Funny Business
For its 12th edition (21–25 October 2026), VIFFF turns its thematic spotlight on workplace comedies.
From the Industrial Revolution to the rise of artificial intelligence, and through the expansion of office culture, the world of work has undergone constant transformation — along with its promises of progress and its inevitable disappointments.
Work provides a rich source of comic tension, which filmmakers have long explored. Whether set in offices or factories, with corrupt bosses, questionable union leaders, or competitive colleagues, the first titles announced offer a wide-ranging look at the theme: from critiques of capitalism and power structures to the absurdities and contradictions of everyday working life. Further films will be revealed in early October, when the complete programme is unveiled.
A first glimpse of this thematic focus will be offered with a screening of Playtime at the Capitole cinema on Sunday 18 October 2026 at 2:30 p.m., in partnership with the Swiss Cinematheque and RTS’s programme Travelling.
First titles:
The Man in the White Suit
Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, United Kingdom, 1951
A chemist whose career has stalled makes a groundbreaking discovery: a stain-resistant, indestructible fabric. But the textile industry and workers’ unions do not welcome this invention… A classic of British anti-establishment comedy.
Playtime
Directed by Jacques Tati, France / Italy, 1967
In collaboration with the Swiss Cinematheque and Travelling (RTS). Screenings of this film will take place at the Capitole in Lausanne.
Paris, 1967. In an ultra-modern city of glass and concrete, Monsieur Hulot and a group of tourists get lost in an absurd ballet of encounters and misunderstandings. Jacques Tati delivers a delightful visual satire of consumer society and the world of work.
Bread and Chocolate
(Pane e cioccolata)
Directed by Franco Brusati, Italy, 1974
Italian immigrant Nino moves to Switzerland, which he imagines as a land of abundance. Once there, however, he discovers that the job market is ruthless towards foreign workers. Offbeat, tender, and committed, this film is a pure example of the Italian comedy tradition.
Nine to Five
Directed by Colin Higgins, United States, 1980
Three colleagues each dream, in their own way, of getting rid of their unbearable boss. But what happens when fantasy comes dangerously close to reality? A wildly funny satire of sexism in the workplace, carried by the legendary trio of Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton.
Chicken and Duck Talk
(Gai tung ngap gong)
Directed by Clifton Ko Chi-sum, Hong Kong, 1988
A struggling small restaurant sees an industrial fast-food chain open right across the street. A fierce battle soon begins, pitting two opposing visions of the restaurant business against each other. A wildly eccentric comedy packed with outrageous situations and hilarious misunderstandings.
Clerks
Directed by Kevin Smith, United States, 1994
Dante Hicks is a young convenience store employee who is called in to work on his day off. Between annoying customers, personal problems, and the absurdities of everyday life, his shift quickly becomes chaotic. Alongside his friend Randal, who works at the video store next door, Dante tries to get through another day at work. A cult classic and Kevin Smith’s first feature film, Clerks is a sharp and hilarious portrait of the frustrations of low-wage work.
Johnny Keep Walking!
(Nian hui bu neng ting!)
Directed by Dong Runnian, China, 2023
Hu Jianlin, a modest employee, is mistakenly promoted to the position of senior executive. He then discovers the absurdities of bureaucratic workplace culture, while his superiors attempt to cover up their mistake. A highly entertaining satire of the Chinese working world.