Innovative film release in Peru – with support from SWISS FILMS

The screenings in the “micro-cines” are essentially the only possibility for films to be seen on the big screen outside the capital city of Lima. Apart from a few exceptions, cinemas in Peru are located in Lima’s more privileged districts (31 of 34). Swiss film producer Stefan Kaspar, who lives in Peru, is a cofounder of “Grupo Chaski” and has co-initiated the development of this alternative film distribution network. The “micro-cines” are local, self-supporting cinemas for digitalized films from Peru, Latin America or Europe and can be found throughout most of the country.



This is how it functions: Swiss producers offer their films at a reduced rate. SWISS FILMS assembles the necessary means to have the films digitalized and/or the Spanish subtitles added. In turn, Grupo Chaski organizes the live narration of the voiced-over versions in Spanish or Quechua, when required. The proceeds generated from admission tickets – approximately 1 dollar per person – are shared between the rightsholder and local screening venue. The admission price corresponds to the cost of a DVD on the black market, thus ensuring the competitiveness of the “micro-cines”.



Grupo Chaski has been active in Peru for several years and is one of five projects which emerged from a national competition. It receives long-term consulting for their project from McKinsey and Ashoka, a public culture organization. The aim is to develop – by 2014 – a self-supporting network of ‘digital’ cinemas which reflect cinematic diversity and are not restricted to the major market.



The tour of digitalized Swiss film productions in Peru corresponds ideally with the activities of SWISS FILMS, namely to render Swiss film productions accessible to a broad spectrum of the public, while also contributing to the further development of an innovative and groundbreaking cultural initiative.




Zurich, October 9, 2007