New organization aims to make Switzerland more attractive as a film location

"Film Commission Switzerland" is called SonntagsBlick the organization with which the industry, under the auspices of the umbrella association Cinésuisse, wants to put Switzerland back on the map of international film productions. What used to be commonplace - for example, with the James Bond classics "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969) or "Goldfinger" (1964, pictured above) shot in Switzerland - has become rare today: Switzerland as a location for blockbusters. The last Bond, for example, was shot in Austria, as Vienna had helped out with targeted subsidies. The psychological thriller "A Cure for Wellness" is set in Switzerland, but was not filmed here at all, but in Germany.

Switzerland has so far lagged behind in terms of audiovisual location promotion, as Thomas Tribolet of the Swiss Film Producers Association (SFP) told the SonntagsBlick elaborates: "Today, every country in Europe has a Film Commission - except Switzerland." That is about to change - the new organization is intended to attract more major foreign film productions to Switzerland.

There are many reasons to choose Switzerland. Not only can the country offer "the best film technology and film organization services," says Tribolet, but also a suitable hotel industry and general infrastructure.

If Cinésuisse has its way, the new organization should be financed by federal funds. According to Thomas Tribolet, producers are pursuing the goal that Seco would also provide funding for audiovisual. BDP Council of States member Werner Luginbühl is convinced that the investment would pay off: A four-week production, for example, costs foreign production companies four million francs.

There is also a marketing effect for Swiss tourism. The Schilthorn, for example, where "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was filmed, still benefits from the worldwide fame of the Bond film and is still a popular destination for foreign guests 50 years after filming ended.