The Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) opens its 32nd edition on Friday, October 30 at the Théâtre Pitoëff with Tangles, Leah Nelson’s deeply moving animated feature, which weaves humor and emotion through a mother-daughter relationship upended by Alzheimer’s. On Saturday, November 7, the closing ceremony announces the winners and is followed by a screening of Arrested Memory, an action comedy by Japan’s Sabu, shot in Taipei and seen at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. Both films are Swiss premieres.

The full program will be announced on October 8. Until then, these are the last days to get the Early Bird Pass at CHF 110 instead of CHF 165.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 — OPENING NIGHT

The evening will begin with an official ceremony marking the launch of the Festival, with speeches from Carine Bachmann (Federal Office of Culture), Thierry Apothéloz (Republic and Canton of Geneva), Joëlle Bertossa (City of Geneva) and Pascal Crittin (RTS). The evening will be followed by a screening of the opening film, Tangles, by Leah Nelson.

TANGLES

LEAH NELSON | 2026 | US, CA | 103′ | Swiss premiere
Highlights section

Tangles blends humor, black-and-white animation and tenderness to turn a family story into a debut feature as unique as it is moving. Adapting Sarah Leavitt’s graphic novel, Leah Nelson explores Alzheimer’s with aptness and sensitivity. Animation becomes a language of its own here, giving shape to memories, to silences, and to everything real-life images can’t always capture. After its world premiere in Cannes, where it drew a standing ovation, the film has gone on to win the Jury Prize and the Critics’ Prize in Deauville, as well as the award for Best LGBTQIA+ Film at San Sebastián Film Festival.
With the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Seth Rogen, Bryan Cranston, Abbi Jacobson, Sarah Silverman and Samira Wiley.

A second screening of Tangleswill take place during the Festival. Date and time will be announced with the full program on our website on October 8.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 — CLOSING NIGHT

The evening opens with the awards ceremony of the 32nd edition. Three Reflets d’Or will be presented by the members of the different jurys, for Best Feature Film, Best Series and Best Immersive Experience, donated by the City and Canton of Geneva, along with the Future Is Sensible Award, donated by the Pour-cent culturel Migros.

The ceremony will be followed by a screening of the closing film, Arrested Memory, by Japanese filmmaker Sabu.

ARRESTED MEMORY

SABU | 2026 | TW, JP | 87′ | Swiss premiere
Highlights section

With Arrested Memory, Sabu delivers an action comedy with dark, offbeat humor. The film follows a Taipei detective, traumatized by a recent case and transferred to a rural station far from the city. The fast-paced, slapstick thriller had its world premiere in Venice before screening as part of the Midnight Madness section at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This closing film further expands the Geneva International Film Festival’s Taiwan Focus.