How many festivals receive federal structural contributions for 2027-2029?

Ten festivals receive structural contributions from the Federal Office of Culture (UFC) for the period 2027-2029. Nine of these had already received federal support in previous cycles, while one, the Festival international du Film Alpin Les Diablerets, was added as a new funded reality. The selection was made from a total of twelve applications.

What is the amount that the Locarno Film Festival receives?

The Locarno Film Festival will receive CHF 1.73 million per year for the period 2027-2029, on the basis of a performance contract stipulated with the UFC. This amount reflects the national and international importance of the festival in the Swiss film landscape and allows the multi-year planning of quality activities.

Who is the new festival included in the federal funding?

The Festival international du Film Alpin Les Diablerets is the new festival included in the list of ten funded by the UFC for 2027-2029. Its inclusion represents the extension of federal support also to thematically specialised realities in the Swiss film sector, in particular mountain and alpine cinema.

How is structural funding used?

Structural funding allows festivals to plan activities for three years with guaranteed financial visibility. In the case of Locarno, the 1.73 million per year allows us to maintain high organisational standards, attract international guests, develop quality programming and generate local economic repercussions (employment, tourism, commercial and catering).

How many festivals had applied for 2027-2029 funding?

Altogether, twelve festivals applied in the public call launched by the UFC for the 2027-2029 funding cycle. Of these, ten were selected and will receive structural contributions, while two did not pass the evaluation criteria of the federal office.

Bern renews support for film festivals (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 27 August 2026

Outdoor screening at a Swiss film festival with audience watching on the big screen

The Federal Office of Culture funds 10 festivals for 2027-2029. Locarno Film Festival confirmed with CHF 1.73 million per year.

Context

In a nutshell

10 festivals receive federal structural contributions for 2027-2029
Locarno Film Festival confirmed: CHF 1.73 million per year
Festival Alpin Les Diablerets is among those funded

Key facts

What: Renewal of structural contributions to Swiss film festivals
When: Period 2027-2029
Where: Switzerland (Locarno, Les Diablerets and others)
Who: Federal Office of Culture (UFC)
Amount: CHF 1.73 million per year for Locarno
Applications received: 12 festivals
Approved: 10 festivals

The Federal Office of Culture (UFC) has confirmed the renewal of support for film festivals of national importance in Switzerland. The decision covers the period 2027–2029 and guarantees financial continuity for ten festivals including the famous Locarno Film Festival, which will receive 1.73 million francs per year. The announcement comes after a public call attended by twelve festivals.

In Locarno, the recognition translates into a performance contract stipulated between the institution and the UFC, confirming the strategic role of the festival in the Swiss cultural landscape. The decision represents not only an administrative continuity, but also an explicit recognition of the importance that Locarno has at national and international level in the film sector.

Ten festivals confirmed, one new added

Of the ten festivals funded, nine were already included in previous funding cycles. The most relevant novelty

Operational details

The role of structural funding

Federal structural contributions are not one-off handouts, but multi-year investments that allow festivals to plan their activities with a time horizon of at least three years. For Locarno, the figure of 1.73 million Swiss francs per year makes it possible to maintain high organizational standards, attract international guests, develop the programming, and ensure the continuity of an event of this scale. Without such predictable support, managing a festival of global relevance would entail significant financial risks.

In broader terms, structural funding serves three purposes: first, to stabilize the national cultural offering; second, to strengthen Swiss cinematic identity in international markets; third, to generate local economic spillover (employment, tourism, and income for hotels and restaurants). In the case of Locarno, the Ticino city benefits from a flow of visitors linked to the festival that translates into measurable economic returns.

Swiss cinema and international promotion

As Locarno itself states, the festival «offers a privileged showcase for Swiss cinema, fostering its circulation in international markets for the benefit of the country's audiovisual production». This statement encapsulates the strategic objectives of federal funding: it is not simply support for an event, but a lever for promoting the Swiss audiovisual industry in a global context.

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Key points

Access to information and future opportunities

For those who want to stay updated on federal decisions in the cultural field, the FOC regularly publishes press releases and supporting documents on its official platform. The 2027–2029 funding cycle represents an important time window for the sector; those working in Swiss audiovisual production or in related fields (distribution, post-production, promotion) should monitor any openings of new calls for proposals by the Confederation in the coming months.

The landscape of funded Swiss film festivals is an indicator of where the federal government intends to focus its cultural support. The choice to include a reality such as Les Diablerets signals attention also to thematically specialised festivals (in this case, mountain and alpine cinema), not just the big names. This can inspire other regional initiatives to structure solid applications for the subsequent funding cycles.

How to verify the details and access opportunities

The performance contracts stipulated between the festivals and the FOC contain specific conditions: use of funds, reporting, evaluation criteria for the continuity of funding. If you work in the Swiss film industry and wish to better understand how these federal funds work, you can use a tax and contributions calculator dedicated to freelance professionals in the creative sector. Furthermore, you can explore job opportunities in the Swiss audiovisual sector to discover how these federal funds create indirect effects on employment in the industry.

Source: rsi.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

How many festivals receive federal structural contributions for 2027-2029?: Ten festivals receive structural contributions from the Federal Office of Culture (UFC) for the period 2027-2029. Nine of these had already received federal support in previous cycles, while one, the Festival international du Film Alpin Les Diablerets, was added as a new funded reality. The selection was made from a total of twelve applications.
What is the amount that the Locarno Film Festival receives?: The Locarno Film Festival will receive CHF 1.73 million per year for the period 2027-2029, on the basis of a performance contract stipulated with the UFC. This amount reflects the national and international importance of the festival in the Swiss film landscape and allows the multi-year planning of quality activities.
Who is the new festival included in the federal funding?: The Festival international du Film Alpin Les Diablerets is the new festival included in the list of ten funded by the UFC for 2027-2029. Its inclusion represents the extension of federal support also to thematically specialised realities in the Swiss film sector, in particular mountain and alpine cinema.
How is structural funding used?: Structural funding allows festivals to plan activities for three years with guaranteed financial visibility. In the case of Locarno, the 1.73 million per year allows us to maintain high organisational standards, attract international guests, develop quality programming and generate local economic repercussions (employment, tourism, commercial and catering).
How many festivals had applied for 2027-2029 funding?: Altogether, twelve festivals applied in the public call launched by the UFC for the 2027-2029 funding cycle. Of these, ten were selected and will receive structural contributions, while two did not pass the evaluation criteria of the federal office.