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
Seeing Tristan Forever
The 90-minute film will premiere at the February 2026 Berlinale, or Berlin Film Festival on Sunday 15th February at 12.15 local time at The Stage Bluemax Theater at Potsdamer Platz.
Four further showings will occur at the Cubix cinema (CineStar Berlin - Cubix at Alexanderplatz) on:
- Monday 16th February at 16:00
- Tuesday 17th February at 22:00 (with German subtitles* see note below)
- Saturday 21st February at 11:45
- Sunday 22nd February at 12:15
* The film is primarily in English, except when Loran speaks French when he is talking to his family and girlfriend at the beginning of the film and in flashbacks throughout the film. These scenes are subtitled in English. There are also scenes where some islanders speak with a strong Tristan dialect which are also subtitled in English.
Tristan Forever is one of 37 films from 36 countries in the film festival's Panorama section, termed Desire Lines, which are in the running for the Panorama Audience Award.
This collection of 37 films is described by Michael Stütz, Head of Panorama:
'From striking independent filmmaking to documentary works poised between poetics and urgency - this year's selection offers much to discover and experience. With formal ambition and subversive narratives, the filmmakers lead us into open emotional landscapes and raise pressing questions: Which spaces are we assigned? Which must we passionately conquer, which must we fiercely defend?'
The 76th Berlinale runs from 12th - 22nd February 2026 and the full programme can be seen and downloaded on: https://www.berlinale.de/en/programme/berlinale-programme.html
Tickets are now on sale for the premiere. Follow the Tristan Forever link on: On sale from today | Berlinale
The Tristan da Cunha Association has twenty members who live in Germany, who, along with others who can travel may consider watching 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 co-dirtected by Loran Bonnardot.
The filming was completed in January 2024 by the film team consisting of Loran Bonnardot, Tobias Nölle and Linus Rieser before they departed on MS Hamburg.
Producer is Christof Neracher, CEO of Zurich-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.
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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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