Changing Sides

About the production

»Hope for limits – limits of hope: Can people grow beyond their limits?« Let's Debate!

In south-east Saxony, where Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland meet, the borders lost much of their sharpness after reunification. Of course, the lines where one state ends and another begins were still beyond doubt. But in everyday life, in the encounters and movements of people in the region, they no longer seemed to play a major role. Recently, however, we have been experiencing a resurgence of borders – physical, political and cultural. What do these experiences of structural change, global developments, mobility and the search for belonging mean for our understanding of hope? What do they mean for our future?

In this edition of »Streit & Zuversicht«, the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS and Holtzbrinck Berlin invite the audience to discuss the ambivalence of borders. The starting point is the documentary film »Changinge Sides« (2025) by Loraine Blumenthal. It tells the story of Thomas »Eichi« Eichstätt, who left the far-right scene and now coaches a group of young refugees in a football club. The documentary shows a multi-layered process of crossing borders, which is challenging on a personal, social and political level and at the same time gives hope. Highly recommended! Of course, anyone who has not (yet) seen the film is also welcome to take part in the discussion.

Together, the central question of this story is to be considered further and made the basis of a public debate: »Can people grow beyond their limits?« Let's debate!

Experts from different walks of life will come together for the debate. Loraine Blumenthal, director of »Changing Sides« and Thomas Zenker, Mayor of Zittau, will be on the panel. Further panellists will be announced later. Moderation: Greta Taubert.

Together with the audience, we will discuss when borders provide support and when they exclude. What does belonging mean in a changing region? How can a common public sphere be created that truly includes people in border regions with different biographies and histories?

»Streit & Zuversicht« is a series of events organised by the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS and Holtzbrinck Berlin. This edition takes place at the Lausitz Festival. The event series offers a place for anyone who is interested in real arguments, who is curious and willing to question their own attitude.

Recommendation: Podcast with Loraine Blumenthal at Deutschlandfunk Kultur

Registration

Admission to this event is free.

Register your participation. Simply click on the button. This will enable us to plan the seating accordingly.

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By bus & train to the event

Why don't you leave your car at home and come to the event by public transport? Click on the button to calculate your route. The destination is already pre-filled in the trip planner.

We owe this service for the Lausitz Festival to the transport associations VVO, VBB and ZVON.

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