When Ivo Kummer accepted the position as head of the Film Department for the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (SFOC) as of August 1, 2011, Seraina Rohrer was appointed as his successor.

The program reflects the diversity of filmmaking in Switzerland, encompassing documentary, fiction, experimental, short and animation films, as well as music clips.

Every year the special "Rencontre" program honours an individual whose work has played a significant role in Swiss filmmaking.

With "Rencontre," the Solothurn Film Festival offers the opportunity to gain in-depth insight into the works of well-known Swiss cineastes and to meet with them.

Previous honoured individuals: 2014 Peter Liechti 2013 Silvio Soldini 2012 Marthe Keller 2011 Ruth Waldburger 2010 Niki Reiser 2009 Léa Pool 2008 Walo Lüönd 2007 Renato Berta 2006 Maximilian Schell 2005 Bruno Ganz 2004 Jean-Luc Bideau 2003 Pio Corradi 2002 Paul Riniker 2001 T&C Film AG, Marcel Hoehn 2000 Jacqueline Veuve 1999 Alexander J. Seiler 1998 Claude Goretta 1997 Reni Mertens and Walter Marti 1996 Alain Tanner The Focus section addresses topical issues and was presented for the first time at the Solothurn Film Festival in 2012.

The films explored the boundaries of classic cinema, examining closely the current audio-visual landscape at home and abroad to discover new narrative styles as well as atypical production and distribution forms.

It honours an outstanding Swiss film produced for the cinema with a distinctive humanistic message and impressive cinematic form.

Previous award-winners: 2014"L'escale" by Kaveh Bakthiari 2013 "Der Imker" by Mano Khalil 2012 "Vol special" by Fernand Melgar 2011 "Cleveland contre Wallstreet" by Jean-Stéphane Bron 2010 "Nel giardino dei suoni" by Nicola Bellucci 2009 "No more smoke signals" by Fanny Bräuning The Audience Award has been an integral part of the program of the Solothurn Film Festival since 2007.

The audience votes on its favourite from approximately ten film productions screened in the festival's evening program are nominated.

Previous award-winners: 2015 Usfahrt Oerlike by Paul Riniker[6] 2014 "Neuland" by Anna Thommen 2013 "More Than Honey" by Markus Imhoof 2012 "Die Wiesenberger" by Bernhard Weber and Martin Schilt 2011 "Sommervögel" by Paul Riniker 2010 "Bödälä – Dance the Rhythm" by Gitta Gsell 2009 "Maman est chez le coiffeur" by Léa Pool 2008 "Das Geheimnis von Murk" by Sabine Boss 2007 "Vitus" by Fredi M. Murer There are three competitions in conjunction with the "Upcoming" section, which was initiated in 2012 to showcase emerging filmmakers, place new talent in the spotlight and examine current trends.

Previous prize-winners – Print Media 2014 Mathieu Loewer for his dossier on the film "L'expérience Blocher" by Jean-Stéphane Bron (Le Courrier, 14.8.2013).

2007 Alexandra Stäheli for her Filmbesprechung "Edelmiezen erstarren im Design" on the film "Nachbeben" by Stina Werenfels (NZZ, 3.3.2006).

2006 Antoine Duplan for his article "Regarder la mort en face" on the film "Exit" by Fernand Melgar (L’Hebdo, 1.9.2005).

2012 Brigitte Häring for her Radio-Beitrag "Filmischer Einblick ins Teenie-Dasein" on the films "Romans d’ados" by Béatrice Bakhti and "Mit dem Bauch durch die Wand" by Anka Schmid ("Reflexe" program on DRS2, 1.2.2011).

2011 Daniel Hürlimann (1968 – 2011) for his Radio-Beitrag on the filming of "Lionel" by Mohammed Soudani ("Geronimo" program on Radio Svizzera Rete Due, 11.12.2009).

2010 Michael Sennhauser for his film critique "Maman est chez le coiffeur" by Léa Pool (DRS2 aktuell, 8.4.2009).