Festival aux Diablerets –
“I leave a growing fifad which aspires to a national aura”
After Olivier Français in the spring, the renewal phase continues for the Alpine Films Festival. His tenth will be the last for operational director Solveig Sautier.
Solveig Sauteier, operational director of the Alpine Film Festival des Diablerets, will leave FIFAD at the end of October to take up a new challenge to the town of Montreux.
Laurent de Senarclens
- Solveig Sautier leaves his post as operational director of FIFAD after ten editions.
- The new director will join the Montreux cultural service in November.
- The festival plans to develop antennas in other places.
- The event has good financial health and a growing national image.
56e Edition of the International Alpine Film Festival des Diablerets (FIFAD)which is in full swing until this Saturday, is definitely that of changes, formalized or future. After the announcement last March of the departure of President Olivier Français, replaced by Gilles Marchandex-director general of the SSR, here is another figure in the Ormonan meeting has decided to change its air. After ten editions on the clock, Solveig Sautier, operational director and alter ego of the artistic director, Benoît Aymon, will work for the development of the culture of the city of Montreux from 1is november. The resident of Tour-de-Peilz says her emotion, as well as the challenges and ambitions that will advance without her.
Solveig Sautier, your FIFAD adventure took place in two stages. Explain to us.
I arrived at Fifad Thanks to Jean-Philippe Rapp, with whom I worked at the International Festival Media North South. In 2007, he announced that he wanted to take over a new Festival at the Diablerets. I made the first edition with him, then went independent in events. In 2016, Jean-Philippe offered me the position of Secretary General of FIFAD, which became that of operational director.
After Olivier Français in the spring, you are leaving. It will make a big upheaval.
It is sure, but Gilles knows the festival very well, its historic partners, will bring all its network, its knowledge. Olivier Français said it before me: after ten years, you have to give way.
How did the team react when you told them your departure?
It was surprise and a lot of emotion, including me. It was a festival that helped me rebuild myself following my departure from Valais, an organization in which I have many ties.
What are you going to do in Montreux?
I was appointed head of the service of the economy, culture and tourism of Montreux. A position created to collect and direct this service, necessary to support the cultural and tourist life of the city and its development. We are always talking about “big” (Montreux Jazz, cultural season, musical September), but there are also theaters, museums, neighborhood events. It’s going to be rich. For me, it’s a great professional development, a culmination.
What FIFAD do you about to go to the person who will succeed you?
A festival that grew up, thanks to the work of a whole team, which displays a relatively good financial base, which is at a pivotal moment in its history.
That’s to say?
FIFAD has reached a limit. To develop it again, while retaining its DNA in the Deviablerets, you have to develop new collaborations, with other places. It is a moment that always ends up arriving for festivals that are successful. The idea is to develop antennas elsewhere.
FIFAD is a lot of emotions and beautiful encounters for Solveig Sautier, here with the director and freerider Nicolas Falquet in August 2024.
Jean-Bernard Sieber/ARC-FIFAD
This is what you already do in Villars, where you have been organizing winter projections for two years.
Exact. It is a first big step. Now you have to see further. And for that, you have to find new partners, try to further involve public institutions, find new opportunities. Our image is growing, and we now want to establish our national aura.
Are you going to suggest an antenna in Montreux?
(Laughs) It will not be my priority, but it is possible. Feasable, to see. Gilles Marchand did not fail to joke about it.
What will you miss the most?
The team, of course. Very strong links. Committees. The selection of films, when you are four or five to watch series films, to discuss, to redo the world.
Solveig Sautier forms a pair with Benoît Aymon, former presenter of “Pass-moi les Jumelles” and artistic director of FIFAD. The latter’s bicycle accident in 2019 had marked the resident of La Tour-de-Peilz a lot.
Jean-Bernard Sieber/ARC-FIFAD
In ten years, if only one film remained, a person, for a moment?
(Long hesitation) I would say for a moment. Benoît’s accident in 2019, three days before the festival (Editor’s note: Benoît Aymon, struck by a car while he was cycling). We were very afraid for him and we had to do as usual: «show must go on»but by finding solutions to this crisis situation. On the last day, Benoît had sent a video he had made for the spectators of the festival. When I watched it, I melted in tears. I had kept so far, and everything was out.
56e Edition of the International Alpine Film Festival of the Diablerets, until this Saturday, August 9. Program and ticket office: www.fifad.ch.
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