FIFAN 2025: the 14th edition draws to a close
Wednesday 17 September 2025
The 14ᵉ edition of the Festival international du film d’archéologie de Nyon (FIFAN) came to a close on Sunday, September 7, 2025, with the announcement of the prizewinners and screenings of the winning works, as well as a day dedicated to families. With 32 films screened, 6 immersive experiences, 2 workshops, 4 conferences and over 4,000 visitors in 6 days, the festival confirmed its role as a privileged meeting place for archaeologists, researchers, film-makers and the general public.
For the first time, the festival offered a selection dedicated to immersive experiences. Six virtual reality creations were in competition, inviting the public to explore vanished sites, enter inaccessible places and experience heritage in a different way. A new Audience Prize was awarded to the best of these entries, underlining FIFAN’s determination to support the technological and artistic developments that are renewing archaeological mediation.
The programmed films addressed scientific themes that captured the public’s interest. Bioanthropology shed light on the lives of ancient populations, while the issue of endangered archaeological heritage served as a reminder of the fragility of sites around the world. The evening devoted to Swiss archaeology was a great success, with three films and a lecture on major discoveries.
Alongside the screenings, the public was able to attend a number of conferences that extended the debates and provided food for thought. The event was also marked by two workshops: one on the contribution of immersive experiences to heritage research and enhancement, the other on the role of documentary as a tool for scientific and heritage mediation. These moments of exchange confirmed FIFAN’s vocation as a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue.
Finally, the SuperFIFAN family day, held at the Roman Museum in Nyon, brought the festival to a close, with screenings for the very young and participatory activities to encourage intergenerational discovery of archaeology.
