Valais is ready to pay up to CHF100,000 ($104,000) per project, Swiss public broadcaster RTS reports on Friday. The Valais Film Commission has set aside CHF1.9 million over four years to be featured in films. Two-thirds of the budget is financed by the canton and the rest by the federal government.
Valais Film Commission head Tristan Albrecht told RTS that it was a good investment. “We already estimate a ratio of 1 to 3 between what we give to the production and the direct economic benefits in terms of accommodation, catering and equipment rental in a given region,” he said, pointing to the findings of a study. “Then there are the indirect spin-offs in terms of image when the film is released.”
Such spin-offs are often cited by public authorities that fund productions, says RTS. For example, one in five tourists still travels to New Zealand because of The Lord of the Rings, while Indian films shot in Switzerland have boosted the number of Indian tourists to the Alpine country.
More
More
Giving Swiss film locations some direction
This content was published on
Although many Holly- and Bollywood scenes are shot in Switzerland, until now Swiss self-promotion hasn’t been anything to sing and dance about.
Valais is no stranger as a backdrop to feature films. For example, James Bond tracked down the murderer of one of his lovers on the steep bends of the Furka Pass in the 1964 movie Goldfinger,. However, natural beauty is no longer enough to win over cost-conscious producers.
“In the 2000s, we had a lot of Indians coming to film in Valais. But they left our canton for Tyrol, which offered this financial incentive,” answers Tristan Albrecht. “Now, with this incentive, we will be able to bring productions back to Valais.”
The feature film “Laissez-moi”, a Swiss, French and Belgian co-production, is currently being shot in Valais, which has provided CHF100,000 of funding. Director Maxime Rappaz told RTS he did not choose the setting because of the financial incentive but “it certainly has its advantages”.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss film industry faces multiple hurdles post-pandemic
This content was published on
The findings were unveiled on Thursday at the festival by Interior Minister Alain Berset along with Isabelle Chassot, the director of the Federal Office of Culture (FOC). Women can now get funding for their films as easily as men, which was not the case in 2014, according to a study on gender equality commissioned in 2020 by the FOC. But Swiss…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.