National incentives
Co-Production Incentive
FiSS – international Production Incentive Switzerland (PICS): Federal refunds on expenses your production incurs in Switzerland – combinable with regional support from the Film Commission.
20–50 %
Refund
on eligible expenses in Switzerland
CHF 600'000
Maximum amount
per project – CHF 480,000 of it guaranteed (80%)
Before filming
Application
to the federal government before filming begins
Swiss co-producer
Requirement
Swiss co-producer – a service producer is not enough
National incentives
FiSS, international PICS
Filmstandortförderung Schweiz (FiSS) is the federal government's national production incentive; internationally the same programme is communicated as Production Incentive Switzerland (PICS). These are not two separate funds, but two names for the same instrument.
FiSS is aimed at recognised co-productions with Swiss participation. It refunds expenses a production incurs in Switzerland: around 20 per cent of artistic and logistical costs and up to 50 per cent of technical costs, capped at CHF 600'000 per project, of which CHF 480'000 (80 per cent) is guaranteed. Applications are filed before the start of shooting with the Federal Office of Culture (FOC), through the Swiss production company.
THE KEY POINTS
- Eligible expenditures include costs demonstrably incurred in Switzerland – crew, services, equipment, accommodation, transport.
- Professional cinema, TV and series productions with a Swiss production or co-production partner are eligible to apply.
- The application must be submitted before filming begins; retrospective applications are excluded.
- Payment is made upon completion of the production against audited proof of costs.
- The national incentive can be combined with regional support from the Film Commission.
- The national incentive can be combined with regional support from the Film Commission.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
Funding is exclusively awarded to projects recognised by the Federal Office of Culture as an official co-production – generally co-productions with a Swiss co-production partner based on a co-production agreement (e.g. Germany/Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg) or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production.
Important: A foreign production that only shoots in Switzerland with a Swiss service producer or service provider is not considered a co-production and is not eligible to apply. A genuine co-production relationship with a Swiss production company, which also submits the application, is decisive.
WHAT WE DO FOR YOU
The Film Commission is not the issuing body for FiSS/PICS, but we accompany you through the process: we facilitate Swiss production and co-production partners, identify which expenditures are incurred in the region, and connect you with the relevant authorities.
In parallel, we support the search for filming locations directly via our Location Scouting Incentive.
Financial support
Up to CHF 30,000
In addition to the national incentive, the Film Commission Lucerne and Central Switzerland can support projects with a regional production contribution of up to CHF 30'000. Decisive factors are the regional value added, the number of shooting days and the visibility of the region.
Information provided without guarantee: The applicable regulations and guidelines of the Confederation are authoritative.
Contact
Let's talk about your project
Questions about locations, permits or funding? We answer personally — every request goes through our central form.