The global journey of The Future Through The Present
CONTEXT: After Work is a creative documentary film directed by Erik Gandini developed in connection with the research project The Future Through the Present. It was releases in main competition at the international film festival CPH DOX in March 2023 and has been travelling the world constantly ever since. After Work has been instrumental in, besides sparking reflections about our relation to work in the future, communicating the research questions behind the artistic research project. Through numerous screenings, workshops, panels, debates and Gandini’s personal participation. The international journey of After Work has contributed in communicating to a wide audience outside of academia the research aims and its art relates questions, such as: can a documentary film capture something that hasn’t happened yet? Can documentary film frees itself from the limitations of dealing soleley with either the present, or the past?
REVIEWS: Quotes: "stunningly cinematic doc" (Variety), "elegantly made film" (Modern Times Review), an elegantly constructed cinematic think piece. incredibly skillfully performed by Gandini, elegant
in form and convincingly formulated (Politiken), "great artistic courage" (Business Doc Europe), "Gandini's docu-film focuses not on the economic impact of technological innovation, but on thehuman dimension of change." LA VODE DI NY" breezy and attractive" (Cineuropa), "Provocation and cutting irony are the centre of the narration." (Movieplayer), ‘Hitting the right notes between philosophically interesting and relatable, After Work is an excellent piece of work" (Whatsinascene)
FESTIVALS: The film's merit has been demonstrated by the number of high-quality festivals that have chosen to screen it. After its premiere in the main competition at CPH:DOX, the film went on to 51 more festivals. Some worth mentioning are HotDocs, Chicago FF and Visions du Réel. Gandini was invited to 33 of these and represented the film and Swedish documentary at 28 of them. (see list here)
DISTRIBUTION: The film has been sold and commercially distributed in 17 territories, six of which have included cinema distribution, the other eleven have been various types of broadcast solutions mainly in free TV including platforms.
GLOBAL COVERAGE: We can see that After Work has had an international impact and the festivals that have selected After Work have an impressive global reach. In Europe it has been screened continuously since its premiere, in North America the film has reached a large number of festivals, including HotDocs (Canada), Chicago International Film Festival (USA) and DocsMX (Mexico), and in Central and South America it has been screened in Costa Rica. Asia has also recognised the film through festivals in China, India, and Taiwan. In addition, it has been distributed in the Middle East via Asharq News and screened in Australia. This distribution demonstrates the film's ability to engage a global audience around its form and theme.
AWARDS: The film has won several awards. Nominations: CPH:dox (Dox:AWARD), Chicago International Film Festival (Gold Hugo, Best Doc), Vision Du Reel IFF (nominee Grand Angle Competition), One World International Human Rights Documentary FF (nominee Best Film Award), Docville (Nominee Jury Award) special mention at Knowlton FF, Canada. After Work has also won the audience award in Millenium Docs Against Gravity and remains the most viewed title on CPH:dox's own streaming site Paradox for arecord eighteen months.
PRESS: We note that a summary of the press we have collected so far is very extensive. This link includes only Italy, Norway and Poland and covers only the total of about 164 pages of articles: Click here.
TIMING: On average, work on a documentary starts three to five years before its premiere. This was also the case with After Work, which was initiated in 2019 and premiered in spring 2023. We consider timing to be one of several parameters in the concept of quality and would therefore like to emphasise the precision of choosing a theme in 2019 that will reach its full potential by the time ChatGPT launches in 2023, fully synchronised with the film's premiere.
WORKSHOPS: In line with our original intention, we have always had the ambition that the film, in addition to craftsmanship and artistic excellence, also influences and acts as a catalyst in the public debate. The strategy has therefore been to work to include more research perspectives in the broader popular cultural public discourse. We can conclude that this strategy has worked well. In addition to the 28 festivals attended by Gandini, where there have been Q&As and discussions at all festivals, often together with researchers, the film has, as far as we know, had 49 workshops organised around screenings. The focus of these has been on Leisure Work Balance, Existential Benefits of a Four Day Work Week, Rethinking Economics, Opportunities and Threats of A.I., The Future of the Economy, The Quest for the Right to Full Time, The Future of Work, A.I.'s Effect on the Economy and Mental Health Linked to Working Life.
FILM AS A CATALYST IN THE SOCIAL DEBATE: This is clearly the film's greatest success. That After Work still continues to initiate, provoke, stimulate public conversation around the theme of work, how we see its role in our lives now and how we imagine it will be in the future.
