Tristan Forever - Film Premiere in Berlin
Tristan Forever is a feature-length Swiss 'docufiction' film that features the story of French doctor Loran Bonnardot as he travels to Tristan da Cunha to fulfil a search for solitude.
Main publicity image for Tristan Forever
For thirty years, the doctor from Paris has maintained a friendship with a fisherman on Tristan da Cunha, the most isolated inhabited island in the world. Now he travels back one more time, with the plan to stay there for good.
The film was shot on his journey with the film crew aboard MFV Edinburgh in November 2023 as he travelled to Tristan. The remainder of the film was shot on the island and includes local actors, including fisherman Martin Green. The plot centres on 50-year-old Loran's wish to become one of the island's permanent residents, but whether he stays there is subject to a decision of the Tristan Island Council.
Logo of the Berlinale or Berlin Film Festival
The 90-minute film will premiere at the February 2026 Berlinale, or Berlin Film Festival.
The 76th Berlinale runs from 12th - 22nd February 2026 and the full programme will be published on 3rd February: https://www.berlinale.de/en/programme/berlinale-programme.html
Tickets will go on sale on 9th February: https://www.berlinale.de/en/programme/ticket-info.html
The Tristan da Cunha Association has twenty members who live in Germany, who, along with others who can travel may consider watch the film’s premiere.
Viewing the premiere will be a Tristan delegation led by Administrator Philip Kendall, himself one of the actors, plus his wife Louise and islander actors Glenda and Holly Rogers.
Cast List
Actor Film role / name Loran Bonnardot Loran Martin Green Martin Glenda Rogers Glenda Anderson Green Anderson Conrad Glass Police Officer Philip Kendall Administrator Holly Rogers Holly Jason Green Jason
Directed by Tobias Nölle and Loran Boannardot, the filming was completed by the Swiss Hugofilm Team of Loran Bonnardot, Tobias Nolle and Linus Rieser before they departed on MS Hamburg in January 2024.
Producer is Christof Neracher, CEO of Zuirich-based Hugofilm Features, with Swiss broadcasters SRF and SRG SSR as co-producersand the Community of Tristan da Cunha as associate producers. Worldwide distribution rights have been secured by China's Rediance Films.
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Dr Loran Bonnardot - a good friend of the island. |
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Born in 1973 in France, Loran is a doctor and filmmaker, who works in Paris and around the world. The short film 37°4 S (2013), which he co-produced, also shot on Tristan da Cunha, won the Jury's Special Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It stars young Tristan actors Riaan Repetto, as Nick, and Natalie Swain, who plays Ann, with cameo supporting parts played by Harold Green and Edwin (Spike) Glass and the voice of Justin Green. |
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| Left: Loran Bonnardot |
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Loran Bonnardot has a real thirty-year association with Tristan da Cunha and has become a good friend of the island community. Loran has two Godchildren on Tristan, Rachel and Connor Writing in 2011 in her Agulhas trip report, and published elsewhere on this website, former Tourism Co-Ordinator Dawn Repetto said 'It is with sadness that the island must say goodbye to our dear friend Loran Bonnardot. Loran has been a friend to the island for 15 years and has made three trips here where each time he has stayed for a few months. Whenever Loran has visited, he has always helped out voluntarily at the hospital or assisted with families who have been nursing elderly people at home. People like Loran don't come along every day, and the community is very grateful that he has found us and considers Tristan his second home. Loran will be missed dearly but we hope to see him back in the near future.' The Tristan da Cunha Association plan to show 37°4 S for a second time at their 2026 Annual Gathering to be held at the voco hotel in Southampton on 7th March. It is hoped that Tristan Forever will be available to show at the TDCA's 40th anniversary Annual Gathering in 2027. Right: Iris and Martin Green at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 |
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