Greta Thunberg's highly anticipated appearance at the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) was expected to draw a significant audience. However, contrary to initial expectations that the event was fully booked, the reality was quite different as the venue remained largely empty. Reports indicate that only around 40 out of approximately 300 seats were filled, as noted by both Blue News and the Tages-Anzeiger. This unexpected turnout has raised eyebrows and prompted speculation regarding potential foul play.
The ZFF confirmed the unusual circumstances to the Tages-Anzeiger, acknowledging that while the event was indeed sold out prior to the festival, many of the reserved seats went unused. The festival expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing the high demand for the panel discussion that focused on the conflict in Western Sahara and the plight of the Sahrawi people.
Thunberg's participation was part of a panel discussion centered around the documentary film “My Home of Wind and Sand,” which follows Sahrawi activist Najla Mohamed Lamin, who advocates for the self-determination of her people after growing up in an Algerian refugee camp. Alongside Thunberg and the film's Austrian director Patrick Wally, Lamin contributed to the important dialogue on the subject.
In an effort to accommodate the overwhelming interest, the festival restricted ticket reservations to a maximum of four per person after initial bookings were made. This adjustment was necessary due to instances where individuals had reserved larger quantities of tickets. The moderator of the panel referred to this incident as a “well-orchestrated operation,” suggesting that there might be more to the situation than meets the eye. Thunberg and the film crew have expressed suspicions of sabotage, with the activist even pointing fingers at Morocco as a potential culprit, though no evidence has surfaced to substantiate these claims. A request for comment from the Moroccan embassy went unanswered.
The ZFF, however, has refrained from drawing any definitive conclusions regarding the unused reservations, stating that it is currently unable to assess whether a deliberate action was at play behind the empty seats.
While Thunberg made her voice heard in Zurich, her previous appearance in Switzerland was notably different. In 2023, she participated in a climate rally in Basel attended by around 500 people, where she chose to take a backseat role, allowing other activists from various countries to take the stage instead of delivering a speech or giving interviews, as reported by 20 Minutes.
As reported by 20min.ch.
