On July 5, 2026, UPF Upper Austria and the Holzknecht Museum hosted a movie afternoon in Reichraming. While waiting for all the nearly 30 guests to arrive, attendees enjoyed coffee and cake and had the opportunity to tour the Holzknecht Museum, just behind the Peace Bridge.
Ms. Pammer then explained the background of the Peace Bridge, and since pictures often speak louder than words, we showed an inspiring short film about the bridge’s creation.
After taking a group photo on the Peace Bridge, the former mayor presented Ms. Pammer a 28-page essay with 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
Mr. 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 as to how reconciliation and lasting peace can 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.
Despite the sad subject, it was very hopeful to see that there are many people who care about the fate of others and who use their respective skills to contribute to a better society.
Background
Seventeen years ago, Bogdan Pammer and some of his Austrian friends invited a group of young adults from Israel and Palestine to spend a week in Upper Austria for fellowship and to work on 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 business, the young people cooperated in building a bridge. This Peace Bridge consists of two diverging platforms, symbolizing Israel and Palestine, connected by a metal bridge - a symbol of hope.
Although political arguments developed in the evenings when each group presented its culture, in the days working together side by side, sawing and hammering, they were able to forget the traumatic experiences they had endured back home.
Since then, the Peace Bridge has required some repairs as it often been used for many events, such as readings by a Holocaust survivor, Peace Roads, and weddings. And even after 17 years, the participants from that time still maintain contact.