SWISS FILMS: changes within the staff and new positions

Catherine Ann Berger, Director of SWISS FILMS, has been elected to the seven-member board of the European Film Promotion during the Cannes Film Festival. The European Film Promotion is an international network of 37 national film promotion agencies from throughout Europe representing their national films and talent abroad. Under the EFP flag, these member organisations come together to jointly promote the diversity and spirit of European cinema and talent at key international film festivals and markets, in particular outside of Europe. Thanks to the election of Catherine Ann Berger, Switzerland is – after 10 years – represented again within the board of this important European network. Both SWISS FILMS and the Swiss film industry are now well established within the promotion development of the film industry on a European scale.  

Aida Suljicic will be joining the management board of SWISS FILMS as of 1^st July, 2019. She will become head of the Festivals & Markets department. Aida Suljicic, as a specialist of documentary films festivals and markets, has rapidly built up an extended and international professional network and is thus in a position to contribute greatly to the ongoing strategic development of SWISS FILMS. Hence, she will be in charge of the various multi-annual focus in Southeast Asia through programmes in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and China. Aida Suljicic takes over the position held by Selina Willemse who, after seven years spent within SWISS FILMS, has decided to take up new challenges.   

Isabelle Stüssi will be joining the communications department of SWISS FILMS. This acknowledged communications expert who is experienced in the film distribution as well as in the Swiss radio and television industry, will be taking over the position held by Rona Schauwecker, who is leaving SWISS FILMS at her own request. The application administration sector will be passed from Janine Frey to Daniela Strika, who used to work in the same field at the Zurich city council. The profile of the competences with regard to rental and distribution will be enhanced in order to meet the new digital requirements of the market and will thus be newly elaborated.

The foundation thanks Selina Willemse for her great commitment aiming at strengthening the international distribution activities as well as her efforts in the implementation of new support measures for the Swiss film industry. The foundation also wishes to thank Rona Schauwecker, who has greatly participated in the redesigning of SWISS FILMS as well as Janine Frey for her diligent handling of the support measures.  

The Director Catherine Ann Berger states: „In recent years, we have witnessed a rising international interest towards the Swiss film industry. A strong presence within the competitive sections at festivals as well as new partnerships attest to this success, and this to our great satisfaction. Simultaneously, and given the digitalisation, the market is to face signification changes. Thus, the new employees will be completing the strong existing team in an optimal way.

Being well positioned, we are in a position to address the upcoming challenges and, thanks to our ideas and projects, to keep the curiosity towards the Swiss film industry alive. “

The SWISS FILMS Foundation is the promotion agency for the Swiss film industry. Thanks to support measures and promotion activities, the foundation supports – on behalf of the Federal Office of Culture - the worldwide distribution of Swiss film productions.