AUDIENCE QUANTIFICABLE VALUES: Estimating international audiences for a title like After Work is not easy, we have chosen a method where we take samples from the different festivals, TV channels, platforms and distributors' results and then extract average values from these samples to find an estimated total. Using this method, we can estimate that
1.150.337 have seen the film so far, of which 114.102 have seen it in cinemas and 1.036.235 have seen it on TV or digital platforms. This figure is exl. Amazon Italia where we do not get figures. A selection of figures we used are SRF (Switzerland) 32,111 (linear), 59,231 (streaming), VPRO (Netherlands) 151,000 (linear premiere), NRK (Norway) 14,000 (linear premiere and repeat), 61,000 (Platform), Bio Italien 15,244, CPH:dox cinema audience 2,417, Cinema Sous Les Etoiles 256. Average festival audience per festival 512.
FORWARD:
Thanks to the grant Erik Gandini and Costanza Julia Bani received from the Swedish Research Council 'to communicate artistic research outside academia', AFTER WORK is currently benefitting special launch in Italy, France, Germany and Spain. In France thanks to a collaboration with the outreach agency IMPACT SOCIAL CLUB.
Below, a selection of activities connected to this.
EVENTS RELATED TO After Work and The Future Through The Present SINCE JANUARY 2024–2026
2024
ITALY
January 12, 2024, Rome
After Work screening at Kinetta space Labus at UCCA.
What will we do when we no longer have to work? Has the time really come to 'demolish' the myth of working time?
A debate on today's society, the time we devote to work and the near future of the employed in the era of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence.
March 4, 2024, Saluzzo/ Cuneo
AFTER WORK (2023) screening
March 12, 2024, Milano
After Work screening at BASE Milano.
Organized by ARCI. The events will focus on gender inequalities, with in-depth analyses of the main dimensions affecting the situation of women in the world of work, culture, and social work.
April 28, 2024, Piacenza
After Work screening ‘CINEMA AT WORK’ festival
preceded by a talk by researcher Francesca Lagioia.
In collaboration with Chamber of Labour of Piacenza - CGIL Piacenza, ARCI Piacenza and CINEMANIACI cultural association in collaboration with UCCA.
April 28, 2024
After Work screening in Benevento, Italy.
Organized by Arci and Ucca and organised by the Circolo Arci 'L'Agorà' Castelpoto, with the support of the Municipality of Castelpoto.
April 28, 2024 Valdagno
AFTER WORK screening + debate.
Teatro Cinema Super Teatro Cinema Super
April 28, 2024, PIACENZA
After Work screening with AI expert Francesca Lagioia, researcher at the law and engineering departments of the University of Bologna.
‘Work is very important, but do we live to work? And what will we do when we no longer have to work because of the automation and artificial intelligence revolution?
May 2, 2024 TORINO
Altera Cinema. After Work screening + Q&A online with E.Gandini.
May 7, 2024, PALERMO
Screening and masterclass by Erik Gandini at Museum Mare Memoria Viva / PALERMO ITALY
Organized by SEND and booq at the Ecomuseo Mare Memoria Viva.
The screening is organised as part of the Usciamo Insieme project, Department of Family and Social Policies Sicily Region. In collaboration with Ecomuseo Mare Memoria Viva
May 26, 2024
CINECLUB IVREA, ITALY
After Work screening
June 8, 2024, Capri, Villa San Michele
Screening and panel debate about documentary aesthetics with Kristina Kappelin and director Gutav Hofer.
June 24, 2024, Rome
Outdoor screening of After Work. In the major piazza Vittorio a selection of 'the best of cinema' is shown outdoors throughout June. Wim Wenders, Garrone's 'Io Capitano', Luc Besson's 'Dogman', 'Zone of interest', 'Anatomy of a Fall'..
As only documentary, After Work Documentary is screened after the Italy-Croatia game.
July 17- 2024, Carlopoli
Outdoow screening of After Work. In collaboration with
Cinemovel Foundation
July 31, 2024, SIENA
Circolo ARCI Geggiano, Siena.
First appointment with 𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐆𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐎𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
Screening of the film 'After Work' by Erik Gandini
The film explores how work influences our identity, happiness and perception of time. With stories ranging from the relentless pace of Asian metropolises to the pursuit of well-being in Nordic countries, the documentary prompts us to reflect on the value of free time and what it really means to live a fulfilling life.
September 29, 2024, MILAN
Presentation of by Erik Gandini at the Future of Work festival NOBILITA.
Radio interview at Caterpillar Radio2 with head of festival Stefania Zolotti.
October 26, 2024, MOLA DI BARI
Film screening and Master on ‘THE FUTURE THRUGH THE PRESENT’
Open tree days cultural event in th Angioino Castle.
