61st Solothurn Film Festival: 65,000 attendees, but a financial shortfall
The 61st Solothurn Film Festival drew approximately 65,000 attendees and provided a platform for more than 1,300 filmmakers. Despite its success with audiences, the financial situation remains tense—the festival ended the fiscal year with an operating loss.
At its general meeting on June 30, 2026, the Solothurn Film Festival looked back on a successful 61st edition. Attendance remained stable at around 65,000 admissions—but the festival faces financial challenges that are likely to shape the coming fiscal year as well.
A Look Back at a Vibrant 61st Edition of the Solothurn Film Festival
Last January, the Solothurn Film Festival presented 170 feature films, documentaries, and animated films from all of Switzerland’s linguistic regions. More than 1,300 filmmakers used the festival as a platform for meeting others, exchanging ideas, and networking. The accompanying special programs explored a wide range of topics: International films centered on ’kitsch« were featured in the »Fokus« section, while the »Rencontre« with Geneva-based filmmaker Edna Politi, of Lebanese-Jewish descent, shed light on the Middle East. The »Histoires« series brought to life the work of Swiss directors and producers in the New York subculture of the 1980s. Parts of the retrospectives went on tour after the film festival and were hosted by partner institutions in Switzerland and neighboring countries.
Chief Operating Officer Explains the Results
Andreas Spillmann, president of the Swiss Society for the Solothurn Film Festival (SGSF), along with co-directors Monica Rosenberg and Niccolò Castelli, presented the annual report and financial statements at the Capuchin Monastery. The financial statements turned out better than budgeted, despite a shortfall in main sponsorship. «Thanks to increased ticket sales, additional support from foundations and the public sector, and consistent efforts to optimize costs, the fiscal year was closed with an operating loss of TCHF 39,» explained Monica Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer.
A Financial Challenge for the Solothurn Film Festival
The economic environment and the sponsorship situation remain challenging for the new fiscal year. The Solothurn Film Festival aims to return to a cost-covering funding model in order to ensure the festival continues to take place on its usual scale for audiences and the industry. The eight-member board and the co-directors are fully committed to achieving this goal. President Andreas Spillmann states: «The Solothurn Film Festival is an indispensable gathering place for Swiss cinema. The current situation presents a challenge—but the goal is clear: to strengthen the festival’s quality and significance in the long term.»
The full review, including all key figures, is available in the annual report that has just been published. The 62nd Solothurn Film Festival will take place from January 20 to 27, 2027.
More information: https://www.solothurnerfilmtage.ch
