The Geneva International Oriental Film Festival (FIFOG) is back! It is in a context of health crisis due to Covid-19 that the FIFOG, against all odds, chooses to celebrate hope through a string of films that reminds us along with Nelson Mandela that "Hope is a powerful weapon even when all else is lost.""
Thus, the festival opens its doors from June 21 to June 27, 2021. Throughout one week, Geneva and its municipalities will vibrate with the rhythm of eastern colors and atmospheres. Under the sign of hope and with the support of nearly hundred partners, this new edition of all hopes offers a cinematographic journey through fifty films, six pictorial exhibitions and forty guests taking part in the activities and debates which promise to be rich and varied.

Focus on the Levant's cinemas with a particular attention to Lebanon
Each year the FIFOG honors the cinema of a region or a country. Its 2021 edition, chaired honorarily by the Lebanese writer Joumana Haddad, sets its sights on the prolific cinematographic production of the countries of the Levant, with a special focus on Lebanon, which has become very visible due to the sad current events.
Five years after the 11th edition which celebrated the cinemas of this region, this new edition repeats and examines the state of evolution of these cinemas. An opportunity to highlight the remarkable emergence of young directors. Through this overview of a dozen recent works, it is hope, the defense of freedom and the celebration of art which are highlighted, against the ephemeral triumphalism of savagery, defeatism and obscurantism. These artists seem to shout in chorus with Romain Rolland "Even without hope, the struggle is still hope!"


Several awards
Eleven films from ten countries are in official Competition for the Gold and Silver FIFOG. A very rigorous and experienced jury, composed of Rashid MASHARAWI (Director - Palestine), Irène CHALLAND (Producer - Switzerland), Soraya BAGHDADI (Actress - Lebanon), Lynda BELKHIRIA (Festival Programmer - Algeria) and Mohamed KHIRI (Journalist - Tunisia), will carefully review these works and will give its verdict at the end of the festival. Twelve short movies from twelve countries are also in the running for the Gold and Silver FIFOG. The jury, young and wise, composed of Salah ISSAAD (Director - Algeria), Nahla ATTALI (Actress - Algeria - Ukrainia), Hanna ASSOULINE (Director - France), Hani ABBAS (Press cartoonist - Syria-Palestine) and Sonia JASMINE (Writer - Algeria), promises a fair award. The jury's favorites will be revealed at the end of the festival.
This edition is also present online due to Covid-19. Fourteen short movies, from twelve countries, are in the running to win the audience's favor. Internet users will award the Audience Award. Finally, two school prizes will be awarded by the students of two Geneva public schools.
Last but not least, the FIFOG is also the showcase of six artists, with different styles and sensibilities, who will have their works exhibited during the festival at www.fifog.com. They are Hani ABBAS (Press cartoonist, Syria - Palestine), Chemsou BELARBI (Film poster designer, Algeria), Akila DAHACHE (Artist painter, France - Algeria), Karima DI LENA (Artist painter, Morocco), Hazar KABOUCH (Artist painter, Algeria) and Shora FALÂH VARDATI (Iran).

The FIFOG in numbers
- 50 movies celebrating Hope
- 3 genres: Feature movies, documentaries, and short movies
- 40 guests and speakers from the East and West
- 20 countries: Algeria, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Egypt, France, Great Britain, Kosovo, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Senegal, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
- 45 movies in competition: 11 feature movies, 12 short movies, 14 short movies for the online audience award, 8 movies in school competitions.
- 4 Competitions: Official Feature Film Competition, Official International Short Film Competition, Online Audience Award Competition, 2 School Competitions (ECG Henry-Dunant, Classe d'accueil intégrée Lissignol)
- The FIFOG 2021 will also screen online from June 21 to 27, 2021 and will be open to the public for free (www.fifog.com) in the context of a health crisis and a reduced capacity. 14 short movies will compete for the Audience Award.
- 6 women jury members, 4 men jury members
- 1 Tribute to Lokman Slim : Screening-debate at The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies: "The commitment of Lokman Slim: what perspectives in today's Lebanon, what link to strengthen with Switzerland? "
- 1 Class dance : Initiation to oriental dances (www.maryam.ch)
- 6 online exhibitions: paintings, photographs, press cartoons and movie posters
- 10 locations of presence
- Partner municipalities : Geneva, Vandoeuvres
- More than 100 partners