FIFF, Fribourg International Film Festival

What FIFF, Fribourg International Film Festival does

FIFF (Fribourg International Film Festival) is a Swiss non-profit association (Association du Festival International du Film de Fribourg, founded 1987) that has organized an annual international film festival since 1980. Headquartered at the renovated Ancienne Gare building in Fribourg, the festival runs each March and is recognized as one of Switzerland's five most important film festivals, with a distinctive curatorial focus on cinema from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe — a positioning that has earned it UNESCO recognition and a documented track record of platforming filmmakers who later achieved international prominence.

The festival's product portfolio centers on the annual event itself (108-114 films from 52-62 countries, 300+ screenings, 51,000+ attendees) and extends into seven branded sub-programmes: Planète Cinéma (school screenings reaching ~12,000 students), Le Petit FIFF (family programming), Les Délices du FIFF (monthly film-and-dinner events), Une Histoire de Fribourg (local short film competition), the new Fribourg Cinema Award (jointly with the University of Fribourg), year-round workshops, and cultural mediation projects with seniors and community organizations. Revenue is generated through five streams: ticket sales and screenings, FIFF Club memberships (CHF 800-2,000/year), Association memberships (CHF 30-160/year), professional accreditations (CHF 75-125), and a mix of corporate partnerships (main partner BCF FKB) plus institutional subsidies from Canton and Ville de Fribourg, the Swiss federal DDC, and donor foundations.

Operationally, FIFF runs on a lean team of 9 permanent staff supplemented by ~15 seasonal workers during the festival month, governed by an 8-member board under President Mathieu Fleury with a dual leadership structure pairing Artistic Director Thierry Jobin (since 2011) with Operational Director Philippe Clivaz (since 2019). The 40th edition took place in March 2026 and the 41st is scheduled for March 2027, signalling organizational stability and continuity.

Name

FIFF, Fribourg International Film Festival

Legal name

Festival International du Film de Fribourg

Website

https://fiff.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FIFF is a Swiss non-profit association operating an annual March film festival in Fribourg dedicated to cinema from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, serving general audiences, students (~12,000/year), film professionals, and members through competitions, year-round cultural mediation, and premium membership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival Services

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

Keywords

• International film festival
• Cultural mediation programs
• Film competitions
• Cinema education
• Festival screenings

Headquarters

HQ city

Fribourg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales and screenings: Revenue from public screenings, school screenings, and special events during the annual festival and year-round programming
2. FIFF Club memberships: Annual memberships (Standard CHF 800, Premium CHF 2,000) providing VIP access, opening/closing ceremony invitations, and exclusive events
3. Association membership fees: Individual memberships (CHF 90/year), couple memberships (CHF 160/year), young members under 26 (CHF 30/year)
4. Professional accreditations: Film professionals and teachers pay CHF 75 for accreditation (CHF 125 during festival) for access to screenings and events
5. Corporate partnerships and sponsorships: Main partner (BCF FKB), institutional partners (Canton, Ville, DDC), co-partners, and media partners provide funding and support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FIFF (Festival International du Film de Fribourg) is a Swiss non-profit film festival organization that produces an annual international film festival in Fribourg, Switzerland, dedicated to films from the Global South (Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe). It runs international competitions for feature and short films, parallel thematic sections, an educational school program (Planète Cinéma), family programming (Le Petit FIFF), cultural mediation workshops, and a monthly film-and-dinner series (Les Délices du FIFF).

Product overview

FIFF (Festival International du Film de Fribourg) is a Swiss film festival organization offering the annual FIFF festival as its core product, featuring international competitions for feature and short films. The portfolio includes educational programming (Planète Cinéma for schools, Le Petit FIFF for families), cultural mediation projects (workshops, Une Histoire de Fribourg short film competition), special events (Les Délices du FIFF film-dinner series), and membership programs (FIFF Club, Association of the Festival). The festival runs in March annually in Fribourg, Switzerland, with parallel sections and the prestigious Fribourg Cinema Award. It employs approximately 9 permanent staff with 15 additional seasonal workers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Planète Cinéma: The FIFF's school programme presenting films appropriate for young audiences from primary school to high school students, with workshops and educational activities.
• Fribourg Cinema Award
• Le Petit FIFF
• Les Délices du FIFF
• Une Histoire de Fribourg
• Visions sud est
• Final Cut in Venice

