The Forum

Film Info

Germany, Switzerland 2019 | 118 min. Director: Marcus Vetter

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Production Company

beetz brothers film production

Berlin Phone +49 30 69566910 Phone +49 40 414945729 https://gebrueder-beetz.de/en/

Co-Production Company

DSCHOINT VENTSCHR FILMPRODUKTION

Molkenstrasse 21
8004 Zürich

Filmperspektive GmbH

Sickstr. 36
70190 Stuttgart

The Forum

original German, English, Spanish, Chinese, Indonesian, Twi, Vietnamese, French, Swedish version with English subtitles (Closed Captioned)

Starts in German Cinemas November 7, 2019

Synopsis

Every year, leading figures from international politics, business and academia gather in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. For the forum’s 81-year-old founder Klaus Schwab, it’s all about improving the world through dialogue. But how are you going to challenge the status quo if you keep on inviting exclusively establishment figures?
Marcus Vetter was the first filmmaker to be granted behind-the-scenes access. The impressive procession of princes, presidents and other guests—predominantly male and all fluent in English—confirms our preconceptions about this private initiative being an opportunity for the super-rich to hang out together and make business deals, while masquerading as do-gooders. But there’s also the occasional critical voice. Dutch journalist Rutger Bregman raises the subject of tax avoidance in front of an audience packed with company heads. And during an informal gathering, Jennifer Morgan, CEO of Greenpeace International, goes up to her new arch enemy, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil.
And when 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg shows up, it starts looking like Schwab really is doing his best to drag the forum into a new era. The question remains: What is dialogue without action? (IDFA)

“Vetter strikes an admirable balance between more serious diplomatic moments and quirkier interactions”
Amber Wilkinson (Screendaily)

Cast & Crew

Director

Marcus Vetter
Producer

Christian Beetz, Karin Koch, Georg Zengerling
Screenwriter

Christian Beetz
Editor (Cut)

Marcus Vetter, Andre Nier, Ana Fernandez Rocha
Sound

Marcus Vetter
Original Score

Marcel Vaid

Festivals/awards

2020
LOLA@Berlinale — Shortlisted for DEUTSCHER FILMPREIS DOKUMENTARFILM [German FilmAward]
27 Hot Docs from Toronto as an online event

2019
DOK.Leipzig - opening screening
IDFA - Frontlight