In order to create new opportunities for Swiss independent cinema, a law that required local TV companies to invest 4 percent of their revenues generated in Switzerland in this sector will be amended, extending this obligation to streamers such as Prime Video and Netflix to “give something back to the culture with which they make their money,” commented Matthias Bürcher of the Federal Office of Culture (BAC), at the panel titled “Swiss Film Industry-New Film Law and New Opportunities”, organized during the Locarno Film Festival.
It is estimated that up to $20 million could be invested in independent productions. The fund, which must cover all types of films as long as they are Swiss or official co-productions with Switzerland, could be provided by: licensing films already made; fully financing the film; or through co-productions.
Other help for co-productions with Switzerland comes, however, from the new national fund created to encourage international co-productions at the development stage, in which Swiss producers are minority partners. This new fund, discussed by Corinna Marschall, director of Media Desk Suisse, is worth €1.2 million a year and finances between 23 and 25 projects a year.
“This funding scheme is intended to facilitate Switzerland’s accession to projects initiated and led by a foreign partner. And it is not limited to Europe, but is open to those two countries, Mexico and Canada, which have separate agreements.”
Photo Credits: Pxhere
