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small talk  / 2025 / fictional short film

«small talk» is a transmedia film project that explores the topics of closeness, exchange and loneliness. At its heart is a short film about a system that forces strangers to engage in dialogue in order to gain access to public life. In the midst of this, the friends Laya and Emil are confronted with the question of how honest conversations can be in such a system – and what really makes a deep relationship. A real dialogue chamber and short-form content on social media bring the story to life – in space, online, and in conversation.

If you are curious about the project, or would like to receive a press kit, please get in touch.


A film by Justus Briese & Zana Selimi
Directed & Developed by Justus Briese & Zana Selimi
Screenplay: Zana Selimi

Produced by: Zana Selimi & Justus Briese
Production Manager: Jimena Cugat

Produced by: ZHdK Zürcher Hochschule der Künste

in Co-Production with: SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen

Camera Department
Director of Photography: Line de Kaenel
1st Assistant Camera: Aline Bavier
Additional 1st AC: Liam Erlach
2nd Assistant Camera: Zoë Kraft
DIT: Salome Kaesemodel

Lighting & Grip
Gaffer: Pascal Kohler
Best Boy: Fabian Genucchi
Grip / Lighting Technician: Fabian Keller
Lighting Technician / Grip: Katja Stirnemann
Production Team

Set Production Assistant: David Brändlin
Crowd AD: Mara Turnheer

Art Department
Production Design: Julia Kraushaar, Selin Samci
Production Design Assistant: Jennifer Gerfin
Styling: Mariana Munoz
Styling Assistant: Anne Militzer
Hair & Make-up: Beatrice Grob

Sound Department
Set Sound: Pino Nessi
Sound Design: Andras Pupato
Dolby Atmos Mix: Martin Scheuter
Composition: Leonardo Cavalli

Post Production
Head of Editing: Loris Bosco
Editor: Justus Briese
Grading: Line de Kaenel & Cast

Cast
Flurina Schlegel as Laya
Tim Knieps as Emil
Julia Minuz as Nora
Sandra Moser as Lisbeth

Featured Extras
Jiyan Elci as Security
Dea Volic as Businesswoman
Hans Grüter as Dogdad
Selma Kopp as Woman in front of Bar
Boris Germann as Barkeeper
Eva Schneuwly as Woman at Bar

Extras

Saturday: Miranda Winter, Livia Briese
Sunday: Silvia Adiliberti, Laura Seric, Madeleine Grob, Noah Jarju, Franca Palmy, Naxhi Selimi, Barbara Bornhauser,
Nina Zurkinden, Sandro Schmocker
Monday: Angelica Bühler, Clemens Schulze-Briese, Saskia Renée Loher, Jonatan Bischof

Catering
Yves Henz, Jules Henz, Amani Al-Jabaji, Zora Tanner

Graphics
Basil Knil