"It's impossible to take an interest in Swiss animated film without knowing the three filmmakers from Studio GDS," says Christian Gasser, cultural journalist and lecturer in animated film at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, in an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency.

In 1971, the three graphic designers founded the studio in Carouge near Geneva. The trio had met shortly beforehand at an advertising agency. Georges Schwizgebel and Daniel Suter had completed their studies at the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs, Claude Luyet had just finished his training as a graphic designer. Since founding their studio, the three have created 42 animated films. In figures: 265 minutes of film in 52 years.

In conversation, Gasser says that Georges Schwizgebel is considered the master of Swiss animated film. "He is the only one of his generation who has managed to make a career in animated film and, with around 25 films and short films, to create a remarkable body of work, even by international standards."

Animation of dreams

Schwizgebel has won several awards for his work, including international ones. In 2018, for example, he won the Swiss Film Awards. Whenever possible, Schwizgebel tries to work with planned sequences. These are sequences that usually consist of just one, slightly longer shot. "It's almost a failure for me to make an edit," says Schwizgebel.

In conversation, the now 80-year-old says that he tries to line up the shots in a film with the same ease and logic that one experiences images in dreams. Schwizgebel finds inspiration for his films in music, painting or even myths and fairy tales.

Suter is characterized by a simple, reduced style that is reminiscent of classic comics. There will be no more new animated films from the 81-year-old. Instead, he is devoting himself to drawing. The Film Days are showing an exhibition of his drawings.

Restored films for the Film Days

The "Rencontre" program in Solothurn shows an integral part of her work in five one-hour short film programs. "Some films had to be restored," says Claude Luyet.

In the announcement of the Solothurn Film Festival, Luyet was described as the "punk" of the trio. He prefers to focus on the supposed winners and losers of society. In doing so, the Genevan always tries out different styles. Sometimes more experimental, as in "Rush", sometimes more comic-noir, as in "Robert Creep".

Luyet's favorite film from his collection is "Ricochet" from 1973, the first film he directed. "The film was created with complete freedom and, above all, a lot of naivety," says the 76-year-old. It was thanks to this film that he stayed in the film industry.

Craftsmen who make animated films

In 2022, Claude Luyet and Georges Schwizgebel received the Geneva "Prix de l'Artisanat", the craftsman's prize. Luyet is particularly proud of the award: "This award suits me best," he says. His latest film to date, "Lucky Man", was released in 2022. But Luyet is not thinking about retirement just yet. He is currently working on another animated film - probably his last.

Although the three men shared their studio for a long time, their animated films have always remained unique and different. However, "Patchwork" from 1971, one of their first co-productions, will be shown in Solothurn. But: "We would prefer to forget this film," says Luyet. From today's perspective, the three pioneers of Swiss animated film dislike one thing in particular about "Patchwork": it is too '68-esque.

The 59th Solothurn Film Festival will be showing the films of Studio GDS in five short film blocks. The feature-length film "Gwen et le livre de sable" by French animator Jean François Laguionie, on which Luyet worked, will also be shown. The audience will also be presented with drawings by Suter and a ciné-concert will take place. The GDS films will be accompanied on the piano by Schwizgebel's son Louis. (SDA)

An in-depth examination revealed that the takeover would eliminate competition in the market for addressed bulk mail items weighing over 50 grams for business customers, the Competition Commission announced on Friday. In addition, Swiss Post would also gain a dominant position in other areas, such as the delivery of newspapers and magazines.

Other prospective buyer

The Quickmail Group had argued that it was no longer economically feasible to continue the business independently due to negative figures. The Competition Commission did not dispute this in its decision. However, a restructuring takeover could only have been permitted if Quickmail was expected to disappear from the market anyway - and customers would have switched to Swiss Post, according to the press release. This was not the case, as another company was also interested in Quickmail.

The Quickmail Group, with its two subsidiaries Quickmail and Quickpac, delivers letters, unaddressed items such as advertising flyers, newspapers and magazines as well as parcels throughout Switzerland. It was not clear from the ComCo's communiqué which company the alternative prospective buyer was. The Competition Commission merely wrote that the prospective buyer had many years of experience in the postal services sector.

"Liberalization has failed"

In a statement, the Quickmail Group expressed its shock at the Weko's decision. The solution negotiated with Swiss Post would have brought stability and continuity to both employees and customers. Instead, 3000 jobs are now at risk.

The company voiced fundamental criticism. The liberalization of the postal market in Switzerland had failed. This is because Swiss Post's residual monopoly in the letter market has ultimately led to a cut-throat battle with unequal competition - while at the same time letter volumes are continuing to fall.

