MEDIA Desk Suisse

What MEDIA Desk Suisse does

MEDIA Desk Suisse (legally Verein Creative Europe – MEDIA Desk Suisse, UID CHE-112.762.790) is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 2005–2006 and headquartered at Neugasse 10, Zürich. The organization is commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK) under the Federal Department of Home Affairs (EDI) to administer the MEDIA Compensating Measures that substitute for Switzerland's exclusion from the EU's Creative Europe MEDIA program since 2014. It serves Swiss film production companies, distributors, individual film professionals, and film education organizations by providing funding, consultation, and access to European audiovisual networks. The Managing Director is Corinna Marschall, supported by a small team of approximately four additional staff.

Its core offerings comprise twelve distinct funding and service programs covering film development (majority and minority Swiss co-development with up to CHF 55,000 per project; slate/project package funding up to CHF 220,000 per package of 3–5 projects), promotion and market access (film festivals and market access support), distribution (selective and automatic support for European films in Swiss cinemas), professional training (organization funding covering up to 60% of costs and Get Trained individual grants covering up to 50%), and film mediation/education aimed at audiences up to age 19. The organization also operates the Markets & Networks directory of European industry events and publishes co-production guidance for international producers. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery runs through the federal FPF funding platform, the eSubventions portal, and the organization's content website.

The business model is entirely non-commercial. MEDIA Desk Suisse does not sell products or services; it receives an operating grant from the Swiss federal government via BAK and disburses federal funds to the Swiss film industry at no cost to beneficiaries. Revenue (i.e., the operating grant) is not publicly disclosed. Applications are evaluated by European experts with MEDIA experience, and decisions are made through official federal channels. The broader Swiss audiovisual sector context includes approximately 86 feature-length films produced per year (average 2023–2025), 45% of which are international co-productions, supported by roughly CHF 93.7 million in annual public funding (2026) and reinforced by the 2024 revised Film Act introducing a 4% investment obligation for streaming services and a 30% European films quota.

Name

MEDIA Desk Suisse

Legal name

Verein Creative Europe – MEDIA Desk Suisse

Website

https://mediadesk.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MEDIA Desk Suisse is a Swiss non-profit association in Zürich that administers federal MEDIA Compensating Measures on behalf of the Federal Office of Culture, providing funding, consultation, and European network access to Swiss film production companies, distributors, and film professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public funding (Government grants): MEDIA Desk Suisse is a non-profit association funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK) under the EDI (Federal Department of Home Affairs). It does not generate commercial revenue but distributes federal funding for the MEDIA compensating measures to the Swiss film industry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MEDIA Desk Suisse (Verein Creative Europe – MEDIA Desk Suisse) is a Swiss non-profit association headquartered in Zürich that administers the MEDIA compensating measures on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK). It distributes federal funding through a portfolio of grant programs supporting Swiss film development, co-production, distribution, festival participation, market access, professional training, and film education/mediation. It also provides consultation and networking services connecting the Swiss film industry with European audiovisual networks.

Product overview

MEDIA Desk Suisse is a not-for-profit association (Verein Creative Europe – MEDIA Desk Suisse) headquartered in Zurich that administers Switzerland's MEDIA Compensating Measures on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Culture. Since Switzerland ceased participation in the EU's Creative Europe MEDIA program in 2014, the organization provides equivalent funding support for Swiss film projects with international potential. The portfolio consists of multiple distinct funding programs: development support (Koentwicklung majoritär, Koentwicklung minoritär, and Slate/Projektpakete funding), promotion and market access (Filmfestivals, Marktzugang), distribution support (Verleih Selektiv and Verleih Automatisch), professional training (Weiterbildungsorganisation and Get Trained grants), and film mediation/education (Filmvermittlung). The organization also operates Markets & Networks services connecting Swiss professionals with European industry events and provides guidance for international co-productions with Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Koentwicklung majoritär (Majority Swiss Co-Development Funding)

