Swiss doc fest Visions du Réel has announced its final call for films and projects for its 57th edition running 17 au 26 avril 2026. The final deadline is December 15.
Films in competition receive their world, international or European premiere. The competition sections are:
- International Feature Film Competition: celebrating the best of contemporary non-fiction filmmaking, in all its originality and eclecticism.
- Burning Lights Competition: an international competition of feature films dedicated to novel, free, adventurous and contemporary perspectives in cinema.
- National Competition: dedicated to feature-length and medium-length films (co)produced in Switzerland, the competition showcases the tremendous diversity and excellence of Swiss production.
- International Medium Length & Short Film Competition: celebrating the best of shorter formats in contemporary non-fiction filmmaking, in all their originality and eclecticism.
- Wide Angle: a competitive section of feature films that have already won over audiences at other festivals or that will mark the coming year.
- Opening Scenes: dedicated to the best contemporary emerging directors, the competition presents 15 first short films or student films.
Project sections are:
- VdR–Pitching: international co-production and financing forum for non-fiction projects in late development.
- VdR–Work in Progress: a showcase of creative non-fiction projects seeking distribution, festivals and sales.
- VdR–Rough Cut Lab: a four-day rough cut intensive for projects in editing stage.
- VdR–Development Lab: a nine-month intensive lab for the development of non-fiction projects from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The deadline for the VdR-Development Lab is past.