NORWAY
January 23, 2024
After Work Documentary screening at Oslo's Artist's House.
https://kunstnerneshus.no/program/kino/after-work-plot-oslo
UK
January 27, 2024
After Work screening + Q&A w Erik Gandini at the historical London 'doc only' venue DocHouse. 'Hitting the right notes between philosophically interesting and relatable, After Work is an excellent piece of work that is gorgeously shot by Fredrik Wenzel'.
SPAIN
October 27, 2024
After Work screening at
Another Way Film Festival - AWFF in Menorca
April 16, San Sebastian, Victoria Eugenia Theatre.
After Work Documentary screening hosted by Giza Eskubideen Zinemaldia/ Cine y Derechos Humanos Donostia/ San Sebastián. Photos by Azqueta-Arts.
FRANCE
March 9, 2024
‘Another Way’-Un festival de cinéma au secours de l'environnement
After Work screening + debated hosted by Thomas Baurez
" Emerveillement, espoir et action " telle est la devise de ce Another Way Film Festival.
December 3, 2024
Strasbourg. Cinema Astra.
Projection followed by talk with Baptiste Giroult, National Education Psychologist, specializing in occupational psychology and ergonomic.
SWITZERLAND
January 5, 2024
HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL IN LUGANO SWITZERLAND
After Work screening hosted by sociologist Francesca Coin
Organized by #FFDUL
CANADA
August 8, 2024
After work Quebec premiere. Outdoor screening in Montreal’s Molson Park organized by Cinema sus le Etoiles.
August 9-12
Screenings at Festival du film de Knowlton
Q&A with festival director Julie Bradet.
October 16, 2024. Vancouver
After Work screening at the Cinematheque
Post-screening discussion with Dr. Brian Worth, psychologist. Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, series director. The screening launches FRAMES OF MIND, a monthly event utilising film to promote professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health.
DENMARK
September 6-22, 2024
Golden Days Festival This year's theme is WORK.
For three Sundays in a row starting tonight 7pm After Work Documentary screens at the magnificent Grand Teatret.
https://www.goldendays.dk/.../film-after-work-hvorfor...
POLAND
October 21, 2024
National HR conference in Warsaw, Poland.
Topic of the year ‘Work. Cult…or culture?’
Lecture by Erik Gandini https://stronakadry.pl/kongres-kadry-jesien-2024
2025
LYON
January 2025
Screening at Aquarium.
With Julie Mennel, project manager
PARIS
15 March, 2025
Screening organized by Citéco, hosted by Dominique Meda, sociologist.
UMEÅ
18 march, 2025
-BRAK conference.
Read more here
Foto: Mia Rogersdotter
Samtal mellan Mats Caldeborg, Jonna Bornemark och Erik Gandini, lett av Lena Ylipää.
ITALY
9-10 April, 2025
Pordenone, Italy.
Two days event about the future of Work, first for general audience, second for young adults. Together with author Riccardo Maggiolo, expert in work ideology, technology and current dilemmas related to a work ethic increasingly incompatible, soon obsolete with the need of modern society.
BERLIN
23 June, 2025
Sold out screening at Grossplanetarium followed by discussion with Janine Bush from Mein Grundeinkommen, head of the ambitious "Pilotprojekt Grundeinkommen".
This is the largest independent research project into the effects of UBI in Germany. It explores what happens in the life of 122 people granted 1200€ a month for three years.
Did they get lazy, unhealthy and unhappy? Quite the opposite.
Read more here
Photo: Doxumentale
LUXEMBOURG
9-10 July, 2025
Two screenings with digital Q&A at CINE SURA, Luxembourg.
BRAZIL
22-27 August, 2025
Presentation at BIEN. At the congress in Rio de Janeiro, Gandini presented his film AFTER WORK together with his research project The Future Through the Present. The film was shown to an engaged audience and followed by in-depth discussions, which clearly underlined how artistic expression can contribute unique and necessary perspectives to the debate on the future of working life and economic systems. Se bilder och text här:
https://www.uniarts.se/english/news/news/news-autumn-2025/artistic-research-takes-centre-stage-at-the-world-s-largest-basic-income-congress/
STOCKHOLM
14 December, 2025
After Work screening and talk by E. Gandini at CINEMATEKET in Stockholm. Seasonal film series on the topic of Work.
https://www.filminstitutet.se/sv/se-och-samtala-om-film/cinemateket-stockholm/filmer/?filmId=13916&cityId=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawR5VCFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeI-O7Rpm3yqtqFJbcTKO62amqnD8Yud7fCYcLN_FHwOKdKbyhdjve388KK0A_aem_y7Ea5RsTublWf0JQUTIxYg
2026
STOCKHOLM
12 February, 2026
Kulturhuset screening and panel. https://www.uniarts.se/english/news/events/events-spring-2026/film-screening-after-work-framtidens-livsval/
Photo credit: E. Gandini
POLEN
18-19 March, 2026
Warsaw-KOKON festival. An event in the Polish capital about the complicated relation between science and art. After Work screening and talk with prominent sociologist Iwona Kurz. Followed the 19th by Master Class about science and art by E. Gandini.
