Blame (2026)

Interesting facts

Blame is a 2025 Swiss documentary film directed and produced by Christian Frei. The film investigates the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on three prominent scientists: bat virus expert Linfa Wang, virologist Zhengli Shi, and zoologist Peter Daszak. It contrasts their scientific work with the political turmoil and conspiracy theories that emerged during the global health crisis. The feature-length film premiered on April 4, 2025, as the opening film of the 56th Visions du Réel International Film Festival in Nyon, Switzerland.

Production

Director Christian Frei began his "cinematic journey" shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak began. Due to the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the pandemic's origins, filming was conducted discreetly to protect both the locations and the participants.

Filming started in November 2022 at the 7th World One Health Congress in Singapore. The production crew traveled extensively through Southeast Asia, including to Thailand to document fieldwork at Wat Luang Phrommawat, a temple where scientists test fruit bats for the Nipah virus.

The main cinematography was handled by Peter Indergand and Filip Zumbrunn, with a score composed by Marcel Vaid and additional music by Jóhann Jóhannsson. The 123-minute film was co-written by Trine Piil.

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