SECTIONS & AWARDS 2024
competitions
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION
A selection of ten feature films that turn stylistic conventions upside down and pave the way for the cinema of tomorrow. The titles, all Swiss premieres, compete for the Reflet d’Or with a cash prize (donated by the City and State of Geneva) awarded by a Jury composed of a renowned filmmaker accompanied by film students.
INTERNATIONAL SERIES COMPETITION
An unique window in Switzerland of the best international series, which the GIFF has been reporting on for twenty-five years. The competition showcases, through ten series, the innovative potential of the most popular and dynamic format in contemporary audiovisual culture. The GIFF innovates by offering a new and exclusive presentation format. All Swiss Premieres, the series are made accessible in their entirety, thanks to an exclusive hybrid presentation format. The first episodes are presented in theaters, while the rest of the series is provided through personalized viewing links. An inclusive Jury composed exclusively of three festival-goers will award the best series with the Reflet d’Or, accompanied by a cash prize (offered by the City and Canton of Geneva).
International Immersive experience Competition
A pioneer in the field of digital arts, since 2016 GIFF offers an International Immersive Experience Competition. An exceptional selection of immersive experiences in Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) that explores the rich connections between narrative and technology. Presented as national or international premiere, ten experiences compete for the Reflet d’Or, accompanied by a cash prize (donated by the City and State of Geneva) awarded by a Jury of international experts.
FUTURE IS SENSIBLE COMPETITION
A convergent competitive section dedicated to social, ecological, and technological foresight, featuring series, films and immersive experiences that question ethical choices and their impact on the future. The Future Is Sensible Award, endowed with a cash prize in association with the Migros Culture Percentage, is given by a Jury of three international personalities active in the audiovisual field and creative industries to a production that stands out for its humanism, ethical dimension, among a dozen international projects.
TRIBUTES & HONOR AWARDS
FILM & BEYOND
Each year, the Film & Beyond Award recognizes an interdisciplinary artist for his or her entire career, presented in the form of a retrospective. During its previous editions, GIFF has had the honor of distinguishing Apichatpong Weerasethakul (2016), Abel Ferrara (2017), Peter Greenaway (2018), Park Chan-wook (2019), Woodkid (2020), Riad Sattouf (2021), Alexandre Astier (2022) and Jean-Michel Jarre (2023).
GENEVA AWARD
This award recognizes the careers of personalities who have inspired their contemporaries through their artistic choices and the courage of their opinions. A tribute accompanied by a retrospective program such as the one dedicated to the Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan (first winner in 2019), the Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (2020), the Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino (2021), the Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn (2022) and the Kourtrajmé collective (2023).
CONVERGENT SECTIONS & RETROSPECTIVES (OUT OF COMPETITION)
HIGHLIGHTS
The section of all the major events of the Festival featuring numerous film previews, the most eagerly awaited series of the year, world premieres of Swiss series, state-of-the-art digital installations and unique immersive experiences.
PULSATION
A selection of films, seriers or digital projects that gauge the pulse of contemporary creation and point to the emergence of new storytellers or trends.
POP TV
At a time when people are speculating about the future of linear television, GIFF offers an unprecedented immersion in the history of the medium. Spread over several editions, Pop TV will trace—for better or for worse—the evolution of the contents that have fomented our popular culture from our living rooms. Series, movies and mythical shows will make you relive or discover the anteroom of the aesthetics that have influenced contemporary audiovisual.
TALES OF SWISS INNOVATION
A carte blanche and a masterclass is offered to a Swiss personality who has contributed significantly to the advancement of the audiovisual industry in the fields of storytelling, imaging, production or broadcasting.
