STONES AND THEIR WHISPERS OF OLD STORIES unfolds as a dialogue between ancient stories from the Transylvanian and Valais mountains, intertwined with contemporary movement. Through the lens of dance, the environment becomes both stage and symbol, where whispers of forgotten stories are etched into the fabric of the earth. With a quiet, observant gaze, the film invites reflection on the ephemeral and enduring, past and present, myth and memory.
EN: Nothing more natural for David Drăgan and Noah Kohlbrenne’s film than the connections it makes between a magical, irrational understanding of life, subject to mysticism and nature, and choreography, that is, organized movement which, before producing aesthetic pleasure, produces spatial knowledge. For STONES AND THEIR OLD WHISPERED STORIES, man – the human body – is an infinitesimal unit of measurement. Man measures little visually, in relation to the vastness of the mountainous landscapes of Transylvania and Valais, upon which the camera gaze with adoration and fear, but also within the superstitions recounted by various interviewees, speaking powerlessness in the face of the incomprehensible. The film is a beautiful reminder that man should not be the measure of the world, but take measure of it. (Călin Boto)
Born in Bern, Noah Kohlbrenner studied Fine Arts at Zurich University of the Arts after training as a graphic designer. His work explores legends from the Valais region, family roots, and environmental change. His short film Stones and their Whispers of Old Stories is his directorial debut.
Born in Sibiu, Romania, David Drăgan lives and works in Zurich, Switzerland. Studied Contemporary Dance (2020–21) and Fine Arts (2021–24) at Zurich University of the Arts. Works as a choreographer and movement director for film and stage. Their short film Stones and the Whispers of Old Stories premiered in 2025.
