Solothurner Filmtage

What Solothurner Filmtage does

Solothurner Filmtage (Journées de Soleure) is a Swiss non-profit cultural organization that has operated Switzerland's premier annual festival for contemporary Swiss cinema since 1966. Held each January in Solothurn, the festival screens approximately 150 feature films, documentaries, short films, and animated productions across multiple sections (Panorama, Focus, Histoires, Rencontre, Fare Cinema) and draws roughly 65,000 admissions per edition. The organization is governed by the Société suisse des Journées de Soleure (SSJS) association, founded in 1967 with over 300 members, and employs 23 permanent staff supplemented by seasonal workers during the festival week.

Beyond the main festival, Solothurner Filmtage operates an expanding portfolio of programs: SO PRO (a professional industry program launched in 2024 with Migros-Kulturprozent Story Lab as main partner), Cinetour (a touring program since 2008 in partnership with Swiss Life reaching approximately 20 cities and 3,500 spectators), Panorama Suisse at the Locarno Film Festival, and filmo, an online streaming platform launched in 2020 that digitizes and distributes Swiss film heritage across major services including blue TV, YouTube, Filmingo, and playsuisse. Technology supporting the operation includes an iOS/Android mobile app for ticketing, program access, and PRIX DU PUBLIC voting, backed by a third-party ticketing system from Net Oxygen Sàrl.

Revenue is generated through ticket and pass sales (individual tickets, day passes, festival passes), institutional sponsorship (notably Swiss Life as main partner since 2008 and SRG SSR as media partner), public cultural funding (Bundesamt für Kultur, Pro Helvetia), foundation support (BK Atlantis Foundation, Suissimage/SSA, SONART, SUISA), association membership fees, and limited merchandise such as the CHF 15 reusable festival bag.

Name

Solothurner Filmtage

Legal name

Société suisse des Journées de Soleure (SSJS)

Website

https://solothurnerfilmtage.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solothurner Filmtage is a Swiss non-profit that has run the country's premier annual festival for contemporary Swiss cinema since 1966, screening ~150 films to ~65,000 attendees each January and operating complementary year-round programs including the SO PRO industry program, Cinetour touring screenings, and the filmo streaming platform for Swiss film heritage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival Services

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

Keywords

• Swiss film festival
• Cinema screenings
• Film industry networking
• Cinema heritage preservation
• Film awards programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Solothurn

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual tickets and subscriptions (day passes, festival passes, accreditations) for film screenings at multiple venues. Reservations required for pass holders. Free admission for certain events.
2. Sponsorship and Partnerships: Support from sponsors including Swiss Life (main partner), SRG SSR, and other institutional partners. Donations and membership fees from Association (SGSF) with over 300 members.
3. Merchandise: Sale of promotional merchandise including reusable fabric bags (15 CHF contribution) and lanyards during the festival.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Solothurner Filmtage is a non-profit cultural organization that operates Switzerland's premier annual film festival showcasing contemporary Swiss cinema across multiple genres and formats. The festival runs each January in Solothurn, complemented by the filmo streaming platform for Swiss cinema heritage digitization, the SO PRO professional industry program for filmmakers, and the Cinetour traveling film program. Approximately 150 films are screened each edition across sections such as Panorama, Focus, Histoires, Rencontre, and Fare Cinema.

Product overview

Solothurner Filmtage (Journées de Soleure) is Switzerland's premier national cinema festival and platform for contemporary Swiss film. The organization operates as a multi-product offering centered on the annual festival (62nd edition in 2027), complemented by the 'filmo' streaming platform for Swiss film heritage, the SO PRO professional industry program, and various award programs (Prix de Soleure, PRIX DU PUBLIC, Visioni, Prix d'honneur). The festival also extends its reach through the Cinetour touring program and Panorama Suisse at Locarno Film Festival, while the official mobile app enables ticket sales and audience engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SO PRO: Professional industry program offering networking and continuing education opportunities for film industry professionals, launched in 2024
• Cinetour
• filmo

