Focus was sold as of July 1 to W. Gassmann, which publishes the Bieler Tagblatt and Le Journal de Jura, among others. The editorial quality of the magazine is to be maintained and further expanded by the change. According to Marcel Geissbühler, overall head of media at W. Gassmann, long-time editor-in-chief Tobias Wessels will remain loyal to Blickpunkt: "With us, he will find the necessary resources to further develop the magazine in terms of both content and appearance. We will also continue to expand the Internet portal for SMEs that is part of the magazine." The advertising agency Biel-Bienne, which belongs to W. Gassmann, will take over the sale of advertisements.

Blickpunkt was previously published by Publitex in Basel. Publisher Dominique Hiltbrunner explains: "We considered various options with Publitex for our Blickpunkt product and listened to interested parties. After intensive examination, we felt that the solution with the Biel-based print and media company was the best, because it is backed by a strong regional publisher and equipped with the necessary resources to take the product a step further."

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

 

Although Switzerland is top in terms of recycling, many people are still unaware of how easy it is to return electronic devices, the agency said in a press release on Thursday. For this reason, the trade association commissioned C-Factor to produce a recycling information film that is intended to motivate and educate people. The film packs Swico's recycling system into an animation-style story in which viewers from young to old are entertained and hardly realize that they are also learning something in the process.

Three characters take center stage: Ted Tiwi, a CRT screen, James Pocket, the digital camera, and Hänn Di, a cell phone. The three of them have "the perfect plan", which is also the title of the movie. A plan to escape their useless existence.

Responsible at Swico: Loredana Panaro, Carmen Kälin, Roger Gnos. Responsible at C-Factor: Philipp Metzler, Alina Bühler (conception, consulting, project management). Responsible at Eclipse Studios: Michael Burtscher (story, dialog, direction); Christian Albrecht (animation, motion graphics), Faro Burtscher (illustrations, storyboard, character design). Music: Kico Babic.

About the film

 

Following various festival successes, the Swiss film "More than Honey" by Markus Imhoof has just been released in the "normal" cinema program in New York. Ursula Meier's "Sister" won a Silver Bear in Berlin in 2012. "Hiver nomade" by Manuel von Stürler won the European Film Award. It also won two "Student Oscars". Swiss films can once again be seen internationally. In many cases, it is thanks to the background work of Swiss Films that this work is being recognized. The promotion agency for the seventh art "made in Switzerland" hosted the presentation of its annual report on June 27.

"In 2012, uncertainties about the future of the promotion agency kept those responsible on their toes. The service agreement and various offers were repeatedly called into question," explained Josefa Haas, President of the Swiss Films Foundation Board. Specifically, Swiss Films had to reapply to the Federal Office of Culture FOC for the contract to officially promote the Swiss film scene and to receive money from the film promotion budget for this purpose. The contract has now been awarded and the service agreements between BAK, Pro Helvetia and Swiss Films have been agreed.

Thanks to the help provided by Swiss Films in promoting and actively supporting films at various levels, Swiss films were screened at all 12 of the top international festivals in 2012. Over 100 Swiss films were screened at the top 50 festivals worldwide, which corresponds to an increase of 10 percent. These films won a total of 280 prizes, which also brought in prize money of CHF 470,000. 55 percent of this was "earned" by short films. For many short film makers, "this is an important contribution to the budget", said communications manager Ursula Hartenstein.

Promoting such short films also makes sense because they are "business cards and door openers" for many filmmakers, emphasized Foundation President Josefa Haas. Successful short films often mark the beginning of a career.

The Short Film Night Tour 2013 organized by Swiss Films has already set an audience record with around 11,700 admissions in the first eleven cities from Basel to Lucerne alone, an increase of 24 percent compared to 2012.

Swiss Films' initiative to present a Swiss short film via streaming every Friday on the joint news network of the major Swiss newspapers has also been a success.

The balance sheet conference was the first under the new director Catherine Ann Berger. She has been in office full-time since June 1, 2013 and replaces Micha Zhivov, who stepped down at the end of 2012. As one of her key objectives, Berger announced how she intends to further improve the market opportunities for Swiss films with a new online database in the coming months. This "virtual marketplace" is being set up as part of an international project. The tool is intended to facilitate the programming work of festival organizers. Anyone who receives access from Swiss Films can then use this tool to find out about current Swiss short film production in an unbureaucratic way and have the works suggested by the promotion agency streamed.

Since 2004, all relevant data on around 4,000 films has been uploaded to the database on the Swiss Films portal, which is also accessible to the public. Thanks to links to social media, access increased by 28 percent in 2012.

Andreas Panzeri
 

Thanks to Responsive Design, the website can be optimally used on any device of the target group - be it desktop, tablet or smartphone. The user finds under Srginsider.ch various current topics, where he can actively participate in the discussion. The link to the social media channels YouTube, Twitter and Facebook is intended to ensure a dynamic exchange of opinions.

