The festival takes place every year in March. It hosts a feature films competition, a short films competition and several parallel sections. FIFF runs projects all year long such as cultural mediation or its involvement in supporting productions.
Its mission statement:
The Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) discovers new and original film-making from around the world, especially Asia, Africa and Latin America, and its carefully curated competition programme serves as a showcase for these works. FIFF is an event which prizes excellence and embraces all cultures and genres, from intimate, introspective works right through to big-budget productions. At the same time, it offers a unique, welcoming and relaxed space for informal dialogue and encounters. FIFF is also passionate about spotting emerging talent and bringing these gifted film makers into FIFF’s extended family
FIFF is an effective and committed cultural mediator, a conveyor of emotions and a firm believer in the power of cultural and linguistic diversity in film.
Details informations about the Festival's structure are available hereunder:
THE TEAM
The Festival takes place every year in March and takes part in projects all year long. FIFF employs nine persons on a yearly contract and about fifteen others join the team for the months before the Festival. Each edition is possible with the help of a great number of volunteers.
The executive direction is seperated between the head of operation and the artistic direction. Philippe Clivaz directs operation since October 2019 and Thierry Jobin is FIFF's artistic director since May 2011.
More insights about the team:
• The team 2022-2023
• Job offers
• Organisation chart (in French)
THE ASSOCIATION
The Fribourg International Film Festival Association is the funding body of the Festival. Founded in 1987 with headquater in Fribourg, the non-profit organization aims to promote the understanding between the cultures and more particularly between the so-called North and South. It gives preference to films that stimulate reflection and provoke discussion.
The Association is formed by Festival friends and active members (individuals or collective membership) and counts almost 300 persons. The membership fees contribute to the organization of the Festival. They are also connected to some interesting advantages. Become a friend or a member of the festival too.
More insights about the board:
Board members
Mathieu Fleury Since November 2018 |  |
Marine Jordan Since 2019 |  |
Christine Eggs Since 2019 |  |
Beki Probst Since 2020 | |
Geraldine Zeuner Since 2020 |  |
Xavier Barras Since 2019 |  |
Paul-Albert Nobs Since 2017 |  |
Thierry Savary Since 2019 |  |
Dominique Willemin Since 2007 |  |
Former presidents
Magda Bossy
Ivan Stern
Paul Jubin
Jean-Paul Rüttimann
Charles Ridoré
Jean-François Giovannini
Ruth Lüthi
Walter Stoffel
François Nordmann
Founding and institutional members
Helvetas
Action de Carême
Déclaration de Berne (today's name Public Eye)
Pain pour le Prochain
Swissaid
And joined later by l’Entraide Protestante (EPER), Frères sans frontières (today's name E-changer), Groupes volontaires d’outre-mer (GVOM) and Magasins du Monde
Board of Honour
FIFF gathers each year a Board of honour. It consists of leading figures from the political, economic, cultural and film industry world who wish to support the goals and the spirit of the Festival.
Board of honour 2022
ALAIN BERSET
Federal Councillor
Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs
IRÈNE KÄLIN
President of the National Council
OLIVIER CURTY
President of the Cantonal Government, Fribourg
Cantonal Minister of Economy and Employment
JEAN-PIERRE DOUTAZ
President of the Cantonal Parliament, Fribourg
RUTH DREIFUSS
Former Federal Councillor
JOSEPH DEISS
Former Federal Councillor
President of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly
SYLVIE BONVIN-SANSONNENS
Member of the Cantonal Government, Fribourg
Cantonal Minister of Public Education and Culture
FABIEN FIVAZ
President of the National Council Science, Education and Culture Committee
JACQUES BOURGEOIS
National Councillor
CHRISTINE BULLIARD-MARBACH
National Councillor
VALÉRIE PILLER CARRARD
National Councillor
PIERRE-ANDRÉ PAGE
National Councillor
URSULA SCHNEIDER SCHÜTTEL
National Councillor
MARIE-FRANCE ROTH PASQUIER
National Councillor
GERHARD ANDREY
National Councillor
JOHANNA GAPANY
Member of the Council of States
ISABELLE CHASSOT
Member of the Council of States
CARINE BACHMANN
Director of the Federal Office of Culture
ASTRID EPINEY
Rector of the University of Fribourg
LISE-MARIE GRADEN
Prefect of the La Sarine district
RENÉ SCHNEUWLY
President of the Greater Fribourg Council (Comité de l'Agglomération de Fribourg)
THIERRY STEIERT
Mayor of the City of Fribourg
DAVID AEBISCHER
President of the Communal Parliament, City of Fribourg
LAURENT DIETRICH
Member of the Communal Parliament, City of Fribourg
Director of the Communal Department of Culture
PHILIPPE TRINCHAN
Head of the Cantonal Office of Culture, Fribourg
NATACHA ROOS
Head of the Communal Office of Culture, City of Fribourg
GÉRARD RUEY
President of the Federal Film Commission
MATTHIAS AEBISCHER
President of Cinésuisse
JEAN-PAUL MONNEY
President of the Fribourg Committee of the Loterie Romande
GILLES MARCHAND
Director-General SRG SSR
PASCAL CRITTIN
Director of Radio Télévision Suisse RTS
FRANÇOIS MAURON
Editor-in-chief, La Liberté
FRÉDÉRIC MAIRE
Director of Cinémathèque suisse
CATHERINE MÜHLEMANN
President of Swiss Films
VALENTIN BLANK
Director Suissimage
STEFAN DOBLER
President of the Conférence des Festivals
FACTS AND FIGURES
Here are a few statistics from FIFF 2022:
You can find more insights in French and German in the yearly reports (open in PDF):
Report 2022/2023
Report 2021/2022
Report 2020/2021
Report 2019/2020
Report 2018/2019
Report 2017/2018
Report 2016/2017
Report 2015/2016
Report 2014/2015
Report 2013/2014
Report 2012/2013
FIFF IS MEMBER OF...
Association Ancienne Gare
Association K / Verein C
Chambre du commerce et de l’industrie du Canton de Fribourg
Coopérative Maison des artistes
Cinéducation
Conférence des festivals
Final Cut Venice
Fribourg Films.
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