The third edition of the Brugg Documentary Film Festival will take place from the 18th to the 21st of September 2025. The film festival was launched in 2021 and since then the city of Brugg shines a spotlight on the genre of documentary filmmaking every two years. Filmscreenings take place in both of the Brugg cinemas ODEON and Excelsior, as well as in the Salzhaus and the Zimemermannhaus. Every edition, the festival invites filmmakers from all over the world to be present at the numerous premieres and discussion rounds which take place at the different projection venues. With an elaborate supporting programme, made up of concerts, film discussions, exhibitions and panels the festival is a celebration of documentary film.

Since 2023, the Brugger Documentary Film Festival is hosting a short-film competition for young documentary filmmakers. The competition aims to give young filmmakers and their films a platform to be seen by a broad audience and is intended to create a stepping stone on the journey to professional filmmaking.

Awards & Prizes

The main prize of the Brugger Documentary Film Festival is endowed with 2500 CHF together with an award designed by a regional artist.

Four to five films selected by the jury will be sent on a cinema tour through Switzerland and be shown in several cinemas. The filmmakers will receive 50% of the ticket revenue.

In addition, an audience prize will be awarded.

The award ceremony will take place on the 21st of September 2025 at 6 pm in the cinema ODEON BRUGG.

Rules & Terms

The competition will only accept documentary films.

The competition is open to young filmmakers with a European residency.

The film must have been finished in the years 2023, 2024 or 2025.

The filmmaker(s) must declare that they were under 30 years of age during the making of the film.

The film must be submitted with German sound or with German or English subtitles.

The maximum running time of the film must not exceed 30 minutes (including credits).

The filmmaker agrees that a copy of the submitted film will be stored in the festival’s archive.

The entrant ensures that the image and sound material used is either their own property or that they have permission to use it (e.g. Suisa, Gema, etc.).

Furthermore, no (promotional) films with racist, pornographic, violent or other unconstitutional content will be accepted. The sender is liable for any violations.

The filmmaker agrees that the film will be shown at the Brugger Documentary Film Festival if nominated. The filmmaker agrees that excerpts of the film or stills may be used for advertising purposes and in public media. The filmmaker agrees that excerpts of the film may be used for the official trailer of the Brugger Dokumentarfilmtage.

In the event of a nomination and non-appearance at the award ceremony, the filmmaker must send a short video message in which they comment on their film.

The filmmaker assures that the submitted film does not contain any discriminatory content or unconstitutional symbols.

The legal process is excluded.