The upcoming FIFDH Impact Days, which has now reached its eighth edition, will take place on 9 and 10 March alongside the 24th International Film Festival and Forum of Human Rights (FIFDH), running from 6-15 March in Geneva, Switzerland. The industry programme has revealed its full schedule, featuring keynote talks, panels, case studies and international pitching sessions, while industry accreditations and daily passes are currently available (click here for more information).

The 2026 edition will open with a keynote titled “From the Rubble to the Screen: Cinema for Survival”, delivered by renowned Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi (Passing Dreams [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
interview : Rashid Masharawi
fiche film], Palestine Stereo). Drawing from his experience growing up in Gaza’s Al-Shati refugee camp, Masharawi will reflect on cinema as a vital means of preserving memory, identity and dignity in contexts of war, displacement and systematic violence.

One of the first case studies of the programme, “The Indigenous Impact Alliance: Multiple Films for Collective Impact”, will examine a coordinated impact strategy bringing together five documentaries to amplify indigenous voices across North America. Impact strategist Marianna Olinger and impact producer Amber Morning Star Byars (Sugarcane) will discuss the strengths and challenges of collective approaches, resource-sharing and long-term collaboration, arguing for solidarity over competition in impact work.

Another case study, “The Pickers Journey: How Strategy and Robust Funding Fuelled a European Impact Campaign”, will trace the evolution of an impact initiative that has reached over 650,000 people across six European countries. Speakers Ben Kempas, Patrizia Rezzoli and Emilien Schenker will focus on the role of sustained financing and structured collaboration between filmmakers, strategists and foundations in ensuring both scale and longevity.

The panel “Beyond the Headlines: Media as Meaningful Partners for Change” will explore new models of collaboration between impact teams, journalists and digital media outlets. Featuring representatives from The Guardian, International Media Support and Media Impact Funders, the discussion will address how media partnerships can move beyond traditional press coverage to actively shape narratives and support social change.

On the NGO-facing side of the programme, “Navigating NGOs: From First Contact to Meaningful Collaboration” will bring together advocacy and partnership specialists from Amnesty International Switzerland, ISHR, UNICEF and IUCN to offer practical insights into building effective, ethical and long-term relationships between filmmakers and civil society organisations.

The Swiss Focus returns as an invitation-only networking event, presenting four Swiss film projects open to national and international impact collaborations. The selected teams will pitch their projects to a curated audience of impact producers, NGOs, funders and philanthropists, followed by thematic round-tables. One project will receive a CHF 2,500 (€2,727) award to support an impact initiative in Switzerland.

International pitching sessions will take place on 10 March, as 12 teams from the Impact Lab present their campaigns to an audience of NGOs, industry professionals and funders (see the news). The pitches will highlight each project’s impact goals, partnerships and outreach strategies.

Impact financing will be at the centre of the panel “Impact Financing Today: Insights, Challenges and Opportunities”, bringing together experts from Working Films, Doc Society, Luminate, Documentary Australia, DocA and others to discuss current funding landscapes, emerging models and practical strategies for sustaining impact campaigns.

The programme will conclude with “Anatomy of an Impact Campaign”, a Meet the GIPA panel and an AMA session featuring members of the Global Impact Producers Alliance. Impact practitioners from different regions will share hands-on experiences and methodologies, followed by smaller group discussions aimed at deepening exchange and peer learning.

The full schedule of FIFDH Impact Days 2026 can be found here.

Here are the selected projects for the 2026 Swiss Focus:

Imagine Peace – Fabian Chiquet (Switzerland)
Production: Cyrill Gerber, Caroline Meier (Milan Film AG)
Impact producer: Cyrill Gerber

To the Moon and Back – Elisa Gómez Alvarez (Switzerland/France/Philippines)
Production: Palmyre Badinier (Rita Productions), Eugenie Michel Villette (Les Films du Bilboquet), Gale Osorio (Binisaya Movement)
Impact producer: Gale Osorio

A Search for Love – Carlotta Piccinini (Italy/Switzerland)
Production: Olga Torrico (Sayonara Film), Esther van Messel (First Hand Films)
Impact producer: Danika Bobst

One Step Closer – Mehran Tamadon (France/Switzerland)
Production: Marianne Khalili Romeo, Rebecca Houzel (Petit à Petit Production), Elena Tatti (Box Productions)
Impact producer: Marianne Khalili Romeo