Joëlle Comé appointed Chair of the FIFDH Foundation Board

Appointment of Joëlle Comé as Chair of the FIFDH Foundation Board as of autumn 2026

Geneva, 3 August 2026 – The International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) is opening a new chapter in its history with the appointment of Joëlle Comé as Chair of its Foundation Board, effective November 2026. She will succeed Yves Daccord, whose commitment and vision have shaped the Foundation over the past five years.

With professional experience spanning human rights and public policies in the fields of cinema, art and culture, Joëlle Comé will bring to the FIFDH a unique expertise in the leadership of artistic institutions and international cooperation. Director of the Swiss Institute in Rome until the end of the year, she has developed this interdisciplinary platform through a leading programme that fosters collaborations between the arts and sciences, research and society. Her career has taken her from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where she served as a delegate and later as head of mission in several conflict contexts, to film production, artistic education and cultural public policy, notably as Director of Cultural Affairs for the Canton of Geneva.

This distinctive career path, combining humanitarian commitment, film creation and production, cultural diplomacy and strategic vision, strongly resonates with the FIFDH’s mission. Her arrival marks a new milestone for the Festival. She will contribute to its continued development by placing her experience at the service of its international outreach and its ambition to foster dialogue between cinema, human rights and civic engagement.

Joëlle brings together a profound understanding of international issues, extensive experience in leading cultural institutions, and a strong conviction about the role of culture in our democracies. Her journey, at the intersection of human rights and artistic creation, perfectly embodies the spirit of the FIFDH. I look forward to passing on this responsibility to her, confident that she will guide the Festival towards a new stage in its development.
– Yves Daccord, Chair of the FIFDH Foundation Board

It is an honour to join the FIFDH, a demanding festival that brings cinema and artistic creation into dialogue with critical thinking and civic engagement. At a time when human rights are more challenged than ever, the FIFDH provides an essential public space for encounters, films and reflection. I look forward to continuing the work carried out by the Foundation Board, the Chair and the Festival team, and to contributing to further strengthening its reach in Switzerland and internationally.
– Joëlle Comé, incoming Chair of the FIFDH Foundation Board

Within the FIFDH Foundation Board, Joëlle Comé will be supported by two Vice-Chairs: Dr Shirin Heidari, researcher at the Gender Centre of the Geneva Graduate Institute, and Rachel M’Bon, journalist and filmmaker, as well as by the six other Board members, who, together with the Festival’s management and entire team, warmly welcome her appointment.

The FIFDH Foundation Board and the Festival’s management would also like to warmly thank Yves Daccord for his commitment, vision and support over the past five years.