A timely forum on war, minerals and impunity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, preceded by a screening of Of Mud and Blood. Journalists, academics and human rights defenders examine how decades of conflict in the Kivu region are fueled by geopolitical interests, resource extraction and systemic violence, and question the conditions under which peace might finally emerge.
The discussion is interpreted in English; the film is in French, Swahili and English, with French and English subtitles.
Olivier Azam and Daniel Mermet revisit Howard Zinn’s life and work in a striking archival film that stitches together testimonies, documents and historical fragments. Anchored in Zinn’s committed Marxism, the film amplifies voices long excluded from official narratives—enslaved people, Indigenous communities and labor activists—tracing five centuries of struggle. With textured archival frames, a contemplative rhythm and polemical undertow, it reframes public memory and probes how history becomes a battleground for political imagination.
Followed by a discussion with co-director Daniel Mermet.
In partnership with the Maison de l’Histoire.
In English (original version), with French subtitles.
Emmanuel Rondeau, financier and bank administrator and author of Les frères d’Astier de La Vigerie, Français libres (Tallandier, 2025), combines family memory and historical inquiry. He examines three members of the d’Astier de la Vigerie family — each with divergent public roles yet united in their commitment to the French Resistance — to reveal how personal convictions shaped national destiny. The lecture explores political identity, courage and the moral complexities of resistance, told with close knowledge and narrative panache.
In French.
Lucy Lagier, specialist in early modern history and author of a bachelor’s thesis on ceremonial display and royal image in the sixteenth century, will begin a Master’s in General History at the University of Neuchâtel.
This lecture examines the politics of appearance around Elizabeth I, exploring how clothing and jewellery signalled social rank and inner identity. It investigates the influence of Protestant norms on her aesthetic choices and considers whether crafted imagery contributed to the acquisition and preservation of monarchical power.
In French.
As part of the Ciné-Club UNE AUTRE HISTOIRE, Claudine Bories gives voice to men in this incisive 1981 documentary, listening to their stories about childhood, love, sexuality, and everyday life. Shot in color, each testimony is framed in an intimate, familial, or personal setting, turning their words into a vivid, often playful, and highly intense portrait. Winner of the Grand Prize in the French Competition at Cinéma du réel, the film combines rigor and warmth to explore masculinity and human connections.
The screening will be presented with the director Céline Pernet as a special guest.
In original French version.
Till Mostowlansky, anthropologist at the Geneva Graduate Institute, presents the edited volume Humanitarianism from Below? with contributions from Alexander Ephrussi. Discussant Prof. Davide Rodogno joins the conversation.
Drawing on ethnographic and historical research, the seminar examines alternative and often overlooked forms of humanitarianism worldwide, interrogating assumptions of universalism and assessing their effects on global aid practices. The discussion highlights local initiatives, moral economies, and the political stakes of defining humanitarian worth.
In English.
Geneva-based and international organizations and experts present a focused exhibition on medicinal and aromatic plants, exploring their roles in human health, cultural heritage and sustainable livelihoods. Displays combine photographic and informational panels, research highlights and short-format Lightning Talks that reveal applications across healthcare, food security, responsible trade and environmental protection. Through scientific findings and community knowledge, the presentation examines threats such as habitat loss, overharvesting and climate change, and highlights collaborative conservation and stewardship approaches.
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