Our mission
SWISS FILMS is the national agency for the promotion of films made in Switzerland. We give Swiss filmmaking global visibility.
On behalf of the Federal Office of Culture, we provide Swiss filmmakers with support in promoting and marketing their works as well as strengthening their international networks. We advise producers on their exploitation strategies and actively facilitate the distribution of Swiss films by means of targeted activities.
As a partner for filmmakers, SWISS FILMS focuses on international festival delegates, world sales agents and film distributors, as well as film-related cultural institutions and media professionals. We publish information about new Swiss film productions and emerging talents as well as successes in the Swiss film industry on our digital platforms. In collaboration with international film institutions and festivals, we organise film programmes around the world and are present at all major festivals and markets.
As part of a pilot project, SWISS FILMS is also increasing the visibility of Swiss films and series among domestic audiences. We work in partnership with other organisations to strategically promote Swiss filmmaking.
Further information on domestic promotion
SWISS FILMS is one of the ten founding members of European Film Promotion (EFP), the network of European film promotion agencies, and a patron member of the European Film Academy.
Our main tasks
- Distribution of Swiss films at home and abroad
- International networking of Swiss filmmakers
- Systematic recording of film and series data and its accessibility on our website
- Support measure to strengthen the international distribution of Swiss films
- Increasing the awareness of Swiss filmmaking
Our main target groups
- Swiss rights holders
- Festival delegates, world sales agents, distributors, VOD platforms
- Associations, funding institutions, FOC, cultural institutions, industry-specific media in Switzerland and abroad, network of cooperation partners
- Audiences interested in films and series in Switzerland
Our Organisation
As a foundation under private law, SWISS FILMS is a non-profit organisation. Its headquarters are in Zurich, and it also has an office in Geneva. The Board of Trustees is made up of leading names from the Swiss film and media industry. SWISS FILMS has a service level agreement with the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and receives financial support from other public and private institutions.
Our history
The Swiss Film Centre (SFC), the first-ever organisation for the promotion of Swiss films, was founded in 1975 at the instigation of the film industry. To gain even greater visibility on the international stage, the SFC joined forces with the Swiss Arts Council's film service and the Swiss Short Film Agency in 2004 to establish SWISS FILMS as the new national promotion agency.