Mission (im)possible - in the end lies the beginning

Jury statement

What begins as a harmless film night unfolds in Mission (im)possible – in the end lies the beginning into a journey that leads us straight to the heart of what heroism can truly mean. Just moments ago, friends were arguing about their favourite screen heroes – and then: darkness. A power cut. A state of emergency. Now the performers themselves are called upon. Now it is up to them to become heroes. But who is the hero of this evening? Is it the figure who fights, rescues and triumphs? Or might true greatness lie in doubt, in failure, in getting back up again?

In a clever and playful collage, we encounter both familiar and unexpected heroes: from Katniss Everdeen to Thor, from Muhammad Ali and Greta Thunberg to Melli Beese, from Emily in Paris to Garfield. One thing becomes clear: heroism has no single mould. It is as diverse as people themselves.

Yet every great story has its fractures. And so the young performers bravely open the doors to their own inner worlds. In striking stop-motion videos, they speak of insecurities, doubts and fears – of those quiet moments when the feeling arises of not being enough. At the same time, a counter-image emerges on stage: bodies that support one another, hands that offer stability, a community that carries.

“We’re like a family,” the performers say in the post-show discussion – and that is exactly what we see on stage: a community that listens, that catches, that gives each other space. Every voice matters here.

The piece does not shy away from big questions: who do we actually think of when we think of heroes? Why are strength and courage so often read as male? And how many heroes remain invisible because they are fighting against racism, discrimination and inequality? It offers a perceptive, alert взгляд at our society – and a plea to rethink heroism.

An evening full of playfulness, courage and humanity. Entire worlds emerge from simple pizza boxes – skyscrapers rise, flowers bloom, fan posters glow. There is dancing, singing, fighting and moments of stillness. It is loud and quiet, powerful and delicate all at once. And above all: it is honest. The energy of these young performers is infectious. They carry us along, draw us in, move us. I laugh, I marvel, I am touched – and grateful to witness their vulnerability.

In the end, one thought lingers: the bracketed “im” in “(im)possible” is no coincidence. It is an invitation – a reminder that the power to create change lies within each of us. Perhaps the heroes of this evening are not only to be found on stage. Perhaps they are sitting in the audience as well.

Lene Wollwerth