Quantifiable outcome

• Swiss films can receive up to CHF 55,000 for majority co-development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEDIA Desk Suisse is commissioned by the Federal Office for Culture to manage the MEDIA compensating measures. This is the organization's primary mandate and funding source.
• EDI (Federal Department of Home Affairs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organization receives support from the EDI, under which the Federal Office of Culture operates.
• EurimagescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwitzerland has been a member of Eurimages since 1989. This Council of Europe fund supports co-production, distribution, and exhibition of European audiovisual works. Switzerland continues its membership despite not being part of EU's Creative Europe MEDIA.
• Creative Europe MEDIA ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwitzerland is not a member since 2014, but MEDIA Desk Suisse maintains connections with the European MEDIA network and facilitates Swiss participation in MEDIA-funded activities through compensating measures.
• European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAO provides studies and statistics on the European audiovisual industry that MEDIA Desk Suisse references and shares with Swiss stakeholders.
• European Film Promotion (EFP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Films is a member of European Film Promotion, enabling Swiss films and talents to participate in EFP programs like Film Sales Support.
• Europa CinemasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of cinema operators supporting European films. MEDIA Desk Suisse promotes awareness among Swiss exhibitors.
• Swiss FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Films is the promotion agency for Swiss cinema, offering services for producers and directors, international distribution support, and membership in European Film Promotion.
• Creative Europe Desks NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Creative Europe desks across all participating countries that facilitate cross-border industry connections and information sharing.
• Various European Film Festivals and MarketscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with European festivals and markets including Berlinale, Cannes, Locarno, Annecy, and others where Swiss filmmakers can pitch projects and meet international partners.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Creative Europe Desk Germany (Creative Europe Kulturamt): Germany's national Creative Europe Desk responsible for administering MEDIA programme support to the German film industry. Operates the same mandate as MEDIA Desk Suisse but within the EU programme, providing a direct structural parallel for organizational comparison.
• Swiss Films: Switzerland's national film promotion agency, supporting international distribution and promotion of Swiss cinema. Closely networked with MEDIA Desk Suisse and complements its compensating measures mandate with promotion-focused activities.
• Relais Culture Europe (France Creative Europe Desk): France's Creative Europe Desk serving the French audiovisual sector. Performs the equivalent function of MEDIA Desk Suisse for French producers — funding information, application support, and European networking.
• Creative Europe Desk Italia: Italy's Creative Europe MEDIA Desk, performing identical administrative functions for the Italian film industry as MEDIA Desk Suisse performs for the Swiss film industry.
• Creative Europe Desk Austria: Austrian Creative Europe Desk providing equivalent funding support and European networking services to the Austrian film industry. Closely comparable given geographic and linguistic proximity to Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK): Swiss Federal Office of Culture that commissions MEDIA Desk Suisse to administer compensating measures. A peer in the broader Swiss cultural-policy ecosystem and the primary sponsor and mandate source for MEDIA Desk Suisse.
• Eurimages: Council of Europe fund supporting co-production, distribution, and exhibition of European audiovisual works. Switzerland has been a member since 1989, and MEDIA Desk Suisse actively promotes awareness of Eurimages among Swiss producers.

Regional players

• Zürcher Filmstiftung: Regional film fund supporting Zurich-based film production and cultural activities. Operates at a sub-national level compared to MEDIA Desk Suisse's federal mandate, but serves overlapping Swiss filmmaker beneficiaries.

Others

• European Film Promotion (EFP): International network promoting European films and talent globally; Swiss Films is a member. MEDIA Desk Suisse participates through Film Sales Support and other EFP programs, providing international promotion infrastructure for Swiss films.
• European Audiovisual Observatory: European entity providing market intelligence, statistics, and legal information on the audiovisual sector. MEDIA Desk Suisse references and distributes EAO studies to Swiss stakeholders, making it a key ecosystem partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MEDIASuisse
• Facebookfacebook.com/MEDIASuisse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/media-desk-suisse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MEDIA Desk Suisse