May 9: Framing Helvetica: Women's Film Festival (Day 2)
17.30 Doors open
18.00 Forum, a short film by Simona Volpe,
In the dark, a short film by Molly Peters-Ehrenberg
18.45 Apéro and Discussion with the filmmaker Simona Volpe,
hosted by Nina Zimnik
20.00 Beyond Boobs, biographic documentary by Kristen Vermilyea
20:50 - 21.30 Discussion with the filmmaker, hosted by Anka Grzywacz
Forum (2025). German, subtitled in English. 24 min
A young filmmaker is researching the topic of sex trafficking. In a Zurich café, she meets a woman of the same age who tells her about daily life in brothels. Unfiltered realities from Swiss online sex forums echo like a shiver across the building facades and seep into the city's waterways.
Simona Volpe is a Swiss filmmaker, editor, and cinematographer whose work reflects a strong multidisciplinary approach to storytelling. Born in 1997 and raised in Schaffhausen, she initially studied psychology and film studies at the University of Zurich before moving into professional film production, working as a production assistant with Peacock Film.
She later pursued formal training at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), where she specialized in directing, editing, and cinematography. During her studies, Volpe developed a body of short fiction and documentary films that demonstrate her interest in both narrative and observational storytelling.
Her directorial work includes short films such as Anagnorisis (2021), Satellites (2021), Stuta La Luucia (2023), and Fiori d’Aurora (2024). She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Film in 2025 with her graduation film Forum, a drama exploring the topic of paid sex in Switzerland.
In the dark (2025). English. 15 min
When Jade returns to her hometown after a yearslong absence to restage a photo of Ryan, her first love, the past careens into the present, and she must confront unresolved transgressions. Through her recently revived film photography practice, this brief reunion, and a kaleidoscope of memories, Jade begins to process the traumatic end to a foundational relationship – and to approach the limits of forgiveness.
Molly Ehrenberg-Peters is a British-born filmmaker, actor, and producer based in New York City. Originally from Yorkshire, England, Ehrenberg-Peters began her career as an actor, appearing on stage and in radio and screen productions, including work for the BBC. She later expanded into producing and directing, co-founding production companies and developing projects across theatre and film. Her early producing work includes stage productions such as The Night Alive, as well as independent screen projects and web series.
As a filmmaker, she is known for short films including In the Dark (2025), her directorial debut, and Infinity Girls (2025). Her work often explores complex emotional relationships and social themes, combining intimate storytelling with character-driven narratives.
Beyond Boobs (2023). English. 52 mins
This is a hilarious and sometimes provocative film about a middle-aged American single mother living in Switzerland and her quest to find out if she will be invisible when she is no longer the woman with the biggest breasts in the room.
Kristen Vermilyea is an American filmmaker, writer, conceptual artist, and performer, currently living in Zurich, Switzerland. In 2013, she earned her MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College with a focus on film and feminism. Through this process, she developed her first documentary feature, Beyond Boobs, which premiered on SRF and Arte in 2018 and has been shown in over 15 countries. She produced and starred in the film Straight Forward, which won Best NH film at the SNOB Film Festival, and she also starred in and Associate Produced Celebration, which won the Teddy Award at Berlinale. Her short, Beneath the Flesh, a Stone, was an official selection at the PornyDays Festival in 2016. In addition to Death Virgin, Kristen is developing a satirical, hybrid documentary about menopause (OMG Menopause), as well as a coming-of-age feminist feature (Go With the Flow).
*Check out the line up for Day One of the Women’s Film Festival.
COST:
Members: CHF 10
Non-Members: CHF 20
Registration/Cancellation Deadline: May 8, 2026
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