Our Identity, Logo & Vision

The sun rises in the east. Its light knows no borders. This core thought defines our identity. The light from the east symbolizes cultural knowledge, memory, artistic creativity, hope, and fresh perspectives. We aim to make the rich stories and cultural expressions of the East visible in the West, while fostering an open, egalitarian exchange between diverse cultural spheres. Our logo embraces the imagery of a railway tunnel. It pays homage to the defining significance of the railroad in Switzerland: tunnels and rail networks overcome geographical barriers, bridge language regions, and create pathways between people and places. For Ost Express, the tunnel becomes a cultural and societal metaphor. It stands for transitions between East and West, between origin and future, between humanity and nature, and between varying identities, experiences, and worldviews.

Our cultural work addresses the pressing questions of our time: migration and asylum, identity and belonging, collective memory and heritage, social inequality, anti-discrimination, gender equity, democracy, peace, and ecological responsibility. Cinema in particular allows us to examine complex social realities through multifaceted lenses. Human rights-centered cinema illuminates lived experiences that often go unheeded in mainstream discourse. It fosters empathy, interrogates dominant dogmas, and builds a nuanced understanding of social intersections.

Cultural diversity is not an abstract concept for us; it is lived practice. Through multilingual screenings, concerts, panels, and interdisciplinary events, we connect distinct linguistic regions across Switzerland. We cultivate meaningful encounters between people from diverse backgrounds and enable collaboration between local communities and international artists. Our commitment is to inclusive and participatory cultural engagement that expands access, empowers marginalized voices, and fosters collective civic life.