Erleta Morina & Zio Johannes Martin
Doc.Lab
Documentation, 21 min

In the late summer of 2023, Viadrinicum’s Community Lab decided to explore and understand the different facets of the city of Frankfurt Oder and different practices of community-building. What lies beneath the Polish – German border town besides the bridge, the beautiful Oder, the student life and rooster grafittis all around the two cities, is a vibrant scene of alternative culture, social projects and community initiatives which you would not notice at first glance.

Following the Community Lab and with Zio as both part of the film crew and protagonist, Erleta & Zio embark on a journey to visit three spaces operating with different practices, but with similar goals: to ultimately have a positive impact on the community and to make quality of life better in the city.

Through KUMA’s cultural center with weekly public events, coworking space and community gathering venue, to Helping Hand’s space in Zukunfstplatz which helps refugees, to Fforst’s social housing and community initiatives, Zio & Erleta document practices, meanings, and ultimately try to answer the guiding question of: is this what makes a community?