Five European production companies have come together to launch Swiss Studios SA.

The company was established with the shareholders Elite Filmproduktion, Praesens-Film Production, Contrast Series, Bavaria Fiction And Kinescope Film GmbH, based in Switzerland and Germany. The leaders of these companies will sit on the board and scrutinize European leaders Malta Probst will chair the board of directors and assume the role of CEO.

Zurich-based Swiss Studios AG said it would “lead the development and production of innovative, high-quality content in film, documentaries, series and television from Switzerland for Switzerland, l ‘Europe and the international market’.

Probst said: “We are delighted to have taken a revolutionary step for the Swiss and European creative industries with the creation of Swiss Studios. Now is the time to realize the new opportunities offered by “Lex Netflix” for Switzerland with exciting content.”

Lex Netflix refers to legislation that requires Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ to reinvest 4% of their local revenues in Swiss film and television productions. Swiss Studios said today that it would “exploit the opportunities” presented by these changes.

In its mission statement, Swiss Studios said it “will offer everything from a single source – development, production, distribution and marketing of media projects – as well as licensing distribution and other management-related services investments and accounting obligations. Its goal is to “become the center of Swiss film and television projects through joint efforts and consolidated know-how.”

“We want to inspire national and international audiences in cinemas and on digital media with innovative content developed in collaboration with creatives and integrating technical advances,” added Corinne Rossi, board member.