From 11 to 18 October 2026 Lugano will host the thirteenth edition of the Film Festival Human Rights Lugano (FFDUL), an event that over the years has established itself as one of the most recognizable cultural events in Italian-speaking Switzerland, dedicated to the themes of social justice, human dignity, and the protection of fundamental rights.
For eight days, the public will be able to attend film screenings, meetings with authors, in-depth forums, and cultural events that will use the language of cinema as a starting point for understanding the transformations of contemporary society. The festival will thus continue to showcase works from various countries, united by a focus on issues that pervade the present and stimulate public debate.
Cinema as a tool for comparison
The festival's mission remains to create a space for dialogue between audiences, filmmakers, human rights organizations, and the world of culture. Through cinematic language, the selected works address conflict, discrimination, migration, civil liberties, and new social challenges, offering diverse perspectives and fostering discussion.
The goal is to create opportunities for reflection that engage not only industry professionals, but also students, citizens, and film enthusiasts interested in exploring highly topical issues.
The International Feature Film Competition has been confirmed
The International Feature Film Competition will be back again in 2026 , now in its fourth consecutive year. Created to mark the festival's tenth anniversary, the competition has become a central element of the program.
The selection brings together international productions that use cinematic language to narrate the present and connect diverse geographical contexts, cultures, and histories. The aim is to highlight works that address human rights through innovative narrative forms and original perspectives.
The Human Rights Award for the Author to Rosine Mbakam
One of the most significant moments of the 2026 edition will be the awarding of the Human Rights Award for the Author to Cameroonian director Rosine Mbakam , considered one of the most authoritative voices in contemporary African cinema.
The award, established on the seventieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is given annually to authors who have demonstrated particular artistic and civic sensitivity in addressing issues related to fundamental rights.
Over the years, the award has been given to Markus Imhoof, Hassan Fazili, Jason DaSilva, Alexander Nanau, Neary Adeline Hay, Manijeh Hekmat, Avi Mograbi, and Garin Nugroho.
A cinema that questions colonialism and inequalities
Through documentaries and fiction, Rosine Mbakam has constructed a cinematic research focused on the consequences of colonialism, migration, systemic racism and the conditions of African women and the diaspora.
Her stories often unfold in everyday settings such as homes, hairdressing salons or craft workshops, transforming them into places where power relations, social differences, economic issues and cultural identities emerge.
Her approach also aims to overcome a stereotypical representation of the African continent, privileging the point of view of the people involved and encouraging a participatory narrative, in which the protagonists become an active part of the story.
Also scheduled Mambar Pierrette
Mambar Pierrette , which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight, will be screened during the festival . The director will be in Lugano to meet with the public and participate in events organized as part of the event.
Alongside this screening, the festival will also feature other works by the Cameroonian filmmaker, the schedule of which will be announced in the coming weeks.
A billboard that goes beyond cinema
The cultural offerings won't be limited to movie theaters. OLTREFESTIVAL will return again this year , a parallel program that expands the dialogue with meetings, insights, and artistic initiatives developed through a variety of media.
The aim is to engage diverse audiences and create new opportunities for discussion around the themes addressed in the films, extending the reflection to other cultural fields as well.
The complete program of the thirteenth edition will be presented on September 23, 2026 , during the official press conference and will subsequently be available online.
Words from the artistic direction
Co-directors Antonio Prata and Margherita Cascio emphasize how the 2026 edition intends to address the complexities of the present through works capable of stimulating critical reflection.
According to the artistic direction, the festival continues to embrace its responsibility to offer tools for understanding local and international phenomena, highlighting testimonies and analyses that help audiences interpret contemporary reality. In this regard, the recognition awarded to Rosine Mbakam exemplifies the role cinema can play in challenging established perspectives and fostering new ways of observing the world.
Established collaborations in Switzerland and beyond
The 2026 edition is co-directed by Antonio Prata and Margherita Cascio, chaired by Roberto Pomari, and supported by the Lugano Human Rights Foundation.
Over time, the festival has developed a network of collaborations with associations and non-governmental organizations active in the field of human rights, both in Switzerland and abroad.
Since 2015, FFDUL has also been part of the national network of Film Festivals and Forums on Human Rights, along with the FIFDH in Geneva and the Human Rights Film Festival Zurich. The collaboration with the Human Rights Festival in Milan also continues.
The event is supported by the Swiss Confederation, through the FDFA, the Canton of Ticino through the DECS, the City of Lugano, and numerous foundations and private entities.
A festival also supported by the public
As a non-profit cultural event, the Lugano Human Rights Film Festival continues to rely on the contributions of citizens and supporters to ensure the success of its activities, despite rising organizational costs.
Anyone wishing to support the project can find all the information regarding donations at:
