Studio

An Off-Site Studio

Cinema Made by the Locals

Inspired by the Indigenous cinema of the Americas, the Refuge Institute Studio champions stories rooted in culturally strong lands. Its primary mission is to develop a crafted cinema, made with accessible means, that makes ordinary, local stories visible, a counterpoint to globalized productions.

What makes the Studio unique is that it has no fixed location: the territory itself is the narrative space. The Studio also relies on the ingenuity and talent of local people to shape quality stories. Anyone can join the adventure according to their aspirations and skills, from scriptwriting to costume design, from dramaturgy to set design. As researchers, subjects, co-authors, or co-producers, locals are invited to take part in the projects that tell their stories.

The Studio aims to be a welcoming space for young people (ages 9–25) who are passionate about cinema or simply curious to discover it. They are especially encouraged to initiate film projects of their own, which other locals will then be invited to join.

DOCUMENTARIES - FEATURES

Works in Progress

The Refuge Institute Studio builds on recently completed and in-progress films to experiment with participatory cinema and measure the impact of the experience on audiences. It aspires to create stories that safeguard intangible heritage, singular stories with universal resonance and strengthen social cohesion and a sense of belonging.

06 October 2024

Anoki

2023 · Nipmuc Nation · United States. Anoki is a young Nipmuc man from Massachusetts (United States) who grew up on the Pow-Wow Trail, these cultural gatherings held in Indigenous communities across North America. Caught up in the demands of the modern world, rendered invisible on his own land, Anoki undertakes a return to his roots with his family...

03 March 2025

From One World to Another

2025 · Anières (Canton of Geneva) · Switzerland. Crossed portraits of Mariama (Conakry, Guinea) and Renas (Syria), two former asylum seekers from the CHC in Anières (Switzerland), whose successful integration into Swiss society is a message of resilience and hope for those who had to uproot themselves from their homeland.

30 June 2027

Mystery in Evolène

2027 · Evolène, Switzerland (Valais). An experimental short film on embodied knowledge in the Evolène region, the last Romandy commune where the Franco-Provençal dialect is still actively spoken. Set between the relationship to the elements and farming stories in the alpine pastures, the documentary questions forgotten knowledge and the attempts to...

How It Works

Field Research & Story Selection

A group of young volunteers carries out preliminary research (archives and fieldwork) to uncover original stories. Institute members then vote for the most compelling project and, together with the young team, decide on the format (short or feature) and the style (creative documentary or fiction).

Writing & Casting

The young team is mentored by people with a wide range of expertise. Together they write the script, cast the actors, and identify local resources and contacts (locations, costumes, hair and make-up…) to assemble the production team.

Shooting & Editing

The shoot is planned over several days, weeks, or months, with coaching for aspiring actors and a schedule for the production team. In the second phase comes the edit, a crucial piece of the storytelling which is planned and approved together. Finally, the original score is composed and recorded.

Finalisation & Distribution

The premiere is organized : red carpet, audience Q&A, awards ceremony followed by priority screenings in the local area, before the film is submitted to national and international festivals.