Latest News
Mercy before Justice
This is the title of the new feature film by Stefan Jäger, produced by tellfilm from Zurich, which was shot in recent weeks at various locations in Obwalden and Nidwalden as well as Luzern. Pictured: The Flüeli Chapel on Flüeli Ranft. The story is based on the historical events of the last execution under civil law in Switzerland in 1940 in Sarnen. The leading roles feature prominent cast members Luna Wedler and Max Hubacher.
Courtroom Drama
The first day of the new year also marked the start of filming for the new short film by Pablo Callisaya (Tapir Film). The Luzern-based filmmaker was able to take advantage of the court holidays to shoot the drama, with the working title Fuschtimsack, at the original location: the District Court in Luzern's old town.
Review
l.t.r.: Niklaus Zeier (Managing Director FC Lucerne & Central Switzerland), Xavier Koller (Oscar winner), Pascal Edelmann (European Film Academy), Lili Kaelin (Film Commissioner FC Lucerne & Centralswitzerland)
Honour for Paddle Steamer Schiller
Filming for the international co-production La Chimera (I/CH/FR 2023), which took place on Lake Lucerne among other locations, brought awards and recognition not only to the film itself. Last June, the paddle steamer Schiller was honoured as a Treasure of European Film Culture – the first filming location in Switzerland ever to receive this title.
The European Film Academy grants this award to filming locations of particular cultural value. The Schiller represents the entire steamship fleet and the unique Lake Lucerne landscape. The inauguration took place with a festive ceremony and a laudatory speech by the Central Swiss Oscar winner Xavier Koller.
l.t.r.: Armin Hartmann (Cantonal Councillor Canton Luzern), Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (Federal Councillor), Juliette Binoche (President European Film Academy) Susanne Wille (Director General SRG SSR), Beat Züsli (Mayor of Luzern)
Blue Carpet, Flashing Lights and Moving Moments
Let’s bring the European Film Awards to us! - What began years ago as an idea from the Film Commission culminated on 7 December 2024 at the KKL Luzern: the presentation of the 37th European Film Awards. The event honours high-calibre European filmmaking and brought stars and glamour to Lake Lucerne. It strengthened international networking and recognition for Swiss filmmaking on various levels, and the city and region received a corresponding amount of attention in national and international media.
The project management of this unique event and the associated additional events in Luzern was led by Niklaus Zeier and Lili Kaelin. On behalf of the Film Commission Lucerne & Central Switzerland, we also used this platform to position Central Switzerland with its diverse filming locations. One example is the nomination video, which we staged as a journey along the water from the Gotthard to Luzern.
Sincere thanks once again to everyone who embarked on this adventure with us and contributed to Luzern and Switzerland being able to perform so well on this stage for Europe.
Film Tips
La Chimera (I/CH/FR 2023) can now be seen on Play Suisse, the free streaming platform of the SRG (direct link in the image). The team led by Italian director Alice Rohrwacher also filmed scenes in Luzern, among other places. Here, producer Michela Pini from Amka Film explains how the shoot on Lake Lucerne came about. Pictured: a scene with lead actor Josh O’Connor on the paddle steamer Schiller.
SRF Play is currently showing Sisi & I (D/CH/A 2023). The assassination of Empress Elisabeth, which historically took place in Geneva, was filmed at the Nationalquai in Luzern.
Outlook
European Film Producers at Lake Lucerne
An ACE Leadership Special will take place in Vitznau in June. ACE Producers is a network of renowned producers from all over Europe and regularly organises exclusive further training for members. The multi-day workshop is now bringing the selected producers to Lake Lucerne. A good opportunity for the Film Commission Lucerne & Central Switzerland to present them with some special locations and insider tips.
Spot On
Here we introduce people, companies or organisations from the Central Swiss creative industries.
Today, we turn the spotlight on a young production company from Luzern:
l.t.r.: Mick Vuillemier, Michael Rüedi, Timothy Ross, Eva Jost, Alexander Stratigenas, Sebastian Klinger, Nick Schneider
Shooting Stars in the Production Firmament
The paths of Film Commissioner Lili Kaelin and Timothy Ross first crossed at the beginning of 2018, when the aspiring film student needed support for the shoot of his ambitious short film project. Shortly afterwards, he founded ORISONO together with Alexander Stratigenas; producer Michael Rüedi joined a year ago.
Today, seven years later, ORISONO is active nationally and internationally in the development and realisation of feature films and documentaries as well as series. Together with Soundville Media Studios, ORISONO operates nine studios for high-quality post-production from a single source in the heart of Luzern.
Discover
From alpine to urban – and all in between: Central Switzerland has a great variety of landscapes in a small area as well as unique locations. In every newsletter, we introduce you to one of them.
Brutalist Architecture in a Dream Location in Morschach SZ
At a place of power high above Lake Lucerne, the Mattli Antoniushaus sits on a south-facing terrace. The standalone building from the 1960s combines concrete with wood and blends harmoniously into the rural surroundings. The Mattli Antoniushaus is operated as a seminar and education centre. The site is registered in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance.
Luzern, 09.03.2025
