Geneva Film Festival to Feature Mira Nair, Fanny Herrero and Swiss Cinema

The Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) will return from October 30 to November 8, 2026, bringing Swiss productions, international filmmakers and experimental audiovisual projects to Geneva. The festival’s 32nd edition will feature Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair, French screenwriter Fanny Herrero and a programme spanning feature films, television series and immersive digital experiences.

Organisers have announced a programme that combines established international names with emerging and independent creative talent. Swiss productions will also have a prominent place, including a co-production selected for the international feature-film competition.

Mira Nair to Receive the Film & Beyond Award

Mira Nair will receive the festival’s Film & Beyond Award in recognition of her filmmaking career. The Indian-American director is known internationally for her work across independent and mainstream cinema.

During the festival, Nair is also scheduled to discuss her work with Vinzenz Hediger, director of the Swiss Cinematheque. The appearance will give audiences an opportunity to hear about her filmmaking approach and career directly from the director.

Nair’s participation is one of the international highlights of this year’s event. Her visit also reflects the festival’s emphasis on connecting cinema with broader conversations about artistic practice and audiovisual culture.

Fanny Herrero to Take Part in Discussions and Screenings

French screenwriter Fanny Herrero will participate in a moderated discussion, while works associated with her career will be presented through screenings or excerpts. Her television credits include Call My Agent! — known in French as Dix Pour Cent — and Drôle.

The programme is also set to include the 2026 film sequel to Dix Pour Cent. Herrero’s presence brings television writing into a festival that covers more than conventional cinema, connecting screenwriting, series production and the wider audiovisual industry.

Swiss Cinema Takes Centre Stage

Swiss productions will be represented across several festival sections. According to the festival announcement reported by Keystone-SDA, 113 works are scheduled to be screened, including 15 from Switzerland. More than two-thirds of the works are described as Swiss, international or world premieres. Forty titles will compete across the feature-film, series, immersive-experience and Future Is Sensible competitions.

One of the Swiss entries in the international feature-film competition is Les Indes, directed by Geneva-based filmmakers Pauline Julier and Nicolas Chapoulier. The Swiss-Spanish co-production follows three men travelling through difficult territory in the mid-17th century to deliver a portrait of the Infanta of Spain to the young Louis XIV.

The film runs for 81 minutes and is listed for its Swiss premiere at GIFF. Its selection places a Swiss co-production alongside nine other international works in the feature-film competition.

Other Swiss titles listed by the festival include Frank & Louis, directed by Petra Volpe, and Virages, directed by Céline Carridroit and Aline Suter. Frank & Louis explores the relationship between prison inmates, including a man living with Alzheimer’s disease. Virages follows a Geneva woman who decides to restore an old Volkswagen Beetle.

The programme also includes Placée, a series created by Léa Fazer, Mathilde Henzelin and Sébastien Meier. Its story centres on a new mother struggling to care for her child while confronting unexplained sadness. These selections demonstrate the range of subjects and formats represented by Swiss filmmakers at the festival.

Taiwan in Focus

Taiwanese film production will receive special attention outside the competitions. The selection ranges from In the Mist, a 2020 short film by Tung-Yen Chou, to Just for You, a virtual-reality trilogy from 2025 by Craig Quintero. The programme brings different approaches to storytelling together, from short-form cinema to immersive digital work.

The festival will also close with Arrested Memory, a 2026 Taiwanese-Japanese action comedy directed by Japanese filmmaker Sabu. Its central character is a police investigator who suffers from amnesia. The closing selection adds an international genre film to a programme that also explores experimental and artistic audiovisual formats.

Immersive Experiences and Digital Creativity

GIFF’s programme extends beyond traditional screenings. The festival includes immersive works, virtual-reality projects, digital installations and interactive experiences, reflecting its focus on developments in audiovisual storytelling.

The official programme lists Swiss immersive projects such as Captures, Future Frontiers, Sunset Motel and Res Natura. These works explore different combinations of sound, imagery, performance and virtual environments. Two of the listed projects, Future Frontiers and Res Natura, are scheduled for world premieres.

The festival’s industry programme, GIFF PRO, will also bring professionals together to discuss developments in audiovisual production and digital creativity. Geneva Tourism describes the event as a meeting point for films, series, interactive installations and virtual-reality works, making the festival relevant to both general audiences and people working in the creative industries.

Dates and What Visitors Should Know

The 32nd Geneva International Film Festival is scheduled to run for ten days, from October 30 to November 8, 2026. The programme includes competitive screenings, international selections, discussions with filmmakers and immersive experiences. Visitors should consult the official festival website for the complete schedule, screening venues, ticket information and any programme changes.

For Geneva, the festival provides an opportunity to showcase Swiss filmmaking alongside international productions and emerging forms of digital storytelling. With Mira Nair’s award presentation, Fanny Herrero’s participation and a substantial selection of Swiss titles, this year’s edition will offer audiences several ways to engage with contemporary cinema.

Official information: Geneva International Film Festival 2026