A backflush filter for liquid media, having a filter housing, which is formed by means of at least one supporting cage, which has at least two groups of slot-type apertures, and at least one filtering means supported on the supporting cage, where-in the apertures of each group extend in parallel alignment with one another and are separated from one another by ribs, and having a backflushing device, which is arranged in the interior of the filter insert, is rotatable and has at least one slit, said backflushing device being designed for flushing of the filtering means via the slit and apertures. The direction of motion of the backflushing device can be reversed during the backflush cycle and a filter insert therefore, wherein the backflush filter and the filter insert include a filtering means having a pleated, preferably multi-ply, filter fabric or filter cloth with pleating folds, and the ribs fit by means of a rib front into respective pleating folds.