Swiss Post signed the purchase agreement for Quickmail and Quickpac in July (Werbewoche.ch reported). The decision of the Competition Commission is acknowledged, regretted and will now be analyzed in depth. The aim of the takeover would have been to ensure seamless operations for customers, according to Swiss Post. (SDA)

Graubünden Ferien is a pioneer in children and youth marketing with its children's world centered around the two advertising ambassadors Gian and Giachen. The tourism marketing organization has now followed up with Wirz and Staay and created a colourful game world for children aged 6 and over with the mobile game "Crystal Search with Madlaina".

In the next edition of the LSA Live Talk Christof Zogg talks to Marc Held (Graubünden Ferien), Philip Eggenberger (Staay Interactive) and Nico Keramaris (Wirz) about user engagement in two senses. Firstly, how it is possible to turn even very young vacation guests into loyal fans of a tourist region and how a brand can remain "top of mind" even outside of the vacation season. On the other hand, it highlights the measures that can be taken to encourage users of a digital touchpoint to actively use it - and thus optimize the return on marketing investment.

Leading Swiss Agencies LSA discusses in the Live talk series "Digital Business Transformation" about trends and best cases on digital topics together with experts, clients and agencies. The live talk will show how new technologies are finding their way into practice and what opportunities are opening up for the communications industry.

The talk on "User Engagement" will take place on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. takes place. No registration is necessary.

The agency Ff.k Public Relations, which specializes in wine and food PR, has been active on the Swiss market for 13 years. Cooperation with strong local partners has laid the foundation for entering the market, according to a press release. These synergies are set to continue in the future. Ff.k intends to consolidate and further expand its own position in Switzerland with its own branch.

The move was made because a relevant proportion of sales is now generated in Switzerland. This applies to both the German and French-speaking parts of the country. "We have been successful in the Swiss market for many years, and it is continuously developing positively. We now know the market so well that it is a logical step to establish a branch in the country," explains co-founder and partner Elke Fierenz. "Through targeted marketing and communication measures, we support our international customers in consolidating and expanding their position in the premium-oriented Swiss market."

The branch is located in Zurich. It is the first additional location alongside the agency's headquarters in Hamburg. Among the clients for whom Ff.k has realized campaigns on the Swiss market, in some cases for many years, are the associations and consortia for wines from Provence, Prosecco DOC, Lugana, DO Rueda and DO Ribera del Duero.

Even stronger network partner

The 18-strong team at Ff.k Public Relations advises consortia, export associations and selected brand producers from all major European countries of origin. Since its foundation in 2019, the agency has been working together with similarly structured, owner-managed agencies across Europe in the "Food & Wine Republic" network. "This gives our clients a strong, locally anchored alternative to the large, globalized agencies," says co-founder and partner Jan Christof Koch. With the branch in Switzerland, the agency aims to strengthen its position within this network.

Farinato is CMO and CCO of Läderach Chocolatier Suisse until the end of February 2024. Prior to this, he held various management positions in marketing and communications in Switzerland and abroad with a focus on the financial and consumer goods sector, for example at Bank Vontobel and the Man Group. In addition to heading the Advisory Board, Farinato will "play a key role on the Board of Directors of Swiss Myty agencies", as was reported in a press release issued on Thursday.

The newly formed Myty Advisory Board brings together experience and expertise from various sectors to "provide strategic foresight and innovative impetus at a time of dynamic market developments and technological advances", the statement continues. The members are Franziska von Lewinski, former CEO of the Syzygy Group, Carmen Spielmann, CEO of a consulting business, and Tim Sayler, former CMO of Breitling and Audemars Piguet and formerly with Procter & Gamble.

"The establishment of the Myty Advisory Board with these great talents sets a new standard in our industry. Myty stands for continuous development and this step allows us to analyze our activities more deeply and objectively in the context of the market environment. We are optimally positioned to meet future challenges and continue to present innovative solutions in our sector," says David Rost, CEO of the Myty Group. "Our goal is to be at the forefront of the industry by continuously driving innovation. With the combined expertise and diverse perspectives of our Advisory Board, we will not only navigate current trends, but also open up new avenues in digital transformation."

M-Way heralds the arrival of spring with an energetic campaign. Under the motto "Early Bird", the focus in January and February will be on preparations for the new season. To the cheerful strains of "All the birds are already here", e-bikes are cleaned, inner tubes are mended and defects are checked.

The main message here is to get your e-bike serviced in good time before the start of the season. Early servicing avoids bottlenecks that could arise if all e-bike owners bring their vehicles in for servicing at the same time. There is also a special offer: the last demonstration models from 2023 are being sold at a 25% discount. The early bird catches the worm - and gets the best deals.

