A documentary film (A true story) directed by Indi Casadei, followed by a discussion with Fide Dayo, Festival Director
Synopsis:
Adopted from Togo at the age of seven, Indi has always known where he comes from. He carries memories of his Nigerian mother, until the day she disappears without a trace. Years later, now a father living in Switzerland, he feels the need to return to this unresolved absence. From Geneva to Togo and Benin, he embarks on a journey that is both geographical and deeply personal, accompanied by his daughter, reconnecting the fragments of his story. Indikweis a moving documentary about reconnecting with one’s roots, family, and identity.
Lengh: (38:40 minutes)
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Country of Filming: Benin, France, Switzerland, Togo
Language: French. English subtitles
Director Statement:
I didn’t decide to make this film overnight. Indikwe was born at a moment of transition in my life, when I was slowly moving away from commercial projects to fully embrace documentary filmmaking. At the same time, the opportunity to return to my roots emerged. Everything seemed aligned. I had also been invited to speak about my adoption on a podcast in Switzerland, and the response was unexpectedly strong. That’s when I understood that this story might resonate beyond my own experience.
Making this film meant taking a risk. Showing myself, sharing parts of my life I had always kept private, was deeply unsettling. I was afraid of exposing my vulnerability, and also of a simple question: would anyone care about my story? Yet I felt that this journey, emotional, personal, and deeply human, deserved to be shared.
Through this film, I needed to prove something to myself: that I was capable of carrying a project of this scale, both artistically and emotionally. I also hoped that Indikwe could become a mirror for other adopted people, a space where they might recognize fragments of their own questions, doubts, or silences.
My approach as a filmmaker is instinctive and emotional. I am drawn to real moments, to everyday life, to authenticity rather than explanation.
Including my daughter in this journey was essential. She is part of this story. This quest is also her heritage. Not knowing my origins meant having nothing to pass on to her. Through her presence, I could look at this journey through a different lens, hers. She was seven years old during the trip, the same age I was when I was adopted and left Togo for Switzerland. This coincidence gave the journey an even deeper meaning.
Working on Indikwe forced me to confront parts of myself that had been buried for a long time. The process helped me understand my past, ease old wounds, and find a form of inner peace. In many ways, this film became a true therapy.
After watching this film, I hope audiences will still believe in the small miracles of life. I hope it invites kindness, openness, and humanity toward others, toward those we meet on our path, often without knowing their stories.
With this film, I wanted to pay tribute to my biological mother. She marked the beginning of my life, before her disappearance. Indikwe is, above all, an act of remembrance, gratitude, and transmission.
Film Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvynBQKwSv4
Featured Biographies
Indi Casadei
FILM DIRECTOR
Indi Casadei is a documentary filmmaker working between Switzerland and Indonesia. His work is driven by a deep interest in human connection, emotion, and stories that create a positive impact. Through a contemplative visual language, he explores intimate journeys where nature, sound, and silence play a central role.
As a discreet observer, Indi approaches filmmaking as an act of transmission and understanding. He believes that telling stories reconnects us to what is essential: our shared humanity. His films often focus on touching, meaningful narratives, success stories rooted not in performance, but in resilience, sincerity, and human kindness.
Sound and music are fundamental elements of his storytelling, shaping a slow and immersive rhythm that invites the audience to feel rather than simply watch. His cinema seeks to open space for emotion and reflection, allowing stories to resonate beyond the screen.
Indikwe – As Long as There Is Life marks a turning point in his work. Co-directed with his friend and collaborator Loïc Morant, this deeply personal film required him to expose his own story, confronting vulnerability as part of both a personal and artistic transformation. The project became a necessary step, not only to move forward in life, but also to fully embrace his voice as a filmmaker.
Through his work, Indi Casadei aims to shed light on something he believes deeply: that human kindness still exists, and that cinema can help us see it, feel it, and remember it.