Westerns from all over the world, a focus on Bangladesh and several programme sections with prominent Swiss figures: new Artistic Director Thierry Jobin and Secretary General Esther Widmer announced the concept of the 26th edition of the International Film Festival Fribourg at a presentation given at the Solothurner Filmtage. For the first time, the FIFF introduces annually recurring parallel sections, which highlight thematic core areas. Amongst other things they include sections devoted to the genre film, regional film industries that have received very little attention in the past or the phenomenon of Diaspora. The latter allows a Swiss celebrity to present cinematographic treasures from his ancestral homeland. This programme section will kick off with cartoonist Patrick Chappatte, who introduces us to films from the Lebanon. 

Under the auspices of renewal

The International Competition and the Short Film programme constitute the backbone of the Festival. To this traditional high point of the Festival, new, so-called parallel sections have been added, providing thematic compartments with a changing emphasis from year to year. This includes the section "Decryption", which analyses socially volatile topics and which, in 2012, will focus on the image of Islam in western films. The programme section "Sur la carte de..." offers an internationally connected Filmmaker the opportunity to unfurl his personal map of the world. In 2012, Georges Schwizgebel, the doyen of Swiss animated cartoons, will kick off with a "Voyage through the world of animation films".

Established Filmmakers and New Discoveries

The FIFF honours Jurassic producer Pierre-Alain Meier at this year's Festival edition. The latter's committment for African cinema and his reputation as a builder of bridges between cultures are legendary - the FIFF is proud to bring a selection of his films back on Swiss screens. Today, many countries still escape the radar screen of the international film market. With its parallel section "Terra Incognita", the FIFF will provide a platform for them, inaugurating the programme 2012 with Bangladeshi films.

Short Films and School Programme

This year's selection of short films and the school programme - a traditional highlight for over 8000 children and youth from the region - were presented by Deputy Director, Delphine Jeanneret. In collaboration with "réseau cinema", the FIFF continues to provide workshops for teachers and students as well as tailor-made teaching material in French and German.

The 26th edition of the Festival International des Films de Fribourg (FIFF) has adopted the goal of fostering dialogue between different cultural regions. Changes in the world, in the means of communication and the aspirations of filmmakers from all countries make it possible today, more than ever before, for the FIFF to serve as a platform for contemporary filmmaking and international exchange. More than 30'000 spectators from all over Switzerland are expected this year. The budget of approximately CHF2 millions is composed of substantial contributions from institutional partners and sponsors, as well as ticket sales.

Save the Date

Put March 7, 2012 on your calendar right away!  That is the day when the press conference will be held at 10.30 a.m. in Fribourg, where over 100 films on the programme will be announced. And of course, we will also reveal the much-anticipated names of the 12 films in competition.

26th International Film Festival Fribourg, 24th - 31st March 2012

Starticket: Advance Ticket Sale available from 8 March 2012

Accreditations

Accreditations are available now. The online form is posted on our website:

http://www.fiff.ch/en/238/242/accreditations/accreditation-request.html

Application deadline: 9 March 2012

Website/Interviews

Don't hesitate to contact our press team for further information or visit our continuously updated website http://www.fiff.ch/. We are also happy to organise interviews with filmmakers, the Festival's Artistic Director and its Secretary General.

The Team of the Festival International de Films de Fribourg

List of individual programme sections

International Competition

The main section of the Festival includes 10 - 15 current independent films from non-European countries. No priority is given to any film style or genre. Quality is the only criterion.

Short film competition

The Festival's short films are a barometer of current trends and a treasure trove of new talents. Since 2008, each season has hosted three programme blocks.

Genre film

This programme section is devoted each year to a specific film genre and explores the ways that it is adapted all over the world. In 2012, the starting gun will usher in the Western - with Soviet, South African, Brazilian, Mexican or Indian origins.

Terra Incognita

There are still countries that are not on the radar screen of the international film market. The FIFF has now created a platform for such cultural spheres. The voyage of discovery will begin in 2012 with Bangladesh.

Diaspora

What films do immigrants watch to stay in touch with their homeland? A Swiss celebrity selects film favourites from their community of origin for the FIFF. In 2012 Patrick Chappatte, political cartoonist, opens the programme section with a film perspective on Lebanon.

Sur la carte de....

Every year the FIFF offers an internationally connected Filmmaker the opportunity to unfurl his personal map of the world. In 2012, Georges Schwizgebel, the doyen of Swiss animated cartoons, will kick off with a "Voyage through the world of animation films".

Decryption

Each year, this interdisciplinary programme section takes an explosive social theme as the subject of an in-depth analysis. Films with powerful messages on how Islam is portrayed in the West open the forum in 2012.

Passeport Suisse

Throughout the year, many Swiss filmmakers travel to the farthest corners of the world and there make - for the most part - documentary films. For a full day, the FIFF screens Swiss views on the world, paired with a special exhibition in the evening.

Homage

Each year this section honours the cinematographic work of an individual who has made an exceptional contribution as a builder of bridges between cultures. In 2012, Pierre-Alain Meier, a producer from the Jura, and African cinema are front and centre.

Carte Blanche à...

For a number of years, the FIFF has awarded a Carte Blanche to one of the Swiss Film Festivals. In 2012, under the sign of the Leopard, Olivier Père, the artistic director of the Locarno Festival has been selected.

Midnight screenings

As a new initiative, the FIFF is offering midnight screenings of films that are not meant for the faint of heart! We are talking about action, horror and erotic movies.