ARE YOU FED UP
WITH TODAY’S WORLD?

YES
NO

YOU MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT!

We are thoroughly happy for you!

We are interested in what makes your life so wonderful.
Would you share it with us?

    Reality is based on our thoughts.
    How about re-imagining it?

    Let’s do an experiment

    • Imagine you are not born yet.
    • You do not know your gender nor your nationality or skin color, nor if you are rich or poor.
    • With all the unknown, what system, what rules would you wish for?
    • Close your eyes, take a minute and imagine.

    PLEASE SHARE YOUR VISION

    We would love to know what you imagined
    and be inspired by you.

    Send us your answer with a video message

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      A documentary by Rebecca Panian

      IMAGINE is an inspiring feature-length documentary.

      It questions our way of life, reminding us that what we call reality and normalcy is mainly based on our imagination, while presenting a new possible reality. One, where caring for people and nature is at the heart of our values and actions and where it’s normal that everyone has a secured livelihood as a human right – a basic income (UBI).

      By offering a new narrative, the film suggests a vision of a sustainable and caring future that can replace the old and harmful myth of ‘eternal growth making us all rich and happy’.

      And it triggers the audience’s imagination. People shall rediscover that they do have the potential to address today’s challenges because reality as we know it is mainly manmade and not God sent. We can change reality if we want to.

      IMAGINE encourages the audience to question the current reality, our ‘normal’, and themselves: Is it really apt how we live? How do I live? Could it be different?

      And could different even be better?

      UBI IN A NUTSHELL

      UBI is a guarantee of subsistence. The amount should be high enough to live on and participate in public life. Everyone is entitled to it, individually and unconditionally. Those who need UBI to live on, receive it monthly. Those who earn enough can claim it through their taxes. The introduction of UBI is essentially a tax reform to distribute wealth more fairly within our society.

      LOGLINE

      Alarmed by the exploitation of our livelihood, inspired by the idea of unconditional basic income and driven by her own life story, a female earthling embarks on a quest for a new reality – a caring and sustainable one.

      SYNOPSIS

      Our reality is based on human thoughts. How about re-imagining it?

      In 2016, Switzerland was the first country in the world to vote on an unconditional basic income (UBI)*UBI is a guarantee of subsistence. The amount should be high enough to live on and participate in public life. Everyone is entitled to it, individually and unconditionally. Those who need UBI to live on, receive it monthly. Those who earn enough can claim it through their taxes. The introduction of UBI is essentially a tax reform to distribute wealth more fairly within our society.. Although the idea is centuries old, this is the first time I hear of it. Within seconds, I can imagine a completely new way of living: No more existential fear. Less stress. More room for innovation. Could this idea help solve the problems that currently threaten our existence?
      And why exactly do we hold on to a reality and normality that harms us in so many ways?

      Driven by these questions, I set out in search of places and people who are already living a different normality, more in harmony with nature again.
      On my journey, I am accompanied by ED, my virtual historical guide who appears as a voice like Siri. He answers all my questions about our past and present with witty and profound comments and pointed sound and image montages. This way, I learn more and more about how our normality came about in the first place.

      In the end, I imagine a new reality, inspired by what I have experienced and learned. This vision is narrated by a female voice as if it were already reality: one in which it is normal for resources and profits to be distributed more equitably and for a country‘s success to be measured by how it cares for nature and all earthlings.

      IMAGINE is an expedition into humanity, full of female energy, humor and revelations. The film provides an overview of who we are today and how we got here. And it is a reminder that we are the ones creating and shaping our reality - big and small.

      REBECCA PANIAN

      Director & Author

      After her pre-film-life as a sign writer, a Flight Attendant, a Graphic Designer, a TV-Editor for Endemol Germany Rebecca Panian did her Bachelor of Arts in journalism and her Master’s in directing fiction at the ZHdK in Switzerland. Her first feature length documentary ZU ENDE LEBEN – DYING TO LIVE – won the Audience Award at the Zurich Film Festival 2014 and had its theatrical release in Switzerland in April 2015. In 2018 Rebecca Panian started the project „Village tests future“. She wanted to test the basic income-idea in a Swiss village as a possible basis for a new social system. This journey will be part of IMAGINE.

      Filmography (a selection)
      LOVERS, 2019, romantic tragicomedy, 78 min, (GER), Heartland Filmfestival (US), Amazon Prime
      YOU‘RE WELCOME, 2017, Shortfilm, Drama, 9 min, (GER), Encounters Bristol (UK), Foyle FF (UK)
      FRAGILE, 2015, Shortfilm, Drama, 25 min (CH), Special Mention 28th Foyle FF (UK)
      ZU ENDE LEBEN, 2014, Documentary, 91 min, (CH/FIN), Audience Award 10. Zürich Film Festival 2014

      “Why aren’t there more films that show what could be possible? Films that inspire and give hope? That’s exactly what IMAGINE wants to do: give hope and show what could be possible if we wanted to.”

