The 36th edition of the Friborg International Film Festival (FIFF) opened on Friday evening, marking a return to normal. The Minister of Culture Alain Berset recalled the essential role of the FIFF as “so many windows wide open to the world”.
The opening ceremony took place in a once again full room, as before the health crisis. The organizers, led by artistic director Thierry Jobin, boasted of an “ambitious” 2022 edition, after two years turned upside down by the Covid-19. The festival runs until Sunday, March 27.
Almost all subtitled in French and German, the 127 films selected, from 58 countries on all continents, offer the public a map of the state of the world. The program is deployed in twelve rooms, instead of six, for the comfort of the public, in collaboration with five places of restoration, instead of only one.
The FIFF, whose last edition dates back only to July, got off to a flying start with the Swiss premiere of the thrilling political action film Escape from Mogadishu, Oscar candidate for South Korea. The film will then be screened all week in 4DX, organizers said.
Grand Blond absent
“The FIFF is an instrument in the fight against general stupefaction, its screens are so many windows wide open on the world, which air our heads and free our spirits”, insisted in his intervention the Federal Councilor Alain Berset, who came as if his habit as a neighbor.
The festival also deplores bad news that fell on Thursday evening: French actor Pierre Richard, who tested positive for Covid-19, will unfortunately not be able to travel to Friborg to meet the FIFF audience. The one who is particularly known for his role in the Big Blond on the screen had to present his carte blanche.
The two years of pandemic have not only upset the habits of the FIFF, but have also polarized the debate and exacerbated tensions, to the detriment of the richness of the exchanges. With the primary vocation of bringing people together and inviting discussion, the FIFF therefore turns on the spotlight and invites people to reunite.
Delicate consensus
Thus, Thierry Jobin rebounded on the words of Alain Berset. “The most established facts and the best documented scientific evidence no longer seem to be able to generate a consensus and common objectives”, noted the Jura native and Friborg by adoption.
“Even those who are fighting the same battles, especially against discrimination or the future of the planet, have difficulty talking to each other without shouting at each other. We need to rediscover the pleasure of discussion and debate,” said added the artistic director.
“Bringing together is one of FIFF’s missions, especially when it comes to including the widest possible audience, with reinforced collaborations or by opening our arms wide to bilingualism”, described Mathieu Fleury. , President of the FIFF Association. “This is one of the objectives of this 36th edition.”
Ukraine presents
“Despite financial resources which remain under pressure, the FIFF has found growth drivers to develop in the city of Fribourg, to perfect its bilingualism or to expand in the canton, in particular in Bulle”, said the another Jurassic living in Fribourg.
State Councilor Sylvie Bonvin-Sansonnens, in charge of training and culture, was delighted with the number of young people that the FIFF invites to cinemas thanks to the Planète Cinéma school program. Nearly 11,000 participants, aged 4 to 25, are announced this year.
The opening ceremony was punctuated by a moving musical moment with Ukrainian musician Zoryana Mazko, who lives in Switzerland. Accompanied by her bandoura, a traditional musical instrument, she allowed a time of meditation in tribute to the victims of the war in Ukraine, caused by the invasion of the Russian army.
This article has been published automatically. Source: ats