Solothurn Film Festival 2026 awards "Prix d'honneur" to Michael Sennhauser
The Solothurn Film Festival is honoring film journalist Michael Sennhauser with the «Prix d’honneur» at its 61st edition. Over his more than 30-year career as a film critic, Sennhauser has reviewed countless films and reinforced the cultural significance of film criticism. The award will be presented on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Landhaus Solothurn.
With this award, the Solothurn Film Festival honors a personality who has journalistically accompanied film, and Swiss film in particular, for more than three decades, critically reflecting on it and placing it in a larger cultural context.
With his knowledge, analytical acuity and passion for cinema, Michael Sennhauser has inspired a wide audience for Swiss film.
During his 26 years as film editor at SRF 2 Kultur, Sennhauser played a decisive role in shaping national film reporting. His approach was always characterized by depth, context and critical dialogue. He saw cultural journalism as a benevolent, responsible examination of cinematic creation, based on respect, classification and an interest in making films understandable and accessible. He was awarded the Prix Pathé (2010) and the Greulich Culture Prize (2016) for his work.
In addition to his work at SRF, Michael Sennhauser was temporarily president of the Swiss Film Journalists' Association, co-responsible for the Semaine de la critique at the Locarno Film Festival and, among other things, editor at the Sonntagszeitung, freelancer for the NZZ and the Basellandschaftliche Zeitung. Even after his self-imposed early retirement in 2024, Sennhauser is still active: he runs the widely read "Sennhausers Filmblog" and is a member of the Zurich Film Foundation's fiction commission.
With the "Prix d'honneur" 2026, the Solothurn Film Festival not only wishes to highlight his professional achievements, but also to set an example for the importance of strong, independent cultural journalism. At a time when media structures are under increasing pressure, the critical classification of films is becoming more and more important: it promotes the examination of other realities of life and thus strengthens social dialog and cohesion.
Daily podcast during the Solothurn Film Festival 2026
The Solothurn Film Festival honors film criticism and at the same time opens a window for dialogue and the promotion of cultural journalism. With a daily podcast during the 61st Solothurn Film Festival (January 21-28, 2026), they are creating a space for film criticism and exchange.
Michael Sennhauser talks to young, independent journalists about cinema, cultural journalism and current films.
The podcast is broadcast in cooperation with Radio Bern RaBe and sees itself as a contribution to the promotion of independent voices and the visibility of Swiss film.
Festive award ceremony
The "Prix d'honneur" will be presented to Michael Sennhauser on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 4:30 pm in the Landhaus Solothurn. The laudatory speech will be held by Seraina Rohrer. This will be followed by a screening of "La cache" by Lionel Baier, a film from the current program selected by Michael Sennhauser.