Foto credit: "CWiD UW."
FRANKFURT
23 March, 2026
This screening took place at VHS, an established adult education center in Frankfurt Oder.
The department typically focuses on films that touch upon historical topics, such as former
GDR films, and less frequently addresses contemporary societal issues. By introducing the
film here, the event brought a new and relevant perspective to an audience with limited prior
exposure to the subject. Despite the small group size, the discussion was highly engaged
and thoughtful, providing an important first point of contact and expanding awareness of the
topic in the local community.
Moderator: Uta Kurzwelly, Head of Department for Political, Cultural and Health Education.
Audience: Participants from the local adult education community.
BERLIN
1 April, 2026
Internal Screening with ML6 at Merantix AI Campus, Berlin
Hosted in collaboration with the AI company ML6 within a leading innovation hub, this event
connected the film’s themes to contemporary debates on the future of work and
technological transformation. The setting enabled direct dialogue with professionals actively
shaping technological developments, creating a bridge between the film’s narrative and realworld
innovation. The discussion allowed participants to reflect on the ethical, social, and
labor-related implications of technological change.
Moderator: Juliane Teuchert, Project Manager, ML6
Audience: Professionals, researchers, and tech practitioners from ML6
TYSKLAND
8 April, 2026
Public Community Screening at BALI-Kino, Kassel
https://www.filmladen.de/film/after-work-die-zukunft-der-arbeit
This event brings together academic, activist, and public perspectives to deepen
engagement with the film’s themes. By combining expertise from different fields, the
discussion links theoretical insights, lived experience, and societal implications. The event
encourages reflection on both structural and individual dimensions of labor and social
change.
Moderator: Jule Krukewitt
Speakers: Dr. Ohly, Professor of Business Psychology at the University of Kassel, and two
representatives from the activist group 4-Stunden-Liga (Four-Hour League)
Audience: General public, students, and local community members
BERLIN
15 April, 2026
Public Community Screening at Max Delbrück Center, Berlin
Read more here
This event takes place within a leading biomedical research environment and brings the film
into direct dialogue with a science-driven and innovation-focused context. By engaging
researchers and scientific staff, it connects the film’s themes to ongoing developments in
research, technology, and their societal implications. The setting creates a space for
interdisciplinary exchange, linking scientific perspectives with broader questions around
labor, ethics, and the future of work, thereby expanding the conversation beyond cultural
and public spheres.
Moderator: Daniella Tamayo Correa
Speakers: PhD candidates and scientists from the Max Delbrück Center
Audience: Primarily researchers, PhD candidates, and staff from the Max Delbrück Center,
alongside invited guests from the wider scientific community and interested members of the
public. Capacity up to 150 participants.
TYSKLAND
17 April, 2026
Public Community Screening at Thinkfarm Eberswalde (with VHS Barnim)
Read more here
This event extends outreach to a regional audience by combining educational and
community-driven approaches. By hosting the screening in a semi-rural context, it
strengthens engagement beyond major urban centers and fosters dialogue on the film’s
themes among local communities and adult education participants. The cooperation
between the coworking space Thinkfarm Eberswalde and VHS Barnim aims to reach a
diverse regional audience.
Organized in collaboration with VHS Barnim
Audience: Local community members and adult education participants
POLEN
23 April, 2026
EEC-Katowice.
Read more here
Stockholm University of the Arts at the European Economic Congress: After Work in dialogue with business and finance
Professor Erik Gandini of Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH) presented his film After Work at this year’s European Economic Congress in Katowice, one of Europe’s leading meeting places for discussions on the future of the economy, business and society.
Developed within the framework of artistic research at SKH, After Work was featured in a special screening hosted in collaboration with Bank Millennium. The screening was followed by a public conversation between Erik Gandini and Marcin Balicki, President of Millennium Leasing and member of the Board of the Bank Millennium Foundation.
The discussion explored the role of work not only as a source of income, but also as a foundation for meaning, security and the economic decisions that shape everyday life. In a time marked by automation, artificial intelligence and rapidly changing labour models, the event opened up a broad conversation on how new technologies are transforming both society and the economy.
“What made this occasion so remarkable was precisely its context: a film born out of artistic research at SKH taking centre stage at a leading European conference on economics. Very unique, very inspiring!’. Says Erik Gandini. Photo credit: EEC
