The FFDUL format has seen some changes this year…
Roberto Pomari: «The twelfth edition of the Human Rights Film Festival Lugano, which took place from October 12 to 19, 2025, featured a selection of over 25 films from around the world, including 12 Swiss premieres and 8 Ticino premieres. Despite a more concentrated program, with three fewer days than the previous edition, the Festival saw an increase in attendance, a sign of increasingly enthusiastic participation and growing attention to its cultural offering. Thus, the FFDUL represents a privileged opportunity for encounter and exchange, thanks also to the various collateral activities that are added each year. Of particular note is the collaboration with USI, the Fondation Hirondelle, and the Swiss Human Rights Institution, which have opened up prospects for the development of the FFDUL as a platform for dialogue on human rights.
In this regard, the public participation was extraordinary as always…
Antonio Prata and Margherita: "A large and attentive audience filled the theaters of the Cinema Corso, Cinema Iride, and Cinema LUX art house in Massagno, as well as the OltreFestival spaces, which hosted meetings, concerts, screenings, and opportunities for discussion. A total attendance of nearly 6000 spectators, including over 3000 students, attended screenings during school hours, confirming the greater engagement of the younger generations."
Can we briefly mention some of the most important guests and events?
Antonio Prata and Margherita Cascio: «The festival opened with the International Feature Film Competition. There was a large turnout for the screening of Put your soul on your hand and walk followed by the meeting with Donatella Rovera, Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International, and for the documentary Too hot. Seniors for the Climate vs. Switzerland, which featured Norma Bargetzi-Horisberger and Bruna Molinari, two of the film's protagonists, and director Benjamin Weiss. The meeting after the screening of the short film was also touching. Mariem by Javier Corcuera, featuring testimonies from Mahyub Mohamed Abdalahe and Mumna Mohamed Salem Jatari, teachers at the only film school in the Saharawi refugee camps. Among the guests was the distinguished presence of historian and writer Alessandro Vanoli, who took the audience on a journey through the history of the Mediterranean.
For this third edition, the International Feature Film Competition also featured 8 films selected from approximately 300 titles. The Jury Prize was awarded to Letters from Wolf Street by Arjun Talwar, collected by the film's producer Gregor Streiber. The jury also decided to award a special mention to My Dear Theo by Alisa Kovalenko while the NGO Prize awarded this year by Amnesty International Switzerland was won by How to build a library by Maia Lekowe Christopher King.
What were the distinctive elements that most characterized the eight days of screenings?
Antonio Prata and Margherita Cascio: «This edition's numerous testimonies from directors, journalists, activists, and NGOs have enlivened the Festival, giving voice to themes of resistance, justice, and memory, making these eight days intense and shared.
We also highlight the great success of the OltreFestival events, which allowed us to expand into various spaces within the Lugano cultural context: from the screening of several short films selected by the Nazra Palestine Short Film Festival at FuoriLuga, the rediscovered and restored film Donna: Women in Revolt presented by director Yvonne Scholten at Spazio L'Ove in the presence of many young people, and the concert by the Italian-Palestinian singer Tära at Studio Foce.
This edition once again confirmed the importance of cinema as a tool for engagement and reflection on human rights. Its success is encouraging for the future...
Antonio Prata and Margherita Cascio: "The FFDUL, and especially the closeness and interaction with the audience these past few days, have shown us once again that we can take a stand, that this is a festival that stands up for the stories and lives it showcases through cinema. At a time like this, we will continue to strive to build networks and communities through films, even after this edition, convinced that the works presented at the festival deserve a broader reach and lend strength to reflection and the fight for human rights."
Morena Ferrari Leg: «The FFDUL has once again demonstrated the vitality of an event now eagerly awaited and recognized by the City and the Canton.
As a Foundation, we are responsible for ensuring the full achievement of the goal of our activities and this event, which is to disseminate and promote human rights in all their forms, raising awareness and engaging the public, especially young people. We are not alone, and for this we thank all those who support us: public and private institutions, as well as our sponsors and partners, but, above all, a huge thank you to the Management, staff, and many volunteers.
See you at the next edition which will take place from 11 to 18 October 2026!
Between civic engagement and international responsibility: a look at the Gaza crisis.
