Nyon, April 2019 (SIGNIS) - The film critic Carlos Aguilera tells us about his experience as a jury member at the 50th "Visions du Réel" documentary film festival in Nyon (Switzerland).

Immigration, refugees and the family were the key themes of the festival.

The 50th edition of the Nyon Festival (Switzerland) ended last week, and I had the great pleasure to be part of the interreligious jury, composed of a Muslim, a Jewess, a Protestant pastor, and a Catholic. Being able to share the passion for the cinema and the human and to generate an interreligious dialogue so fruitful and rewarding was a luxury to me.

It was an incredible experience to live these days intensely around themes as varied as the tragedy of refugees, the value of family relations, the identity of a people and the importance of protecting their culture, or the way in which ideologies and trends weaken us internally and make us lose our identity. The documentary genre manages to address those key issues effectively and categorically. And living these days in coexistence, through intelligent conversation and calm debate, between members of different religions, is undoubtedly one of the most interesting experiences of my life.

There is indeed a pre-religious, pre-political ground, where anyone can meet another, where the basic needs of human nature that come before the political or religious position are formed, and where dialogue and personal encounter are possible. The need to be loved, the need for beauty or the need for justice or education are just a few. So here is a tiny contribution to the interreligious dialogue, so necessary today and always.

(Note: if you would like to have more information about the films of the festival, click here - only available in Spanish)

Carlos Aguilera

Film critic