UPF Upper Austria, in collaboration with the Holzknecht Museum in Reichraming, hosted a moving film afternoon at the Peace Bridge

Seventeen years ago, Bogdan Pammer and some friends from Austria invited young adults from Israel and Palestine to spend a week in Upper Austria to get to know one another and create a joint peace project. With financial support from the state of Upper Austria, several companies, and especially the mayor of Reichraming and a local carpentry, they were able to work together to build a substantial peace bridge. Each evening, a different group presented its culture, but unfortunately, they couldn't do so without getting into political arguments. However, the next day, as they sawed, sanded, and hammered together, they worked side by side again and were able to forget the traumatic experiences they had endured back home. The bridge consists of two platforms that diverge, symbolizing Israel and Palestine, and a metal bridge connecting these platforms as a symbol of hope.

Since then, the Peace Bridge has been used for many events, such as readings by a Holocaust survivor, Peace Roads, weddings, etc., and has been repaired time and again. The sustainability of this project is also evident in the fact that, even after 17 years, contacts with the participants from that time still exist.

On July 5, 2026, UPF Upper Austria and the Holzknecht Museum hosted a movie afternoon. While waiting for all the nearly 30 guests to arrive, attendees enjoyed coffee and cake and had the opportunity to tour the Holzknecht Museum, in front of which the Peace Bridge was built.

Ms. Pammer then explained how the Peace Bridge came to be, and since pictures often speak louder than words, we showed a short film about the bridge’s creation, which inspired everyone. After taking a group photo on the Peace Bridge, the former mayor presented Ms. Pammer a 28-page essay containing his reflections on the peace project from that time, subtitled “Everything in the world depends on a clever idea and a firm resolve” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe).

The main event of the movie afternoon was the film “Birgitta’s Friends” by filmmaker Christian Kogler (in English with German subtitles). https://crossingeurope.at/film/birgittas_friends

Director Christian Kogler introduced the 70-minute film, which portrays the lives of a Holocaust survivor and a member of the Palestinian resistance with great emotional depth and without judgment. The statements made by the interviewees of Birgitta—an Austrian woman who lived and worked in Israel for many years—gave us all much food for thought. How can reconciliation and lasting peace be achieved?

After the film, we had the opportunity to chat with filmmaker Christian Kogler and the film’s protagonist, Birgitta, over a farm-style snack in this beautiful natural setting.

That afternoon made us feel sad, but it also gave us hope that there are many people who care about the fate of others and who use their respective skills to contribute to a better society.

(Maria Pammer, UPF Upper Austria)