Quantifiable outcome

• ~65,000 admissions per edition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Swiss LifeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMain partner and sponsor since 2008. Swiss Life Cinetour program presents recent Swiss short films and features exclusively to Swiss Life clients at approximately 20 locations reaching ~3,500 viewers annually. Partners also sponsor PRIX DU PUBLIC award.
• SRG SSRcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss public broadcaster and media partner of the festival.
• Locarno Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for annual 'Panorama Suisse' section presenting Swiss films at Locarno Festival (August). Selection managed by commission including representatives from Journées de Soleure, Swiss Film Academy, and SWISS FILMS.
• SWISS FILMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss film promotion agency responsible for international B2B promotion and national promotion pilot program since 2025. Involved in Panorama Suisse selection commission.
• Cinémathèque suissecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss film archive partnership for film heritage preservation. Hosts 'Histoires' retrospective programming; collaborated on film digitization projects for 'Downtown New York' series.
• Migros-Kulturprozent Story LabflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain program partner for SO PRO professional program since 2024. Supports young filmmakers through development programs and cooperation between emerging talent and producers.
• Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss Federal Office of Culture provides institutional support for festival and SO PRO professional program.
• Suissimage/SSAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss film foundations providing support for SO PRO program and awards including Nachwuchspreis, court métrage, and animation prizes.
• Pro HelvetiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss Arts Council supporting SO PRO professional programming.
• SUISA FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusical copyright society foundation supporting 'Screen to Sound' laboratory with up to CHF 10,000 in development grants for audiovisual music projects.
• Akademie des Schweizer FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Film Academy participates in Panorama Suisse selection commission for Locarno.
• Regards NeufsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility organization enabling film access for hearing-impaired audiences through Greta app with audio description and subtitles.
• SONARTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss musicians' association supporting SO PRO and 'Screen to Sound' programming.
• Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn (TOBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional theater partnership for SO PRO professional program events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Locarno Film Festival: Switzerland's other major film festival (August) and a direct peer. Solothurner Filmtage even partners with Locarno via the annual Panorama Suisse section. Both compete for Swiss film premieres, sponsors, and cultural authority as Switzerland's premier cinema festivals.
• Zurich Film Festival (ZFF): Major Swiss film festival held annually in autumn. Directly comparable as a national film event competing for the same filmmakers, sponsors (Swiss Life, SRG SSR), audiences, and media coverage in the Swiss market.
• Visions du Réel: International documentary film festival held in Nyon, Switzerland in spring. Comparable as a Swiss festival with international programming ambitions, competing for documentary premieres and industry attention in the same market.
• Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF): Swiss international film festival with focus on human rights and diversity themes. Comparable as a Swiss festival with industry programming, awards, and similar public funding dependencies.
• Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF): Annual Swiss film festival in Geneva focusing on digital and independent cinema. Directly comparable as a national Swiss festival with industry programming, competing for Swiss filmmakers and Francophone audience share.

Broad incumbents

• Venice Film Festival: One of the oldest and most prestigious international film festivals. Comparable as an annual exhibition event with awards structure, industry components, and cultural authority but at international scale far exceeding Solothurn's Swiss national scope.
• Berlinale: One of the world's largest film festivals (Berlin). Comparable as an institutional film festival but operates at much larger international scale, offering market and industry platforms (EFM) that Solothurn's SO PRO aspires to emulate.
• Cannes Film Festival: The world's most prestigious film festival. Comparable as a major annual film exhibition event with awards, industry programming (Marché du Film), and global brand authority but at vastly larger scale and international scope.
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): Major North American film festival with industry programming. Comparable as an annual cinema exhibition event with substantial attendance, awards, and industry gathering components that Solothurn's SO PRO mirrors at smaller scale.

Emerging players

• Cinémathèque suisse: Swiss national film archive and partner of Solothurner Filmtage for heritage programming (Histoires section). Comparable in film heritage preservation scope and Swiss cultural institution status, with shared digitization interests through filmo platform collaboration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/sofilmfest
• Facebookfacebook.com/sofilmtage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solothurner-filmtage
• Instagraminstagram.com/sofilmtage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Solothurner Filmtage