The main organizer of the LUFF is the Association for the Promotion of Independent Culture (Association pour la Promotion de la Culture Indépendante, APCI). The Association was founded to promote independent artistic projects and to make them accessible to a wide audience. The primary goal of the LUFF is to showcase music and films that largely exist outside the mainstream production and distribution circuits.
Inspired by the New York Underground Film Festival, the APCI team founded the Underground Nights festival. The first edition of Underground Nights took place in the late 1990s in a small screening room with the capacity of 30 spectators. Nevertheless, it was received warmly and became in annual event. In 2000, Underground Nights attracted over 1,000 attendees before taking a one-year hiatus.
The Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival was officially founded in 2002 after the team of Underground Nights gained the support of the Swiss Film Archive. The first official edition of the LUFF was held from June 5 to 9, 2002, drawing 4,000 attendees. The attendance has been growing steadily ever since, reaching 13,000 people in 2015.
The film program of the Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival focuses on showcasing experimental films which are rarely screened in regular cinemas. Film screenings take place during the day and evening, followed by live music performances featuring underground artists from Switzerland and abroad. The festival program also includes a variety of interactive workshops, installations and exhibitions.
The festival’s film program is divided into several sections, including the International Competition. The jury chooses winners in several categories including Best Feature Film, Best Experimental Short Film, Best Short Fiction Film, and Best Short Animation. Winners of the competition receive monetary prizes designed to support independent filmmakers.
Photo: LUFF / Lihuen Galli
