SRG extends its co-production agreement with the Swiss film industry until 2027

Swiss publisher SRG officially extended its co-production agreement with the national film industry from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2027 and increased its annual budget by 1.5 million Swiss francs (1.562 million euros), bringing the total to 34 million Swiss francs (35.4 million euros). The new “Pacte de l’Audiovisuel” would see the annual budget available for Swiss film co-productions increase from CHF9 million to CHF10 million, in response to inflation and rising film production costs. Moreover, the annual support for animated films will be doubled from 1 million Swiss francs to 2 million Swiss francs.

Among the most recent projects supported by SRG is the Berlinale competition title Ingeborg Bachmann – Journey into the Desert [+lee también:
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entrevista: Margarethe von Trotta
ficha de la película] by Margarete von TrottaAnimation project Timbuktu by Anya CovemelLocarno Show Ricardo and drawing [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Barbet Schroederand the series Davos (see news), neomat [+lee también:
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ficha de la serie]And tschugger 3 (see news), pressure gameAnd No Fraternite And androsilion.

Commenting on the new agreement, the director of SRG said, Jill MarchandHe said: “With this new agreement, SRG is reaffirming its priorities. Film plays a central role in expressing our Swiss identity. It is essential that Switzerland guarantees a national production because films – whether documentaries or fiction – speak to our reality in a way that complements other information. The size of the Swiss market allows this production to refinance itself through commercial revenues. It is therefore important that SRG assume its responsibility in this area and ensure the development of this creative industry, together with independent producers.”

In the previous four years covered by the ruling (2020-2023), SRG allocated CHF 32.5 million each year to the production of films for television and cinema. Of these funds, 19.5 million Swiss francs were awarded for television productions and multimedia projects, 9 million Swiss francs for films (including animation), and 4 million Swiss francs for the “Succès Passage Antenne” programme.

Under the audiovisual charter, SRG has over the years invested 400 million Swiss francs in local productions, resulting in the release of around 3,000 films, 20 series and 140 co-productions. Negotiations for a new audiovisual charter began during Solothurn Film Festival Earlier this year, in January.

Notably, the new charter redefined exploitation rights. Going forward, producers may exploit the rights to their feature and documentaries for 18 months and 12 months, respectively, before SRG Networks can air them. Later on, these movies will also be made available on Swiss playthe broadcast platform owned by SRG.

In addition, SRG’s rights to broadcast series have been extended up to 18 months. Meanwhile, both the documentary and fantasy series will remain available exclusively on Play Suisse for six months.

Moreover, the new agreement regulates cooperation with third-party platforms, which will force partners to comply with investment obligations that are due to enter into force by January 1, 2024 (the so-called “Netflix tax”).

Additional guidance covers topics such as green photography, the obligation to pay writers a fair wage, the creation of a dedicated working group to define new rules ahead of the 2028 agreement, and the development/upskilling of a specialist workforce.