Return

*Best Dance Film – Cannes World Film Festival 2022
*Best Choreography for the Screen – ZED Festival 2023
*Mention Best Film Jury Students DAR (UniBo) – ZED Festival 2023
*Audience Award – ZED Festival 2023

A film by Hofesh Shechter and Theaterhaus Stuttgart
In association with Hofesh Shechter Company

There is no better way to celebrate being alive than through the lens of death. It gives real perspective on life, gives it meaning in a way. Return does not necessarily refer to a return from the dead, but “a way of bringing a person’s spirit back to life.”

“Being Alive” was the theme Eric Gauthier set for his two artists in residence for their anniversary films – and where is Hofesh Shechter celebrating? In the morgue. As a personal birthday greeting, he himself makes a discreet and unobtrusive appearance in the film. The film includes material shot amidst the mysterious industrial architecture of the Wizemann site, which is very close to Gauthier Dance’s rehearsal studio. For the soundtrack, Shechter drew inspiration from a concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Directed by Hofesh Shechter
Edited by Todd MacDonald with Hofesh Shechter
Choreography, Music and stage design: Hofesh Shechter
Additional Music: J. S. Bach

Costumes: Hofesh Shechter & Gudrun Schretzmeier

Dancers: Bruna Andrade, Louiza Avraam, Anneleen Dedroog, Barbara Melo Freire, Luca Pannacci, Garazi Perez Oloriz, Jonathan Reimann, Mark Sampson, Gaetano Signorelli, Izabela Szylinska, Sidney Elizabeth Turtschi, Shawn Wu, Shori Yamamoto

Camera: Rainhardt Albrecht-Herz and Hofesh Shechter
Camera assistant: Julian Walz
Light: Tom Gork
Musicians: James Adams, Christopher Allan, Rebekah Allan, Sabio Janiak, Desmond Neysmith
Music Collaborators: Nell Catchpole and Yaron Engler
Post-production: Colourist – Toby Tomkins, CHEAT