The Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival is held in the Swiss city of Neuchâtel located on the picturesque shore of Lake Neuchâtel. It was founded by a group of friends who wanted to share their love for fantastic cinema with the world. Since its inception, it has been held every year during the first week of July, except in 2001. The festival is one of the most important film events in the country, it is supported by the Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland.
The NIFFF is regarded as one of the most prestigious film festivals focusing on genre cinema (science fiction, fantasy and horror films). The festival prides itself on its rich and diverse programming which features an impressive selection of films, ranging from the most anticipated premieres by world-class filmmakers to underground auteur films, from sci-fi to black comedy, from stop-motion animation to CGI.
The program of the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival includes three competitions: International Competition, New Cinema of Asia, and Competition for the Best Swiss Fantastic. The main award of the festival is the H. R. Giger “Narcisse” Award named after Swizz surrealist artist Hans Rudolf Giger known for his design work on the film Alien. It is presented to the best feature film in the International Competition.
Alongside the free competitions, the festival presents a number of out-of-competition sections such as Films of the Third Kind, Ultra Movies, Amazing Switzerland, International Short Films, Retrospectives, New Shorts from Asia, NIFFF Kids, Carte Blanche to a Swiss Cultural Figure, Homages, NIFFF Invasion Open Air, and others. The NIFFF Extended part of the program is made up of cinema labs, symposiums, literary forums, special screenings, exhibitions, conferences, and other events and activities for avid cinema goers and industry professionals.
Over the years, the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival has welcomed many outstanding filmmakers known for their fantastic films. Past guests include Hideo Nakata (“Ring”), Terry Gilliam (“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”), John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London”), Joe Dante (“Gremlins”), George A. Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”), and others.
In 2020, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: nifff.ch
