Hirschfeld – The Unknown Known

This documentary examines the life of Kurt Hirschfeld, a dramaturg whose contributions to the Zurich Schauspielhaus theater were largely overlooked despite his role in building its prestige. Born into a religious Jewish family in Germany, Hirschfeld established himself as a dramaturg before fleeing the Nazis. After being turned away by Switzerland, he moved to Moscow to work with Meyerhold and write for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. He later escaped the Soviet Union to avoid Stalinist purges, eventually returning to Zurich to work at the Schauspielhaus. The film highlights how he helped the theater become a center of cultural resistance during the Nazi era, paving the way for the later success of figures like Bertolt Brecht, Therese Giese, Max Frisch, and Friedrich Dürrenmatt.

The film was directed by Stina Werenfels and Samir, with a screenplay written by Samir and Felix Schneider. Produced in Switzerland by SRF, 3sat, and Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion, the documentary features Ruth Hirschfeld appearing as herself. Released on March 26, 2026, the production has a runtime of 89 minutes.