      MARTIN LEHWALD

      Producer Schiwago Film

      After studying German and philosophy in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Graz, then Berlin, the adventurous love affair with film started. From 1989 Martin Lehwald held every position in the industry. As a production manager, continuity, editing assistant, lighting technician, stage manager, lighting help, catering help, you name it. He did many films. Many. Ultimately and consequently ending up as a producer. With the founding of Schiwago Film GmbH there was a smooth transition from a 6- to the 7-day-week.

      With TV series such as OSTFRIESLANDKRIMIS, FLUSS DES LEBENS and TATORT, Schiwago Film has established itself as a production company in the German media landscape. With feature films such as MUXMÄUSCHENSTILL (R: Marcus Mittermeier), OH BOY (R: Jan-Ole Gerster), STYX (R: Wolfgang Fischer) and LARA (R: Jan-Ole Gerster), it is impossible to imagine German cinema without it. With recent international co-productions such as INSIDE (R: Vassillis Katsoupis) starring Willem Dafoe and AMERICA (R:Ofir Raul Graizer) Schiwago Film has entered the international market.

      “With all the horror stories dominating our news and mindsets, it is easy to lose your positive outlook on life. Changing the way we think is exactly why we want to be co-producer of this film.” 

      NADINE LÜCHINGER

      Co-Producer Filmgerberei

      Nadine Lüchinger studied social anthropology, political science, and economics in Zurich. After various positions at prestigious Swiss production companies, she has established the film and documentary department of Filmgerberei since 2014. She has participated in multiple markets and has been selected for prestigious professional training courses, including MAIA Emerging Producers Workshop, MOP Max Ophüls, Rotterdam Lab IFFR, EURODOC Suisse, SERIES WOMEN (EPI) as well as EAVE Producers Workshop. To date, she has produced over six short films and is in post-production and development of several long formats. In 2020, she produced the first Rhaeto-Romanic mini-series for Swiss television. And in 2022 she was nominated for an Academy Award®.

      “The hopeful vision of IMAGINE has touched us and made us think about our own lives and the way we work and live! The time has come for IMAGINE.”

      “Everything great that ever happened in this world, happened first in someone’s imagination.”

      Astrid Lindgren

      WHY IS THIS FILM NECESSARY?

      If we really want to solve problems like the climate crisis, pollution and wealth inequality,

      we need to question our current reality.

      We are all worried about our home. Our planet. We share it, no matter what color, religion, or ethnicity. The thing is, worrying won’t solve the problem.

      We have to ask ourselves: why do we stick to a reality and normalcy that harms us in so many ways?

      we need to re-discover our superpower of imagination.

      Imagination drives our species. It’s what our reality is based on.

      And we all possess this superpower. We might have forgotten about it, but it’s there.

      If we genuinely want to solve problems, we must think outside the box. We can’t use the same patterns that brought us here in the first place. We have to let go to create new solutions. We must re-embrace the imagination and start creating something new.
      We can actively question the status quo and change things on a smaller or bigger scale no matter who we are.

      According to a NASA study, we are born as creative geniuses, but our creativity is compromised over time by our educational system.

      Moreover, if we operate under fear and stress, we use a smaller part of the brain. When we are afraid, we cannot analyze a situation, let alone act sustainably. Fear blocks information, innovation, and change.

      But when we use creative thinking, the brain lights up. Studies show that those who let their minds wander perform better – in school or at work.

      So, how about re-imagine our future?

      we need to imagine a new vision to believe in.

      The problems of today’s world are obvious. But what are we aiming for instead of the status quo? What is our vision to strive for? We need a new narrative. One that disrupts the harmful myth of eternal growth, making us all rich and happy. One that might fundamentally change (some of) our values and toxic expectations. One that we can’t imagine yet but should start imagining.

      The film shows a future vision where caring for people and nature is at the heart of our actions.
      A time when people have time to imagine again!

      To make our future more the way we would like it to be.

      Imagine if...

      …it would be normal for a country’s success to be measured by how caring it is for people and nature. Imagine a country where it is expected that natural resources and technological achievements are our shared heritage, and therefore everyone receives a dividend – a secured livelihood as a human right.

      We could be so much more than simply striving to earn more.

      Humanity can change. It simply depends on what future we imagine!

      Our documentary IMAGINE delivers an emotional and inspiring story of a concerned earthling, one just like you and me.

      We believe in the power of film. It can literally move people. By creating fictional realities, film triggers people’s imagination, hopes, and ambitions. In times of fear and powerlessness, it empowers people to act, be hopeful and confident.

      WHAT COULD OUR FUTURE HOLD?

      What should the world of tomorrow be like?
      How would you like to live?

      PLEASE SHARE YOUR VISION

      We would love to know what you imagined
      and be inspired by you.

      Send us your answer with a video message

        You can leave a live video record with your message. Connect your camera and press the button below.

        Delete video?
        If you have not saved this recording, you will not be able to restore it.
        Record, Review, Save