The platform contains several topics. For example, "Behind The Scenes" gives users insights into the production of shows. The "Program Tips" section is specially tailored to the interests of the target group. In addition, there are regular prize draws on the platform. Currently, users can find out whether they have the talent to become a program director.

Responsible at SRG Deutschschweiz: Kurt Nüssli (overall responsibility), Jasmin Rippstein (project management), Christa Arnet and Olivia Guler (concept), Viviane Aubert (consulting). Responsible at Ogilvy One: Petra Weber (strategy), Stefan Schäfer (concept and overall responsibility), Bettina Righetto, Benjamin Müller (consulting and project management), Benjamin Franken (creative direction), Karl Badde (layout).

 

Roger Wernli, co-founder and long-time managing director of Previon, will take over important projects of Previon's web technology division as of July 1, 2013, as part of a management buy-out and bundle them in the new Previon Plus. Ringier wrote in a statement Thursday. "I will focus with my team on consulting and realization of information management solutions for media, communication and PR," Wernli explained. Michael Voss, COO of Ringier and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Previon, is pleased that a promising solution has been found for the web technology area: "With Roger Wernli, an experienced and valued colleague is taking over important projects from Previon. I personally wish him every success in restarting his company."

The product and engineering area is no longer a strategic business area for main shareholder Ringier and will therefore be discontinued, the statement continues. Existing obligations from contracts will still be fulfilled. Despite internal reassignments of employees, layoffs will be unavoidable. Previon employs a total of 22 people.

Previon, based in Lucerne, is a provider of content technology solutions and services operating in the media and communications environment. The company was founded in 1995 as a training center and, thanks to years of developing industry know-how, has become a competence center for the technological requirements of media and communications companies.

Previon is now 85 percent owned by Ringier and 15 percent by A&F Computersysteme in Sursee LU.

 

Prior to this, the new website will be launched. The long-standing Session in-house agency Valencia Kommunikation was commissioned with the change to the new corporate identity and website. The new website focuses on the Baloise Session artists and their concerts. On the platform, users can surf through image and video data and relive the highlights of past festival years captured therein. The photos by Dominik Plüss, Flavia Schaub and Marco Grob are intended to radiate an emotional closeness.

In parallel to the website, the entire corporate design was also revised and all advertising and communication materials were given a new look. This includes, among other things, the stationery, the hospitality brochure and advertising materials such as posters, advertisements, program booklet.

Responsible at Baloise Session: Beatrice Stirnimann (CEO), Stephanie Suter (Communication), Lena Knoblich (Assistant Communication). Responsible at Basler Versicherungen: Marc Hallauer (Head of Marketing Communications), Hansjörg Thoma (Project Manager Sponsoring), Magalie Cecere (Project Manager Sponsoring & Events). Responsible at Valencia: Marco Rosenberg (Head of Consulting), Tommy Schilling (CD), Anett Oldenburg (AD), Peter Pohlmann (Interactive Director), Nicole Bollinger (Screen Designer), Guillermo Garcia (Text), Marc Bissegger, Ruedi Christen (Web Programmers), Philipp Heitz (Digital Media Director), Diana Aberkane (Consulting and Overall Coordination).

 

These included two gold, four silver and four bronze awards, a gold award in the Creative Effectiveness category and the Grand Prix award in the Press category. Mainardo de Nardis, CEO of OMD Worldwide comments, "Technological advances and the new economics of marketing are constantly raising the bar on the standards by which innovation and effectiveness are measured. Given these facts, OMD's recent recognition by peers in the global media landscape is proof that our agencies not only consistently meet these standards, but continually exceed them."
 

The international photography prize, which is awarded jointly by the Biel/Bienne Festival of Photography and Rado Uhren, provides the winner with the organization of an exhibition at the next festival, the payment of production costs for the exhibited work up to CHF 10,000 and a residency in China. The prize-winning photographs were selected from 200 portfolios from 15 countries, which were assessed by a jury chaired by Simon Baker, curator of the Photography and International Art department at the Tate Modern in London.

The jury, which met in Biel on 15 June this year, chose the "Nouveaux Souvenirs" series by Olivier Christinat, whose fascinating effect was further enhanced on closer inspection of the images, as detailed in a press release from the organizers. They show people in a condensed combination with urban elements and are the result of a careful selection by the photographer. The image setting is realized in two steps: First from a great distance when he took pictures in Japan, then through a detailed examination of the snapshots to discover a previously unnoticed latent theme in them. The jury praised not only the high experimental quality of the award-winning work, but also the original treatment of photographic themes, which stood out from the usual clichés about Japan, a country that has been photographed millions of times.

