Building bridges

It is a true honor to be here in Venice today. The Mostra is unique. Unique because it is a festival recognized and admired for its longevity – it is the oldest in the world – as well as for its modernity, the Mostra remaining a major event for both cinema stars and film industry professionals. As far as I’m concerned: I must admit that when it comes to film festivals, I am more used to leopards than lions. But ultimately, they are both cats – I have a cat myself named Elvira. So I am quite positive I can adapt to this new environment.

All joking aside, the Venice International Film Festival, alongside Locarno, ranks among the finest film festivals in the world. It is one of the few places where cinema can be experienced in all its dimensions. It is a place where films are celebrated, a place where audiences discover extraordinary stories, a place where cinema does what it does best: hold up a mirror to society. This year, for example, audiences have the opportunity to discover Wim Wenders' latest film about the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, a work that reminds us how cinema can illuminate creativity, culture and the human experience.

Yet Venice is not only a place where we can discover the latest films. It is also a place where future films are being conceived. This is what makes the Venice Production Bridge so important. This is where creators, producers, financiers and institutions meet, bringing their means, their ideas and their craft to the table. This is where the connections spark that make the cinema of tomorrow possible. For that reason, Switzerland is particularly proud to be a Focus Country of the Venice Production Bridge 2026, alongside our partners and friends from Greece.

After the Marché du Film in Cannes in 2024 this opportunity allows Switzerland to show the richness and diversity of its audiovisual creation. For a country like Switzerland, international collaboration is not simply an advantage. It is a necessity: With a small domestic market, Swiss cinema depends on exchange with international partners. Which is why Swiss creators and entrepreneurs from all fields of the industry are represented in Venice during the Mostra.

The importance of coproduction

Co-productions foster the exchange of ideas, talents and perspectives. In many ways, this openness and diversity is part of Switzerland's identity. And it is one of the greatest strengths of our film culture and of the projects presented here in Venice. Think of feature film projects such as
· A Year Without Summer by Flurin Giger,
· Chocolat Amer by Valentin Merz,
· Kyūshū Moon by Stéphanie Argerich,
· Ursula Meier's Quiet Land.
Or consider the immersive experiences such as
· Hide and Seek by Fabienne Giezendanner
· Gilles Jobin's Marta Becket's Death Valley.

All these great films show how Swiss creators are exploring different ways of telling stories and engaging audiences. Every film is built through relationships: between writers, directors, producers and performers; between public support and private investment; between local stories and international audiences. This is why the name Venice Production Bridge resonates so strongly. For Switzerland, building bridges does not only mean bringing Swiss films to the world. It also means inviting the world into Swiss filmmaking. In this spirit, I would like to warmly acknowledge our Greek partners. Together, we show how countries with distinct identities can share a common platform while learning from each other's experiences and creative visions.

Transformation of the audiovisual sector

Audiovisual creation is undergoing a profound transformation. New technologies, new production models and new forms of storytelling are reshaping the industry. The strong presence of immersive and XR projects within the Swiss focus program reflects our commitment not only to celebrating today's achievements, but also to engaging with the future of audiovisual creation. In this context, public cultural policy has an important role to play. Innovation requires space. Artistic experimentation requires trust. And emerging creators need opportunities to take risks and explore new paths.

I would like to conclude with an invitation. Over the coming days, discover the Swiss projects, meet our filmmakers and producers, engage with our institutions and partners, and most importantly, start conversations. Because the future of cinema will not be created by any one country alone. It will be created through the bridges we build together.

In the turbulent times we are living in, film and culture are particularly important. We need the perspective of artists to broaden our horizons, to question the status quo, to give us hope and momentum. Longue vie au cinéma. Longue vie aux félins!