Event Details
Fribourg International Film Festival 2027 – 41st Edition
From Friday 12 to Sunday 21 March 2027, the Festival International du Film de Fribourg (FIFF) returns for its 41st edition. For ten days, the bilingual Swiss city of Fribourg becomes an international hub for world cinema. The FIFF is one of Europe's most distinctive film festivals, dedicated to bringing films from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe to audiences who would rarely encounter them in mainstream western cinemas.
What Makes FIFF Unique?
The FIFF positions itself as a bridge between cultures. Unlike most major film festivals, the official competition deliberately excludes productions from Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Russia and Switzerland itself. The spotlight falls instead on filmmakers from the Global South and Eastern Europe whose work rarely reaches western screens.
Sections and Program
The festival program is structured around several distinct sections. At its heart sit the International Competitions: a feature film competition for fiction and documentary films over 60 minutes, and a short film competition for works under 30 minutes. Alongside these, a rich selection of parallel sections rounds out the program.
- New Territory: An in-depth focus on the cinema of one selected country or region, with filmmakers invited to attend screenings and discussions.
- Genre Cinema: A thematically curated series with a different focus each year.
- Hommage: Films selected by a special guest who has made a lasting contribution to world cinema.
- Terra Incognita: Works from countries whose cinematic output is virtually unknown in the west.
- Passeport Suisse: Films by Swiss directors made abroad or international films connected to Switzerland.
- Out of Competition: Contemporary films screened outside the competition that have rarely or never been shown in Switzerland.
- Planète Cinéma: A dedicated schools program with screenings, workshops and filmmaker encounters for young audiences.
Awards and Prizes
Each year FIFF distributes awards totalling nearly CHF 50,000. The most prestigious prizes include the Grand Prix for best feature film, the Special Jury Prize, the Audience Award, the Ecumenical Jury Award, the Youth Jury Award and the Critics Choice Award. The short film competition awards a top prize of CHF 4,000.
Tickets and Prices
Single screening tickets are priced at CHF 17 (standard) and CHF 15 (reduced rate). Holders of a Culture Card pay CHF 10 per screening. Festival passes and day passes covering multiple screenings are also available and are the best option for visitors planning to attend across several days. Tickets can be purchased online and from box offices in Fribourg from early March. Please note that box offices do not accept cash; payment is by card, TWINT or Postcard only.
Venues
The main screening venues are the Arenas Cinémas near Fribourg's main railway station and Fribourg Centre, which hosts both screenings and public activities including workshops and interactive events. All key festival locations are within easy walking distance of each other and are well served by public transport.
Visitor Tips
- Book tickets for popular screenings early online, as sought-after films sell out quickly.
- Fribourg is easily reached by train from Bern (around 20 minutes), Lausanne and Zurich.
- The daily pass also functions as a public transport ticket for zone 10 of the Frimobil network on your visit day.
- Festival pass holders receive discounts at partner restaurants and bars in the city centre.
- The festival is bilingual in French and German; many screenings include English subtitles.
- Book accommodation in Fribourg or nearby Bern well in advance, as the city's hotel capacity is limited during the festival period.