Awakening anticipation for the e-bike season

"The campaign focuses on M-Way's brand values: service, expertise and choice," explains Elyne Hager, Head of Marketing, Brands & Communications at M-Way. The main and short sequences of the campaign will be presented on various social platforms in order to reach a broad target group. The emotional and motivating content is intended not only to arouse anticipation for the upcoming e-bike season, but also to strengthen the bond with the brand.

The concept was developed internally at M-Way, realized with its own employees as protagonists and in collaboration with the production company Out Of Order. Matthias Kappler was the director.

Responsible at M-Way: Elyne Hager (Head of Marketing & Brands), Alfonso Patermo (Art Director), Andreas Stopp (Marketing Manager). Production: Lara Lienhard (Out Of Order). Director & DoP: Matthias Kappeler. Photographer: Nicolas Burri. Styling: Jenni Tschugmell. Hair & Make Up: Jasmin Berger.

Within two days, 44 personalities signed the concernas the initiators announced on Thursday. They do not accept the decision of the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM).

A week ago, Bakom awarded the regional TV license for the Biel region to the Canal B television project based in Cortaillod NE. Telebieligue, based in Biel, previously held a license for this region.

After 25 years of experience, Telebielingue knows the needs and broadcast formats that appeal to the audience. In addition, the team always succeeds in giving the region a face, according to the petition. The bilingualism cultivated by Telebielingue is unique and therefore worth preserving.

According to the communiqué, four members of the National Council and ten members of the Bernese Grand Council have signed the petition. Former member of the Council of States and Mayor of Biel/Bienne Hans Stöckli also supports the petition. The petition is intended to show that Telebielingue can count on the support of the population. (SDA)

For many years, the tourist destination of Arosa has stood for creativity, ingenuity and presents itself as a place where dreams come true and participation is actively practiced. This positioning comes now in a campaignin which the interests, wishes and desires of the guests are combined with the possibilities of AI. It doesn't matter whether the participants are seasoned Arosa experts or immersing themselves in the winter world of Arosa for the first time. The spotlight is on individual creativity. The year-round holiday destination in the Grisons mountains relies on collective creativity when selecting the subjects.

Design your dream and experience it live in Arosa

The campaign's motto is clearly defined, but still leaves plenty of scope for individual creativity. The # mountain dream encourages participants to describe their ultimate dream of a perfect vacation in the mountains. AI then transforms the personal contributions into works of art in almost real time. The most beautiful #Bergtraum images will be awarded prizes and form a central part of the Arosa 2024 campaign by being placed on advertising spaces throughout Switzerland. Other measures include postcards, stamps and merchandising products. A physical vernissage is also being planned.

The best suggestions are selected each week and presented in a cross-media format. There is also a so-called "Lighthouse Event" every week, where the winning subject is unveiled as branding on a very special location such as a gondola or a giant poster in the city. The winners receive free ski tickets, invitations to après-ski or gastronomic experiences, for example.

First Swiss crowd-generated AI campaign

"We want existing and future guests in Arosa to actively participate in our development. Our aim is to be a destination where everything is possible. We make dreams come true and do everything we can to ensure that no wish remains unfulfilled. To this end, we have been presenting ourselves as an innovative destination together with our service providers for many years," explains Marion Schmitz, Deputy Tourism Director of Arosa and project initiator. "With the AI campaign, we are once again breaking new ground and are proud of the first Swiss crowd-generated project with the support of AI."

Through the creative crowdsourcing on which the campaign is based, Arosa is creating a participatory opportunity. On the other hand, participants can approach the topic of AI in a creative and simple way.

This synergy also convinced Yoveo I Team Farner, which was behind the conception, programming and technical implementation of the campaign. The agency took care of the optimal coordination of Arosa Tourism's needs and the development of the AI solution. In the field of AI, Yoveo I Team Farner relied on the text-to-image open source software Stable Diffusion. This is able to generate attractive images from text input for use in the advertising campaign.

"With the AI campaign, we are creating easy access to the topic of AI, which is still little known to many people. People can actively experience AI and be part of the Arosa advertising campaign at the same time. And to top it all off, Arosa makes dreams come true. This innovative interplay of creativity, brand promise and technology inspires us," says Marco Demont, Partner at Yoveo I Team Farner.

By initiating the succession process at the top of the company, SRG wants to prepare itself for the political events of the coming years, according to the press release issued on Thursday.

The "200 francs is enough" initiative, which is to be voted on by the people in 2026, was mentioned. The Federal Council will decide on its measures in connection with the initiative in June 2024, while Parliament will deal with it and the Federal Council's dispatch in 2025.

On the other hand, the company mentioned the negotiations on new concessions in 2027 and their decision by 2028. During this long period, SRG must be able to count on a stable and long-term oriented general management, it continued.

