Country Focus: Switzerland
by Cineuropa
02/03/2010 - Articles, interviews, news, analysis on the Swiss audiovisual sector.
Country profile: Switzerland
International Film Guide 2012: Switzerland
A survey of the film culture and output in Switzerland published by the International Film Guide.
Frei named new president of Swiss Film Academy
Presided by filmmaker Fredi M. Murer since its creation in 2008, the Swiss Film Academy will now be headed by film director Christian Frei. With around 300 film professional members, the Academy plays an important role in organising the Quartz Swiss Film Prize, along with the Federal Office for Culture, promotion agency Swiss Films and SRG SSR idée suisse. Its ambition for the future is to take on full responsibility for the nominations and awarding of the Quartz prizes. Frei can lay claim...
Swiss professionals feel wronged by foreign networks
With the exception of public TV service SRG SSR idée suisse, which invests an annual sum of over €13.5m through the Audiovisual Pact, private Swiss networks have to devote 4% of their gross income to domestic film production. Foreign networks which broadcast from their country of origin are not subject to this legal requirement. French network M6, which broadcasts its programmes in French-speaking Switzerland, with advertising windows aimed at Swiss audiences, is exempt from any obligation...
Swiss film gets €1.1m in extra funding
In 2010, the Federal Office for Culture will have a budget of €30.8m for film funding, i.e. €1.1m more than in 2009. Unexpected in a financial crisis, this small increase, agreed to by Parliament, is all the more appreciated. It is mainly allocated to the development of film projects and the extension of the Swiss Cinémathèque. The total budget for film support is thus €16m, which is split between production funding (€12.85m) and backing for promotion and distribution (€2.26m). The rest of...
First Federal Law for Culture
For the first time in its history, Switzerland has equipped itself with a law for the promotion of culture, but no funds to give it substance. And for a good reason: the financial commitment of the cantons still predominates in this field. This rather empty shell thus disappoints expectations, but it’s a step in the right direction at least and defines the distribution of tasks between the Federal Office for Culture (OFC) and the Pro Helvetia Culture Foundation. Created in 1939 on the brink...
Switzerland officially rejoins MEDIA Programme
The Federal Council has finally ratified the agreement cementing Switzerland’s membership of the MEDIA Programme, to which it was temporarily admitted in 2007 (see news). To convince European film representatives, Swiss parliament had to amend the radio and television law banning wine and beer advertisements on TV (see news). Indeed, the European Union demanded that Switzerland submit to the so-called "country of origin" principle which guarantees, among other things, the free retransmission...
Six Swiss films get export funding
With support from the Federal Office for Culture, film promotion agency Swiss Films has granted a total of €81,400 for the foreign distribution of six Swiss films. Sums totalling €25,000 and €12,500, respectively, have been allocated for the German release of Micha Lewinsky’s Will You Marry Us? (distributed by Schwarzweiss Filmverleih) and Oliver Paulus’ Tandoori Love (Arsenal Filmverleih). Lorber Digital has obtained €25,000 for the US release of Ursula Meier’s Home. Meanwhile, €15,000 has...
Obstacle to Swiss Media membership
The renewal of Switzerland’s membership of the Media Programme is still being hampered by the European Union’s demand for recognition of the so-called “country of origin” principle of the “without borders” Audiovisual Directive, concerning the free and unrestrained reception and broadcast of television programmes, with their accompanying advertisements for political parties, religious groups and alcohol (see news). While Parliament has largely accepted the renewal of the Media Agreement, it...
Exhibitors say no to restrictive leasing (2)
Click here to read the first part of this article. Professionals in the sector – brought together under the banner of ProCinema, a Swiss association of film exhibitors and distributors – quickly appealed for state aid. A first official meeting with the Federal Office for Culture took place at the start of the year. From majors to smaller exhibitors, all took part and decided as a priority to undertake research to find a supplier offering less restrictive conditions, or even create an ad hoc...
Exhibitors say no to restrictive leasing (1)
Swiss exhibitors and distributors find themselves faced with the major changes wrought by the arrival of digital projection. But neither those concerned nor the Federal Office for Culture considered the consequences of this new technological situation sufficiently in advance. Signs from other countries – such as studies carried out in France – should, however, have prompted them to address the issue. Switzerland has thus had a rude awakening. The cost of equipping all of the country’s...
Switzerland - International Film Guide Survey
2006 was quite a good year for Swiss cinema, both at home and abroad. The domestic market share for Swiss films, which had hovered around 2% for most of the past ten years, rose to 9.5%, second only to American films and ahead of releases from the UK, France and Germany.Internationally, the visibility of Swiss cinema was enhanced by increased sales and presence at significant festivals. For 2007 the domestic market share is expected to rank somewhat lower, although sales and festival...
