Edie Arnold is a Winner! Awards and attendance
A golden teen movie: the winners of the 12th edition of the VIFFF, attracting over 10,500 moviegoers
VIFFF d’Or : Edie Arnold is a Loser
The jury, composed of Sonia Rossier, Aude Thuries, and Michael Zindel, awarded the Golden VIFFF for Best Feature Film to the film Edie Arnold Is a Loser.
The North American production Edie Arnold is a Loser (Kade Atwood & Megan Rico, US) won unanimously thanks to its creativity, humor, and irreverence. The jury also granted an honorable mention to The Fox (Dario Russo, AU), whose “strangeness and boldness never cease to surprise throughout the story.”
“The decisions were difficult to make because the selection was of such high quality, with films that all stood out for their great originality!”
Youth Jury Award: Blaise
This year, the Youth Jury —composed of Yahyaa Osman Ahmed, Lou Gesbert, Kaim Samson, and Yelyssava Vlasart— awarded its prize to the animated film Blaise (Dimitri Planchon and Jean-Paul Guigue, FR).
“For its groundbreaking and surprising approach, which offers a perspective on everyday relationships that is both subtle and absurd, and which deeply resonates with the current social and political concerns of young people, we have chosen to award the Youth Jury Award to Blaise. For its unique world and its formal and narrative ingenuity, we also wanted to grant a honorable mention to The Fox (Dario Russo, AU).”
Audience Award: Les Furies
Rolling to victory and beyond ! The VIFFF audience voted for The Furies (Mélanie Charbonneau, CA), an ode to sisterhood, perseverance, and freedom, which had its international premiere. After winning over Quebec audiences, Melissa, Yvette and their teammates from the Waterloo women’s roller derby league stole the hearts of Vevey. A prize of CHF 500 sponsored by EGK.
Best International Short Film: We Were Here
This year, it was the Indian film We Were Here (Pranav Bhasin, IN) that had the audience laughing the hardest! Three unemployed men rebel against technology and decide to turn the tables by stealing technology’s jobs: they decide to become satellite dishes, surveillance cameras and washing machines. A prize of 500 francs offered by clap.ch.
Best Swiss Short Film: Un Petit Doigt Pour l'Homme
Since 2025, the VIFFF has been showcasing a selection of the best Swiss short films. This year, a jury composed of Martin Jauvat, Lea Favre, and Jasmin Basic deliberated to award a prize to their favorite short film: Un Petit Doigt Pour l’Homme (Gaëtan Brügger, CH).
“We decided to give a boost to a film that’s surprising, minimalist, incisive, and above all, very funny! The jury was particularly impressed by the natural acting, which reveals humanity through fingers.”
Gérard Jugnot : Guest of Honor
As this year’s guest of honor, Gérard Jugnot shared his incredible journey with the audience!
Between screenings of some of his films —including his latest, Mauvaise pioche, which had its Swiss premiere— and a master class, Gérard Jugnot shared stories and memories with the generosity and kindness that characterize him.
“Comedy is a magical, surprising, unpredictable act that lightens or defuses drama—a fragile act that requires the courage to take the leap. And when it bursts forth, laughter is magnificent!” Gérard Jugnot, during his masterclass at the Astor.
Festival Attendance
The 2026 edition of the VIFFF saw the festival surpass the 10,500-attendee mark —a figure that has been steadily rising (9,500 in 2025, 9,100 in 2024, 8,000 in 2023, 6,000 in 2022, and 5,000 in 2021).
To be noted: a 42% increase in the number of passes sold. This year, the Vevey audience treated itself to comedy marathons!
Focus: Funny Business, and Head Towards 2027
And finally, as part of the special focus on the workplace in comedies, COGIP’s two CEOs, Nicolas and Bruno, who came to present their work, inspired the entrepreneurial spirit of the Vevey audience during a seminar where they offered a behind-the-scenes look at their success. The VIFFF team also came away inspired and is already devoting itself body and soul to selecting the next theme for the 2027 edition, which will take place on October 20–24 2027.