Transcending Borders

directed by Tanja Polli & Marko Mijatovic
Award 1

This Short Matters

Transcending Borders portrays in five undocumented migrants in Switzerland – people living without legal status and working under precarious conditions. Among them is Emmanuel, who transforms his isolation and inner struggles into powerful computer animations. These merge with documentary footage to form a multilayered portrait of invisibility, dignity, and resilience. Created in collaboration with Sans-Papiers who have lived in Switzerland for many years, this participatory film project broadens the public conversation by bringing forward the perspectives of the «invisible».

Switzerland, 2026, 20 m

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Director
Tanja Polli
Marko Mijatovic

Production
Grundstudio

Producer
Tanja Polli

Director of photography
Marko Mijatovic

Cast
Moises Moza
Fany Flores
Marie-Ange
Emmanuel
Marisol
Grazia Aurora

Editor
Katharina Bhend

Music
Nico Feer
Katharina Bhend
Patrick Bürge

Sound design
Peter von Siebenthal

Animation
Simon Tschachtli

Character design
Emmanuel

Post production & color grading
Trinipix

Subtitles
Urs Mettler
codess media

With the assistance of
Lucas Fuchs
Tamara Meli
Liam Ehrlach
Patrick Binggeli
Junas Messmer
David Benjamin Schulz
Leila Kühni
Ilir Hasanaj
Ursula Markus

Trailer

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They clean the villas of the rich — yet live in storage rooms themselves. Undocumented migrants in Switzerland.

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Transcending Borders explores a range of themes — identity, belonging, solidarity, colonialism, and feminism — weaving them into a sensitive blend of documentary and animation that makes visible what usually remains unseen.

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In the shadows of Swiss prosperity, five undocumented migrants clean, care, and survive — among them Emmanuel, who transforms his isolation and struggle into haunting animations that turn invisibility into art.

Supported by