No follow-up solution during the vote

Marchand's term of office would have ended when he reached retirement age at 65 at the beginning of 2027. However, this would have meant a succession solution in 2026, i.e. in the middle of the voting period. Against this backdrop, the SRG Board of Directors and the CEO jointly decided to bring forward the succession process.

"The major challenges facing SRG over the next five years must be led by a General Management that can commit itself fully and over a longer period of time with sufficient lead time," said Jean-Michel Cina, Chairman of the SRG Board of Directors, in the press release.

It was therefore jointly decided to bring forward the personnel change. The position of General Manager will be advertised quickly. The process will be managed by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors.

Long career in Swiss radio and television

"It is the best possible decision in the interests of the company. SRG must prepare for a new cycle, with the vote on the initiative, the negotiations on the new SRG concession and the preparation of a new medium-term financial plan," Marchand is quoted as saying in the press release.

Marchand had been Director General of SRG since 2017. His time in office was marked, among other things, by the vote on the "No Billag" initiative, which was rejected by the people in 2018 with 71.6% of votes against and by all cantons. The initiative called for the abolition of radio and television fees.

Before becoming Director General of SRG, Marchand spent seven years as head of Radio Télévision Suisse RTS in western Switzerland. Before that, Marchand was Director of TSR - the predecessor of RTS - from 2001 to 2009. (SDA)

The manufacturer of potato products and frozen specialties Kadi ventured into the end consumer market last year. The company, which has been supplying French fries to the food service industry for years, has expanded its portfolio to include small packs and retail products for private use.

French fries are at the heart of Kadi, and the company has developed numerous varieties over the years. Now Kadi wants to make it possible to enjoy them at home.

McKinivan has developed a B2C campaign under the motto "Treat yourself!". It presents itself as a mix of pack shots, illustrations and images. This approach is not only reflected in the retail packaging, but also runs through all communication measures.

The campaign includes a variety of advertising materials, including cooler bags, conical bags, food trays and bait posts. A particular highlight was the complete redesign of the existing Kadi food truck. Thanks to a rebranding, the food truck now shines in the new, appealing design of the current campaign.

Responsible at Kadi: Norman Hunziker (Team Leader Marketing Communication); Kisanth Raveendran (Online Communication Manager); Athina Petitpierre (Junior Corporate Communication Manager). Responsible at McKinivan: Michael Meier (consulting); Nina Goldiger (design); Joëlle Stocker (design), Nina Vagli (text); Andreas Treichler (desktop publishing).

The problem was resolved at around 1.40 a.m., RTS announced on its website early Thursday morning.

There were problems with the signal transmission between Geneva and Zurich from 10.12 p.m. on Wednesday, said RTS spokesman Marco Ferrara at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. A team of telecommunications specialists had been sent to Zurich to rectify the fault.

Private broadcasters in French-speaking Switzerland, including Léman Bleu and the Carac stations, were also affected by the glitch. The Swiss-German broadcaster SRF and the Italian-speaking Swiss broadcaster RSI were not affected, according to Ferrara. (SDA)

Since interest rates have been rising, saving has become more interesting again. To get customers interested in the Savings Account Plus, Bank Cler is launching a campaign developed by Neu. This is based on two simple insights: Firstly, savings accounts don't need much explanation or imaginative reasons - what counts is quite simply the interest. And secondly, the more boring the product category, the more surprising the advertising should be. And since surprising advertising is always a matter of taste, the campaign makes a self-deprecating point: "Advertising is fine, but the interest is good".

The campaign is activated in different ways on numerous channels. It started with a teaser in which a focus group finds the planned campaign "a bit strange" (Werbewoche.ch reported). A few days later, the campaign was properly launched. In films on TV and on numerous online channels, a talking sheep and a couple who meet again after many years play the leading roles.

The campaign gets its channel-appropriate implementation concept on "perhaps somewhat penetrating" banners and posters, in "perhaps somewhat monotonous" or "over-excited" radio spots or even in a "perhaps somewhat dark" spot in the cinema.

And this continues through to the ATM screens, window stickers for the branches and numerous special measures. All of these measures complete the campaign along the funnel and are intended to ensure an entertaining and varied, but essentially consistent and very product-oriented campaign.

Responsible at Bank Cler: Gregor Eicher, Barbara Gürtler. Responsible at Neu Creative Agency: Simon Rehsche, Sandy Pfuhl, Adrian Staehelin, Nico Ammann, Pian Gumpp, Finn van Grondel, Bettina Beyeler, Fabienne Schoberth. Film production: Zauberberg Productions. Directed by: Micky Suelzer. Media: PHD Switzerland.