Products and services

• Festival International du Film de Fribourg (FIFF) Annual international film festival featuring feature and short film competitions, parallel sections, juried awards, and screenings for general audiences.
• International Competition: Feature Films Annual competition showcasing about twelve new feature film productions from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe competing for the Grand Prix (CHF 30,000) and other awards totaling CHF 70,000.
• International Competition: Short Films Competition for short films from filmmakers in OECD development assistance-eligible countries, awarding CHF 4,000 to the best short film.
• Parallel Sections Six to seven parallel sections including Genre Cinema, Make It Family Time, Decryption, Hommage, New Territory (focusing on specific countries), and Fribourg Cinema Award.
• Fribourg Cinema Award Joint prize by FIFF and University of Fribourg recognizing outstanding contribution to cinema through art, with the winner receiving an honorary degree.
• Planète Cinéma FIFF's school programme presenting age-appropriate films for young audiences from primary school to high school, with workshops and educational activities, reaching approximately 12,000 students annually.
• Le Petit FIFF Family-oriented programme inviting children aged 2-3 and up to experience cinema, with mediation support for families to share cultural film experiences together.
• Les Délices du FIFF Monthly event pairing film screenings with themed dinners at local restaurants in Fribourg, organized in partnership with Arena Cinemas and La Mobilière (CHF 70 for film screening and dinner).
• Une Histoire de Fribourg Annual short film competition inviting residents of Fribourg canton to create 5-minute films on themed topics, with prizes totaling CHF 3,350.
• Workshops & Cultural Projects Year-round cultural mediation activities including workshops on film history (CHF 200/90 min), festival organization (CHF 170), stop-motion animation, and in-class film activities (CHF 100/session).
• FIFF Club Annual membership program offering benefits including VIP evening invitations, opening/closing ceremony access, pop-up event invitations, and VIP lounge access. Standard: CHF 800/year; Premium: CHF 2,000/year.
• Association of the Festival Non-profit membership organization supporting the festival. Individual: CHF 90/year; Couple: CHF 160/year; Young (under 26): CHF 30/year, with benefits including advance program previews and closing ceremony invitations.
• Professional Accreditations Accreditation program for film professionals, journalists, and teachers providing access to screenings, press materials, and industry events. CHF 75 processing fee (CHF 125 during festival).

