The 29th edition of the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) and the 11th edition of its Digital Market (GDM) are fast approaching. The following calls for entries are open to series and digital experiences.
Founded in 1995, the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) is Geneva’s oldest film festival and one of the first in the world to include television in its programs.
A crossroads of genres and disciplines, it offers every year for ten days films, series, interactive installations, and virtual reality works to some 40,000 festival goers. At the heart of the Festival is the Geneva Digital Market, a unique event in Switzerland dedicated to audiovisual innovation with more that 650 participants including major players from creative industries.
Competitions
International Features Competition
A selection of ten feature films that turn stylistic conventions upside down and pave the way for the cinema of tomorrow.
International Series Competition
An exclusive Swiss window on the best international TV series, which GIFF has been reporting for more than 25 years. The competition of ten hand-picked pilots, showcases the innovation potential of the most popular and dynamic format in contemporary audiovisual media.
International Immersive Experiences Competition
A pioneer in the field of digital arts, since 2016 GIFF has offered an International Immersive Works Competition. An exceptional selection of XR works in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) that explores the rich
connections between narrative and technology.
Future Is Sensible
A convergent and competitive section dedicated to social, ecological and technological foresight, featuring dystopian series, science-fiction movies and XR experiences and exploratory technologies that question ethical choices and their impact on the future.
Converging Sections (Out of Competition)
Non-competitive sections such as Highlights, Pulsation, Pop TV, Sight and Sounds and Tales of Swiss Innovation are converging sections. Features, series, immersive experiences, digital installations as well as live performances can therefore be included in the same section.
- Highlights
The section of all the major events of the Festival featuring numerous film previews, the most eagerly awaited series of the year, complete series by prestigious authors, world premieres of Swiss series, state-of-the-art digital installations and unique immersive works. - Pulsation
A selection of film, serial or digital projects that gauge the pulse of contemporary creation and point to the emergence of new authors or trends. - Sight & Sound
Artistic evenings and performances – linking sound and image – given by trailblazing or pioneer artists in performing and visual arts. - 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.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Film & Beyond Award
Each year, the Film & Beyond Award personally recognizes an interdisciplinary artist for his or her entire career, presented in the form of a retrospective. - 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 and a public conference.
MORE ABOUT TERMS AND CONDITIONS of GIFF FESTIVAL
- SERIES
For over 25 years, GIFF has showcased unique international series through its official selection, highlighting the innovation potential within the most popular and dynamic format of the contemporary audiovisual media.
PRIZES:
International Series Competition (CHF 10,000 offered by the City and State of Geneva)
Future Is Sensible Award (CHF 10,000 offered by Pour-cent culturel Migros)
➜ INTERNATIONAL SERIES COMPETITION 2022
- DIGITAL & IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
A pioneer in the field of digital arts, GIFF presents an exceptional selection of immersive and interactive experiences in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR).
PRIZES:
International Competition of Immersive Experiences (CHF 10,000 offered by the City and State of Geneva)
Future Is Sensible Award (CHF 10,000 offered by Pour-cent culturel Migros)
➜ INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES 2022
Nestled in the heart of the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF), the Geneva Digital Market (GDM) is Switzerland’s only event dedicated to audiovisual innovation and open to international professionals. During 5 days, round tables, pitching and networking sessions bring together producers, digital creators and key market players to exchange and shape the audiovisual universe of today and tomorrow.
The 11th edition will take place from November 6 to 10, 2023.
Deadline for application: September 8th, 2023.
GDM proposes two calls for entries:
XR Coproduction Sessions
Launched in 2019, this program aims to highlight the most innovative initiatives and to foster the international coproduction of immersive works between the selected participants, coproducing companies and innovation and technology start-ups invited for the occasion.
Program format
These sessions allow 15 of the most innovative European project developers to present their work in progress to European producers.
The XR Coproduction Sessions will be held over one day divided in two parts: the morning will be dedicated to the presentation of the projects in front of an audience of audiovisual industry professionals, while one-to-one meetings will take place in the afternoon.
The program is available onsite and online.
Swiss Interactive Sessions
For the fifth consecutive year, the GDM organizes the Swiss Interactive Sessions which offer international programmers and curators the opportunity to discover a selection of recent Swiss digital projects in the fields of media design, theater as well as immersive and visual arts, either in production or completed. The aim of the program is to enable creators to meet representatives of international institutions and art centers in order to facilitate the dissemination of their projects abroad. This year, the Swiss Interactive Sessions are organized in collaboration with the newly founded Digital Creation Hub.
Program format
The program will take place during the Geneva Digital Market, in a hybrid form online and onsite, and consists of:
- Presentations (Pitching Sessions): ten Swiss creators will have the opportunity to present their projects and artistic practices to the professionals invited. The presentation format will be pre-recorded video capsules. The videos are prerecorded, edited and broadcast throughout the GIFF on the website and in parallel on the Festival’s social platforms.
- Tailor-made Matchmaking Program: based on creator’s needs, individual and personalized meetings will be organized in advance. The aim here is to give to Swiss creators the possibility to find new diffusion and collaboration partners.
- Round Tables: a physical round table with all the Swiss creators selected will be organized during the Geneva Digital Market.