Swiss Funding Bodies ‘Talk Money’ and Co-Financing Opportunities at Locarno: ‘We Create a Space Where Stories Take Shape’

In my professional opinion as someone who has navigated through the intricate world of film financing, I find the approach of Visions Sud Est and Migros Culture Percentage Story Lab to be both inspiring and effective. They are not just providing financial support but also fostering creativity, originality, and diversity in storytelling.

At Locarno, Gregory Catella stated that the primary aim for Switzerland’s SRG SSR is ensuring content partners (co-producers) are satisfied.

“This success and publicity brings benefits our way, primarily in terms of reputation rather than substantial financial gain. For us, it’s more about the prestige associated with being involved. The movies and co-productions we receive are usually seeking international acclaim at film festivals.”

At the Switzerland and Co-Financing Opportunities for Independent Films discussion, Catella motivated participants of Locarno Pro to submit applications for what is commonly known as the Audiovisual Pact.

“He acknowledged your interest in discussing finances, and proceeded to do so, stating that The Pact currently has an available sum of 34 million Swiss Francs (approximately $39.2 million), which is an increase of 1.5 million compared to the previous amount.”

“This enhancement isn’t about creating additional movies or shows; rather, it’s intended to improve our financial backing for collaborative productions. Expenses are escalating, as pointed out. The Audiovisual Pact, which provides funding up to 10 million Swiss Francs ($11.5 million) for feature films and 2 million Swiss Francs ($2.3 million) for animation, primarily supports Swiss co-productions. However, it’s also open to international partners joining in on these projects, whether they’re documentaries for broadcast or digital platforms.”

Instead, prospective candidates might first approach the Federal Office of Culture, which provides both a competitive grant and an automatic one depending on the number of theatrical screenings and film festival participants from previous productions. It’s worth noting that Film Investment Refund Switzerland is also an option, albeit with certain limitations.

“Patrizia Pesko noted that we can collaborate on projects only with nations we have formal agreements with. However, if a project falls under the European Co-production Convention, it’s possible to collaborate; otherwise, cooperation is not an option with countries lacking such agreements.”

We have separate agreements with Austria and Germany, Canada, France (including the French Community of Belgium), Italy, Luxembourg, and Mexico.

As a seasoned film producer with years of experience under my belt, I understand the complexities and nuances of international collaborations. While it’s always exciting to work with different cultures and countries like Japan or China, there are some constraints that one must be aware of. In this case, working with these countries may not grant our production the official co-production status from the Swiss state. This might seem discouraging at first, but it’s crucial to remember the implications that come along with it.

Media Desk Suisse offers more flexibility.

“Corinna Marschall mentioned that there could be a collaboration project between you and Switzerland due to an arrangement involving a third partner. If you’re from Kazakhstan and have a collaborative agreement with France, and France has a similar deal with Switzerland, this forms what is known as a triangle of cooperating partners.”

“Our funding supports project development alone, not production, and this applies to both projects predominantly Swiss-owned and those collaboratively developed with Swiss minorities. The total amount allocated annually for this purpose is approximately 1.2 million Swiss Francs, equivalent to around $1.4 million, across all genres.”

Using this funding, approximately 23 projects by authors of any nationality are backed by Media Desk Suisse annually. Support is usually provided towards the end of the development stage and there’s no requirement that the project be staged theatrically.

The Swiss manufacturing firm handles this application, requiring them to demonstrate a specific history of success. The assessment will be conducted by professionals from other countries.

“Usually, funds are useful when additional time and resources are required due to in-depth research, such as gathering archival materials for developing a marketing plan or promotional preview.”

Marshall delved into the topic of the Minority Swiss Co-Development Fund, a program that provides additional points for children’s films and animations, as well as for Swiss collaborators. This fund offers grants of up to 50,000 CHF ($57,670), which are non-repayable, with the possibility of funding covering up to 70% of expenses incurred by the Swiss minority partner. Applicants must be a Swiss minority producer who submits their application at least eight months prior to filming.

“She emphasized that the selected projects should be linked in some way to Switzerland, either through their themes, teams, or actors. Our goal is to focus on high-quality productions, both artistically and technically, capable of appealing to global viewers.”

“Achieving success among the audience is beneficial, however, the key factor lies in whether the movie can gain traction overseas – not merely during film festivals. Does it show promise for international distribution?”

Instead of focusing on developing their own production, countries with limited capacity should consider collaborating with Visions Sud Est, established in 2005. This organization has backed over 200 creative projects since its inception, such as “All We Imagine as Light,” “Pepe,” and “Intercepted.”

“Madeline Robert clarified that the intention is to assist films intended for cinema release. In exchange for this assistance, the Swiss rights are acquired by the fund. Notably, both the director and the applying production company must hail from eligible countries, and the filming should take place in one of these eligible nations as well, using the local language.”

“She stated that our work doesn’t involve collaborating with a filmmaker based in the U.S., of Tanzanian descent, currently shooting in Tanzania. That’s not part of our regular activities.”

As a passionate filmmaker, I’ve found an exciting opportunity with Visions Sud Est that doesn’t necessitate any Swiss producer or European partnership. This organization supports films at both the production and post-production stages. For a fiction film, they offer up to 50,000 CHF ($57,670) during production, and 20,000 CHF ($23,000) for post-production. However, do keep in mind that the selection process can take around four months, or 16 weeks.

Robert made it clear that since the fund is quite competitive, it’s crucial not to submit your work prematurely but rather ensure it’s fully prepared for production. She emphasized the significance of having a high-quality, unique project to bolster the local film industry.

“Ensuring participation at the appropriate moment in the project is crucial for us. ‘Agora’ was granted assistance during the post-production phase. The director remarked, ‘Now I can complete the movie and exhibit it at a prestigious film festival.’ She further mentioned that the film will be screened at the fest later this week.”

A little while later, Robert shared with EbMaster: “The biggest blunder often occurs when one applies too prematurely. Since you can only submit once per level of support, it’s crucial to apply when your script is finalized – during production – and when a complete draft of the entire movie has been assembled – during post-production.”

However, not every story needs such a joyful conclusion, as Tenzin Roder from Migros Culture Percentage Story Lab noted.

“Our goal is to contribute to the movie-making journey, understanding that not every idea can become a reality on screen.”

The lab caters to various storytelling mediums like films, videos, interactive content, and games, primarily at their initial or embryonic phases, encompassing multiplatform and game projects as well.

After the panel discussion, Roder emphasized the significance of a jury process that ensures privacy (anonymity) and also highlighted the benefits of providing coaching and mentorship opportunities to individuals, when speaking with EbMaster.

“In a compact nation such as Switzerland, where key industry figures tend to be familiar, it’s imperative to make certain that numerous viewpoints are acknowledged. Storytelling, be it through films, television, or literature, serves as a method of involvement and impact. We strongly advocate for examining subjects from multiple angles,” she emphasized.

“Our services offer personalized assistance, especially beneficial for fresh talents venturing into the movie business. Navigating through the film industry can be tough, and opportunities are limited. Our training programs are designed to empower and help these newcomers establish themselves professionally.”

She emphasized: “It’s crucial to design settings that encourage trials and discovery, particularly in this cut-throat market. Our goal is to establish an area where narratives unfold and evolve.”

2024-08-13 14:17

Swiss Funding Bodies ‘Talk Money’ and Co-Financing Opportunities at Locarno: ‘We Create a Space Where Stories Take Shape’

Read More

Minority Mindset