This category aims to question the production of online knowledge on religious matters and to publicize this content, which has now become a popular format in the media. “For many people it was a bit of a sacrilege because there is this idea of cinema which is great art whereas the internet would be quickly produced, quickly consumed, quickly forgotten. Maybe, but ultimately that’s where we spend most of our time! », Says Camille Andres. For the professional journalist, it is essential in a democracy to question the ways in which the population consumes information and to take advantage of this to dispel certain clichés.
Stay loyal to your audience
However, festival regulars will not be left out. When rethinking its strategy, the organization remained attentive to preserving its DNA. This was done through the programming of humanist films anchored around characters who raise difficult ethical questions. “I think of this pastor who is going to fight in Ukraine. What questions and what inner heartbreak does this pose? That, I believe, is really the identity of the Prize and we have kept it,” explains the director of the festival, who also assures that the majority of days will be devoted to films that the Farel Prize has always promoted.
Another innovation, two round tables will question the representation of the past with artificial intelligence and the relevance of new forms of information. The full program can be found on the festival website. /cde
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