New Chair of the FIFDH Foundation Board
In line with the ongoing development of the Festival, the Foundation Board of the FIFDH is delighted to announce the appointment of Delphine de Candolle as its new Chair, effective from April 2026. She will be the successor to Yves Daccord, whose commitment and vision have shaped the Foundation over the past four years.
©Rebecca Bowring
Having led the Société de Lecture de Genève from 2001 to 2024, Delphine de Candolle successfully transformed this two-hundred-years-old institution, together with its Committee members and team, into a vibrant, open and inclusive cultural hub. Under her direction, the Société became a recognised space for dialogue between literature, society and current affairs, where conferences, debates, workshops and thematic cycles nourish collective reflection on the contemporary world.
A passionate advocate for culture with a deep understanding of institutional dynamics, Delphine de Candolle combines sensitivity, intellectual engagement and humanism. Her experience and profile will enable the FIFDH to pursue its mission of defending human rights while fostering new cultural and civic synergies, in Geneva and internationally.
“Delphine embodies a rare open-mindedness and ability to bring people together. Her leadership experience, her knowledge of the cultural landscapes in Geneva and in the Francophone world, and her profoundly humanist vision are major assets for the FIFDH and its future – especially at a time when human rights are increasingly politicised and undermined.” — Yves Daccord, Chair of the FIFDH Foundation Board
Delphine de Candolle 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 members of the Foundation Board. Together with the Festival’s directors, they warmly welcome Delphine’s arrival and look forward to continuing to make the FIFDH a unique space for exchange, where cinema, activism and collective reflection meet to question the world and inspire engagement.
“I am honoured to join the FIFDH, an institution that brings together art, cinema and human rights. In a world undergoing profound change, this Festival embodies the power of film, speech and shared emotion. I hope to build on the remarkable work carried out by Yves Daccord, the Board and the team, and to contribute to this essential platform’s reach, in Geneva and beyond.” — Delphine de Candolle, future Chair of the FIFDH Foundation Board
A political scientist by training, Delphine de Candolle worked for eight years at the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, before joining the Société de Lecture as Artistic Director, a position she held for 25 years. Passionate about literature and social engagement, she enthusiastically curated all of the organisation’s cultural programming, including more than 1,500 conferences. Our Earth at Stake was the final lecture series she oversaw, featuring guests such as Camille Étienne and Cyril Dion. Among her major projects, she co-created with Lucie Rihs an outdoors, nighttime exhibition of Sempé’s drawings during COVID-19, which were displayed across five iconic Geneva landmarks. Delphine de Candolle has been a member of several foundations and is driven by a deep conviction that culture connects and enlightens. She hopes to continue contributing to projects that bring together thought, creativity and sharing – particularly in times when uncertainty (and chaos, so vividly described by Giuliano da Empoli) reigns.