Quantifiable outcome

• 51,193+ audience members annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BCF FKB (Banque Cantonale de Fribourg)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor/partner of FIFF. BCF FKB provides support for the festival and sponsors the Audience Award (CHF 5,000).
• Canton of Fribourg (Etat de Fribourg)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner providing funding. Co-sponsor of Grand Prix (CHF 20,000 of CHF 30,000 total).
• Ville de FribourgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal partner co-sponsoring Grand Prix (CHF 10,000 of CHF 30,000 total).
• DDC OFC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner supporting international development focus of the festival.
• Agglo FribourgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional development agency partner.
• La MobilièrecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-partner providing support for festival events and Les Délices du FIFF programming.
• Arena CinemascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain venue partner for festival screenings. Partnership for Les Délices du FIFF monthly events.
• Swiss Wine ValaisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Special Jury Award (CHF 5,000).
• University of Fribourg (Unifr)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint creator of Fribourg Cinema Award. Provides honorary degree to award recipient. Collaborates on Youth Jury Award and cultural projects.
• FribourgissimaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Youth Jury Award (CHF 5,000).
• INTERFILM and SIGNISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical Jury Award sponsors (CHF 5,000 jointly) for films expressing values of justice, dignity, and solidarity.
• Action de CarêmeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Ecumenical Jury Award and partner for Soupe de Carême event.
• Pro Senectute FribourgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Seniors' Jury Award (CHF 1,000) and senior screening programs.
• CH Cinema NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent jury awarding CHF 3,000 prize. Consortium of Swiss film schools (ECAL, HEAD, ZHdK, UNIL, USI, UZH).
• Schweizer Jugendfilmtage (SJFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Prix Röstigraben award for Swiss film students.
• Visions sud estminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production fund supporting filmmakers from the South. FIFF involvement in supporting productions.
• Final Cut in VeniceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIFF involvement in post-production support program for films from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Near and Middle East.
• RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMain media partner providing coverage and visibility.
• SRG SSRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss public broadcasting corporation as main media partner.
• La LibertéminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional newspaper as main media partner providing press coverage.
• Freiburger NachrichtenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional newspaper as main media partner.
• VarietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational entertainment industry publication as media partner providing international coverage.
• Nouveau MondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural center partner for Le Petit FIFF family programming since 2017.
• ECAB (Ecole Cantonale d'Art de Bulle)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Une Histoire de Fribourg short film competition.
• Union Fribourgeoise du TourismeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Une Histoire de Fribourg short film competition.
• #cinéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth cinema association choosing and presenting films at FIFF since multiple years.
• ParMi FribourgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation organizing sponsorships for unaccompanied refugee youth attending FIFF.
• MEMO (biblio&ludo+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary partner for workshops and cultural mediation activities.
• Fribourg Films.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional audiovisual association providing technical support for Une Histoire de Fribourg competition.
• Conférence des FestivalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival conference network for collaboration among Swiss film festivals.
• Cinémathèque suisseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Film Archive as cultural partner.
• E-CHANGERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of Foreign Visa Award (CHF 1,000) with Fribourg-Solidaire.
• Taurus Recording StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeneva studio providing one day of audio post-production (worth CHF 1,000) for Special Emerging Talent Award.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Visions du Réel: Swiss documentary film festival held annually in Nyon. Comparable as a non-profit Swiss festival with international scope, public and institutional funding, and competitive programming; differs in its documentary focus rather than Global South feature films.
• Zurich Film Festival: Annual international film festival in Zurich with industry and audience programming. Comparable as a Swiss festival of similar mid-scale reach with corporate sponsorship, accreditations, and competitive sections, though broader in thematic focus.
• Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF): Annual Swiss film festival held in Geneva focusing on digital and emerging cinema forms. Comparable as a mid-scale Swiss festival with institutional partnerships, year-round programming, and cultural mediation activities.
• Solothurn Film Festival: Swiss annual film festival dedicated primarily to Swiss cinema, held in Solothurn each January. Comparable as a domestic Swiss festival of similar scale with competitive sections, professional accreditation programs, and public funding dependence.
• Locarno Film Festival: Switzerland's most prominent film festival, held annually in Locarno. Directly comparable as a Swiss annual film festival with international programming, competitive sections, and institutional/corporate sponsorship model, though at significantly larger scale and broader thematic scope.
• Festival des 3 Continents (Three Continents Festival): Annual festival in Nantes, France dedicated to cinema from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The closest thematic peer to FIFF—same Global South focus, competitive juries, and discovery-of-new-talents mandate—though FIFF also covers Eastern Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Busan International Film Festival: Asia's largest film festival, held annually in Busan with strong Asian cinema focus. Comparable as a major regional festival with Asian filmmaker discovery mandate; FIFF's prior artistic director Martial Knaebel received a Korean Film Award there in 2006.
• Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale): Major annual German film festival with global programming including world cinema sections. Comparable as a large-scale public-funded international festival with competitive sections, though broader in geographic and thematic coverage than FIFF.
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): One of the world's largest publicly attended film festivals, held annually in Toronto. Comparable as a major international festival with competitive and parallel sections, industry programming, and significant public/institutional support, but at substantially larger scale.
• Cannes Film Festival: The world's most prestigious film festival, held annually in Cannes. Comparable as a major international film festival with competitive sections and global filmmaker engagement, but at vastly larger scale, broader thematic scope, and commercial reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/festival-international-du-film-de-fribourg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FIFF, Fribourg International Film Festival