10 Things to See (and Do!) At This Year’s Visions du Réel !
From the 4th to the 13th of April 2025, Switzerland’s only international non-fiction film festival returns to Nyon and the shores of the Lac Léman for its 56th edition with a rich programme featuring 154 films from a record 57 countries.
This year and for the first time, Doc Weekly will be in attendance !
Among the 129 new films presented, 88 are world premieres and a further 12 are international premieres. The festival continues to do well in terms of representation, with 39% of films selected directed by women, 8% by mixed-gender co-directions, 5% by non-binary people and 48% by men.
But there’s a lot more to Visions du Réel than screenings : exhibitions, guided walks, parties, masterclasses from documentary greats and more will be taking place throughout the festival.
So here are 10 things we recommend seeing and doing at this year’s Visions du Réel.
And if you’re attending this year, feel free to reach out if you’d like to meet up !
1. Blame by Christian Frei
Opening Film
When the world is engulfed by the COVID-19 pandemic, three scientists who long predicted its arrival must battle not only the virus but also a wave of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and political blame that threatens to eclipse the truth. This is their story. Part investigation, part thriller, Blame investigates the relationship between science, politics and the media.
Blame will be receiving its World Premiere during the festival’s opening ceremony.
2. Raoul Peck Masterclass
Guest of Honour
Visions du Réel’s Guest of Honour for its 56th edition is renowned Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck, director of I Am Not Your Negro, nominated for an Oscar in 2017.
His participation will include a three-hour masterclass and a retrospective of his documentaries, along with a festival screening of his latest feature film Ernest Cole: Lost and Found.
3. Flophouse America by Monica Strømdahl
Highlights section
Mikal shares a shabby motel room with his parents, mired in poverty and substance abuse. Despite his troubled and chaotic family situation, the boy does well in school, is loved, and dreams of a better life. More than anything, Mikal wishes that his mother would stop drinking. But what conditions need to be in place for someone to truly change?
Fresh from its International Premiere at CPH:DOX, this is a film we’re particularly excited to see.
4. To the West, in Zapata by David Bim
Burning Lights Selection
Landi and Mercedes live in Cuba’s Zapata swamp, a biosphere reserve. To feed their sick child, Landi must secretly hunt crocodiles, leaving his wife and son behind for days on end. Amid social unrest and a global pandemic, To the West, in Zapata follows this loving family as they go to extreme lengths to survive, in a constant cycle of reunion and separation.
Shot in black and white by a filmmaker who went through extreme circumstances, mirrroring those of his protagonists, in order to capture some extraordinary images, this looks to be an unmissable World Premiere of 2025.
5. Petit Rampart by Eve Duchemin
Themed Walk
A walk through Nyon with Nathalie Romain-Glassey, researcher at the University of Lausanne and Head of Medicine at the Violence Unit of the Lausanne University Hospital to discuss domestic abuse and other topics explored in the film Petit Rempart.
In Petit Rempart, Mariem, 53, a former estate agent, has been living in a shelter for several months. Surrounded by women in far more precarious circumstances than herself, she tries to regard her unprecedented social downfall as an immersion in real life. By the time she leaves, Mariem’s view of the world will have changed forever, enriched by all the women she has met along the way.
An opportunity to learn more about the problems that vulnerable women face, how they impact society as a whole and where change needs to be made.
6. Iron Winter by Kasimir Burgess
International Feature Film Competition
In Mongolia’s remote Tsakhir Valley, Batbold faces the greatest challenge of his young life: safeguarding 1,000 horses during the deadliest winter on record. After this adventure and with the future of his community at stake, Batbold must choose between upholding the values that define his culture, or abandon them for the lure of a more appealing life in the city.
Some stunning photography and a World Premiere we won’t be missing.
7. John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office by Michael Almereyda & Courtney Stephens
Highlights section
A film essay about the mysteries of consciousness and communication surrounding the figure of neurophysiologist and “psychonaut” John C. Lilly, a daring experimenter with dolphins and psychedelics. Lilly’s work carried him into realms of radical self-investigation, while his research also helped bring marine mammals into the collective dreamlife of the 20th century.
8. Beyond Gender
Thematic Pathway
In order to provide various entry points into their programme, the festival’s programming team have devised five thematic pathways.
Beyond Gender is a selection of 13 films that explore emancipation, fluidity, love stories, gender relations, and masculinities in question.
The selection is absolutely full of films that we’re keen to see. We’re particularly excited about : Aurora, Croma, Niñxs, Paul and Petit Rempart.
9. The Mountain Won’t Move by Petra
Seliškar
International Feature Film Competition
On the heights of a mountain in North Macedonia, in the midst of a flock of 600 sheep being watched over by huge dogs, stands a refuge. Children's laughter escapes from the precarious shelter. They are a brotherhood, ranging from ages eight to twenty. When they are not hard at work, they are playing and discussing the meaning of life. Is their future really here?
A cast of die-hard mountain-dwelling brothers, an unforgiving landscape, a tense soundtrack and a civilisational question as the film’s premise : another promising World Premiere.
10. The Parties
Events
From Reggaeton to Rave, Afro to Trance, and with the infamous Karaoke night on Wednesday, local djs and artists are showcased every night from 10pm at the bar on Place du Réel.
We can’t wait to discover these and many more films at Visions du réel.
Follow us on Instagram for updates and get in touch if you’d like to meet up or collaborate !
