Culture

Our culture coverage highlights fine arts and cinema, offering a Swiss perspective on internationally relevant themes and debates.

From soldiers to Scouts, a Swiss filmmaker explores youth in uniform

Two people stand on a wooden lookout tower, with a red flag fluttering above against a backdrop of blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

This content was published on Feb 20, 2025 Mateo Ybarra discusses his latest documentary, ‘Camp d’été’ (Summer Camp), which follows a 14-day Scout jamboree in Switzerland.

Our editor’s picks

Ten Swiss traditions on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list

This content was published on May 6, 2024 Yodelling might be the next Swiss tradition to make it onto the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list along side a ‘once in a generation’ festival and watchmaking.

Swiss are growing consumers of culture, survey finds

This content was published on Dec 13, 2022 The Swiss are consuming more and more culture, a study covering the period 1976-2019 revealed on Tuesday.

The fight for gender equality in Swiss art institutions

Art museums are still mostly occupied by works made by men. Awareness has only recently been raised in Switzerland, stirring the cultural scene.

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Swiss Film Selection

We offer a selection of Swiss films chosen from the Swiss streaming platform Play Suisse to our international audience. These films are subtitled in English and are productions or co-productions of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), to which SWI swissinfo.ch also belongs.

A screenshot from the documentary on the Lauberhorn downhill race.

The Lauberhorn downhill – the mountain of fate

This content was published on Jan 13, 2025 The classic Lauberhorn downhill ski race has been a World Cup fixture since the race circuit started.

2nd Life – Off to Tokyo

This content was published on Jan 13, 2025 The story of a Geneva family with four kids who gave up everything to open a patisserie in Tokyo without knowing the industry or the language.

Rebels in the snow: a history of Swiss snowboarding

This content was published on Oct 18, 2024 A journey through 40 years of Swiss snowboarding culture, with the pioneers, punks and pop stars who triggered a revolution in winter sports.

Rita Christen – Switzerland’s pioneering mountain guide

This content was published on Oct 11, 2024 Rita Christen is exceptional. The first female president of the Swiss Mountain Guide Association is one of only 40 or so female guides in Switzerland.

Climbing the iconic Eiger mountain in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 4, 2024 The Eiger, situated in the Bernese Oberland, is one of the most famous mountains in the Swiss Alps. This spectacular video takes you on a climb to the top.

Swiss emigrants – tearful farewells

This content was published on May 18, 2024 Swiss Abroad in Rwanda.

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Fribourg honors 100 years of Jean Tinguely

Swiss canton celebrates artist Jean Tinguely centenary

This content was published on Feb 17, 2025 Fribourg is honouring the cultural and social legacy of Swiss mechanical artist Jean Tinguely, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year.

Lucerne soprano Edith Mathis passes away

Swiss soprano Edith Mathis passes away aged 87

This content was published on Feb 17, 2025 Swiss soprano Edith Mathis, praised for her interpretations of Mozart, has died at the age of 87.

Bafta: Papal thriller "Conclave" wins best film award

Swiss-Austrian filmmaker wins Bafta for Conclave movie

This content was published on Feb 17, 2025 The papal thriller Conclave, by Austrian-Swiss filmmaker Edward Berger, wins Best Picture at Bafta film awards.

The first co-production by Swiss public television RTS and Netflix premiered last Christmas.

Don’t think small: first Swiss Netflix series, ‘Winter Palace’ sets tone of what’s to come

This content was published on Feb 16, 2025 Streaming platform co-productions such as Winter Palace will become a regular feature in the future. What’s in it for the Swiss entertainment industry?

Audrey Hepburn made Switzerland her home so she could lead a normal life

Swiss Alps and discretion: a perfect cocktail for celebrities

This content was published on Feb 16, 2025 The sale of a Swiss villa which once belonged to film star Audrey Hepburn demonstrates Switzerland’s status as a haven for the stars.

Surrealist masterpieces at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen (BS)

Surrealist masterpieces showcased at Fondation Beyeler in Basel

This content was published on Feb 15, 2025 The Fondation Beyeler presents the world premiere of a selection of Surrealist works from the Hersaint Collection.

Swiss director Richard Dindo dies aged 80

This content was published on Feb 14, 2025 Zurich-born director and documentary filmmaker Richard Dindo has died at the age of 80.

Fleur Jaeggy wins the Grand Prix Suisse de littérature 2025

Fleur Jaeggy wins 2025 Grand Prix for Swiss Literature award

This content was published on Feb 13, 2025 Zurich-born writer Fleur Jaeggy is the 2025 winner of the Grand Prix for Swiss Literature, the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) announced on Thursday.

The Swiss music market continues to grow thanks to streaming

Streaming continues to drive Swiss music market growth

This content was published on Feb 13, 2025 The Swiss music market generated sales of CHF249 million ($274 million) in 2024, up 7% on the previous year, with streaming driving most of the growth.

Swiss Abroad

The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad

Alpine Environment

‘Swiss engineering at its best’: the steepest cable car in the world

International Geneva

Swiss budget cuts increase pressure on International Geneva

Alpine Environment

A new start for the ‘sleeping beauty’ of the Swiss Alps

Switzerland is closing down aid projects in Zambia

Foreign Affairs

Foreign aid cuts: where does Switzerland stand?

Are direct democracies more vulnerable to disinformation?

The wave of disinformation is expected to particularly affect direct democracies such as Switzerland or many US states.

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Dec 5, 2024

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What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?

Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?

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Feb 10, 2025

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Should nations spend more on foreign aid or are cutbacks justified?

Many countries are cutting back on foreign aid and Switzerland is among them. Do you think it is justified?

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Feb 6, 2025

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Culture

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From soldiers to Scouts, a Swiss filmmaker explores youth in uniform

Our editor’s picks

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Ten Swiss traditions on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list

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Swiss are growing consumers of culture, survey finds

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The fight for gender equality in Swiss art institutions

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Swiss Film Selection

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The Lauberhorn downhill – the mountain of fate

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2nd Life – Off to Tokyo

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Rebels in the snow: a history of Swiss snowboarding

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Rita Christen – Switzerland’s pioneering mountain guide

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Climbing the iconic Eiger mountain in Switzerland

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Swiss emigrants – tearful farewells

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Swiss canton celebrates artist Jean Tinguely centenary

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Swiss soprano Edith Mathis passes away aged 87

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Swiss-Austrian filmmaker wins Bafta for Conclave movie

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Don’t think small: first Swiss Netflix series, ‘Winter Palace’ sets tone of what’s to come

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Swiss Alps and discretion: a perfect cocktail for celebrities

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Surrealist masterpieces showcased at Fondation Beyeler in Basel

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Swiss director Richard Dindo dies aged 80

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Fleur Jaeggy wins 2025 Grand Prix for Swiss Literature award

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Streaming continues to drive Swiss music market growth

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The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad

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‘Swiss engineering at its best’: the steepest cable car in the world

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Swiss budget cuts increase pressure on International Geneva

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A new start for the ‘sleeping beauty’ of the Swiss Alps

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Foreign aid cuts: where does Switzerland stand?

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Are direct democracies more vulnerable to disinformation?

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What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?

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Should nations spend more on foreign aid or are cutbacks justified?