Members of the jury were Simon Baker (Chairman, Curator of Photography and International Art at the Tate Modern in London), Mirjam Fischer (independent author of books on art, photography and design in Zurich), Gerardo Mosquera (independent art critic, curator, historian and artistic director of PHotoEspaña in Madrid). Hélène Joye-Cagnard (co-director of the Biel/Bienne Photo Days) and Philippe Walther, brand manager for the Swiss market at Rado watches, were also on the jury in an advisory capacity.

The series "Nouveaux Souvenirs" will be on display at the next Biel/Bienne Photo Days from September 6 to 29, 2013.

Gabi Badertscher strengthens the YJOO team with a network in politics, business and media as well as experience in public affairs and corporate communications. Badertscher holds an Executive Master in Communications Management from the University of Lugano, UCLA Anderson Business School Los Angeles and the Copenhagen Business School. Most recently, she was a member of the Executive Board and Head of Public Affairs at Burson-Marsteller (Werbewoche.ch reported).

Before moving to the agency side, Badertscher held various management positions in the airline, healthcare, education, training and finance sectors. At the same time, she was involved in politics for many years, including as a member of the Parliament of the Canton of Thurgau, as a member and President of the Audit and Finance Commission and as President of the Parliament of the Canton of Thurgau.

With this addition, YJOO intends to implement the targeted expansion in strategic and operational terms: "For us, the expansion of the management team and the further strengthening of the Zurich site are an important step in driving forward organic growth in the long term," says Martin Zahner, CEO of YJOO.
 

Interwall Suisse regularly invites its customers to a "Last Tuesday" on the last Tuesday of the month. In an informal atmosphere, new projects are presented and networking opportunities are offered at this aperitif. The June Tuesday was all about the fascination of cult brands. The Harley-Davidson store in Zurich was stylishly set up as the location for a stand-up party.

Interwall Suisse, the "digital media agency," is part of Team Neusta's international network with offices in Bremen, Hamburg, Munich, Vienna, Dornbirn and Zurich. In total, Team Neusta employs around 500 people. With almost 50 million in sales, the network is number 3 in the Internet ranking of Germany. In Switzerland, Interwall is represented by Managing Partner Thomas Maldoner. Roger Baur from Netprofit also sits on the board of directors.

At the event held at Harley-Davidson's premises on Müllerstrasse in Zurich, Marketing Manager Dominique Collet of Harley Davidson Switzerland spoke about the myth of its steel steeds. In another presentation, Wolfgang Frick analyzed: "Brand cult: Why brands are brands". The Head of Marketing of the Spar Group Switzerland has also written a non-fiction book on the side "especially in the very early hours of the morning". Wolfgang Frick's 240 pages on "Malpractice in Marketing" are already going into their second edition after barely three months. The book gives tips: "How to avoid painful mistakes and keep your brand fit." (pan)

Roger Baur, VR-Interwall, with Managing Partner Thomas Maldoner.

Book author Wolfgang Frick, Dominique Collet from Harley Davidson, Enrique Nuñez from Interwall Suisse.

 

The so-called "octocopter" (a copter with eight rotors) is taking pictures at the dragon boat race in Eglisau this weekend. Behind it is the company Cityguide with its Züri app. "We will be the first company to use a drone to take such pictures over the waters," says Richard Resler of Züri-App. Specifically, the dragon boat race and the boats of Zürichsee Gastro will be recorded.

The drone theoretically flies up to 2,800 meters. But: "The images are taken at altitudes between 20 and 100 meters," says Richard Resler. The "octocopter" weighs 5 kilos and is controlled by a pilot on land. The flight time per battery is about six minutes. The dragon boat race as well as the Zurich ships will be visible in various 360-degree panoramas. Likewise, good sequences will be filmed in HD at both locations and edited into a video. The footage will be available on the Züri app in about two weeks.

The Züri -App is a free application for Zurich. It was created for Zurich residents who want to rediscover their city or for commuters and travelers who frequently visit Zurich. With the Züri app, you can search for the nearest EC machines, pharmacies, gas stations and cab stands, and have the route from your current location shown on the map. The app also includes all businesses that exist in the city and are of importance to urban dwellers: From restaurants, cafes, bars to boutiques and flower stores to dentists and cell phone doctors. What the app does not contain are tips on hotels, because the app is not aimed at tourists, according to the announcement, but primarily at people who live and work in Zurich or frequently visit the city.
 

A bed with a comforter is strikingly similar to the battery symbol that everyone knows from their smartphone. The implementation is intended to meet Riposa's claim of combining technology and health, the agency said in a press release on Wednesday.

Responsible at Riposa: Iva Schnellmann (Head of Marketing). Responsible at Havas Worldwide Zurich: Frank Bodin (overall responsibility), Axel Eckstein (ECD), Andrea Huber (AD), Eric Markowski (text), Walter Tagliaferri, Sandra Willi (consulting). Photography: Horst Diekgerdes.