Condor Films
Encyclopedia
Condor Films is a film and TV production company based in Zurich
, Switzerland
. The company produces commercials, documentary films, feature films, image films, product films and interactive multimedia solutions. The company is also known with its subbrands Condor Productions, Condor Communications, Condor Corporate, Condor Commercials, Studio Bellerive, Condor Features, Condor Audiovisuals, Condor Movies & Series and Condor Pictures as well as Condor Documentaries. Since 2009 the marketing of the group has been refocused on its major brand Condor Films.
Condor Films is a founding member of The International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers.
, the company was awarded with an Academy Award for best foreign picture in 1991. Condor Films defines itself as a transmedia production company for all kind of moving images. Building creative audiovisual content as well as digital production for cinema, TV and the internet drives the company nowadays.
Condor Films Ltd. was founded in 1947 by Heinrich Fueter. The majority of the company was owned by the founder and his family. In 1964 the company was the first swiss company to produce commercials. From 1987 to 2005 the Zurich based media company Tamedia
owned 70% of Condor Films. In 2005 the company was bought by a group around managing director Kristian Widmer
in a MBO
. In 2006 Condor Films bought 100% of FaroTV, a Swiss based TV-Production Company. In 2008, Kristian Widmer
took over the majority of shares of the company.
With its subsidiary FaroTV also is involved in the creation and production of TV-shows such as
and was also involved in
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The company produces commercials, documentary films, feature films, image films, product films and interactive multimedia solutions. The company is also known with its subbrands Condor Productions, Condor Communications, Condor Corporate, Condor Commercials, Studio Bellerive, Condor Features, Condor Audiovisuals, Condor Movies & Series and Condor Pictures as well as Condor Documentaries. Since 2009 the marketing of the group has been refocused on its major brand Condor Films.
Condor Films is a founding member of The International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers.
History
Condor Films produced more than 952 Commercials, more than 237 corporate films for international companies and over 55 feature films. For its feature film "Reise der Hoffnung" by Director Xavier KollerXavier Koller
Xavier Koller is a Swiss film director and screenwriter. His film Journey of Hope won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1990....
, the company was awarded with an Academy Award for best foreign picture in 1991. Condor Films defines itself as a transmedia production company for all kind of moving images. Building creative audiovisual content as well as digital production for cinema, TV and the internet drives the company nowadays.
Condor Films Ltd. was founded in 1947 by Heinrich Fueter. The majority of the company was owned by the founder and his family. In 1964 the company was the first swiss company to produce commercials. From 1987 to 2005 the Zurich based media company Tamedia
Tamedia
Tamedia AG is a media company in Switzerland.Its most important publications is the Tages-Anzeiger, a daily newspaper based in Zurich. It also owns the weekly SonntagsZeitung, the free national newspaper 20 Minuten, the free Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich, the weekly financial newspaper Finanz und...
owned 70% of Condor Films. In 2005 the company was bought by a group around managing director Kristian Widmer
Kristian Widmer
Kristian Widmer is a Swiss Filmproducer and TV-Producer.- Biography :Kristian Widmer holds a law degree of the University of Zurich and a MBA of the University of St. Gallen HSG. He started working in the film business as an editor. Having been with Vega Film he joined Condor Films in 1994...
in a MBO
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
. In 2006 Condor Films bought 100% of FaroTV, a Swiss based TV-Production Company. In 2008, Kristian Widmer
Kristian Widmer
Kristian Widmer is a Swiss Filmproducer and TV-Producer.- Biography :Kristian Widmer holds a law degree of the University of Zurich and a MBA of the University of St. Gallen HSG. He started working in the film business as an editor. Having been with Vega Film he joined Condor Films in 1994...
took over the majority of shares of the company.
Filmographie
Among other products, Condor Films produced:- Commercials for Credit SuisseCredit SuisseThe Credit Suisse Group AG is a Swiss multinational financial services company headquartered in Zurich, with more than 250 branches in Switzerland and operations in more than 50 countries.-History:...
, UBS, Schweiz Tourismus, McDonalds, FiatFiatFIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, AllianzAllianzSE is a global financial services company headquartered in Munich, Germany. Its core business and focus is insurance. As of 2010, it was the world's 12th-largest financial services group and 23rd-largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine.Its Allianz Global Investors...
, Orange, FeldschlösschenFeldschlösschenFeldschlösschen is a brand of beer. The brewery, located in Rheinfelden, Switzerland is the biggest brewery in Switzerland. It was bought by Carlsberg in 2000....
, SinalcoSinalcoSinalco is a brand of non-alcoholic drinks founded in 1902, with sales in more than 40 countries.In 1902, German scientist Friedrich Eduard Bilz invented "Bilz Brause", a sherbet powder, and started to sell it in partnership with industrialist Franz Hartmann...
, Bicoflex, Axpo, SUVASuvaSuva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Sympany, Schauspielhaus ZürichSchauspielhaus ZürichThe Schauspielhaus Zürich is one of the most prominent and important theatres in the German-speaking world. It is also known as "Pfauenbühne" after its location on the Pfauen Square in Zürich, Switzerland. The large theatre has 750 seats...
, SwisscomSwisscomSwisscom AG is a major telecommunications provider in Switzerland. Along with Swiss Post, it is a successor company to the former state-owned PTT. Its headquarters are located at Worblaufen near Bern...
, EmmiEmmi AGEmmi AG is a Swiss milk processor and dairy products company headquartered in Lucerne. The company employs a total of around 3,300 people in Europe and North America. Emmi AG is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange....
, RicolaRicolaRicola Ltd./Ricola AG is a well known manufacturer of cough drops and breath mints in Switzerland. The company focuses primarily on using herbal ingredients. The head office of Ricola is located in Laufen, Basel-Country.-History:...
and MigrosMigrosMigros is one of Switzerland's largest enterprises, its largest supermarket chain and largest employer. It co-founded Turkey's largest retailer, Migros Türk, which became independent of Migros Switzerland in 1975....
, - Imagefilms and Productfilms for Zurich Financial ServicesZurich Financial ServicesZurich Financial Services AG is a major financial services group based in Zurich, Switzerland.-History:The Company was founded in 1872 as subsidiary of the Schweiz Marine Insurance Company under the name Versicherung Verein...
, Swiss ReSwiss ReSwiss Reinsurance Company Ltd , generally known as Swiss Re, is a Swiss reinsurance company. It is the world’s second-largest reinsurer, after having acquired GE Insurance Solutions. The company has its headquarters in Zurich...
, Chocolat FreyChocolat FreyChocolat Frey AG, based in Buchs in the Swiss Canton of Aargau, manufactures chocolate and chewing gum. The products of the leading chocolate manufacturer on the Swiss chocolate market are sold both in Switzerland and abroad under the brand name of Frey as well as additional private labels...
, KPMGKPMGKPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
, Geberit, VolkswagenVolkswagenVolkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
, RUAGRUAGRUAG is a Swiss technology company, with its headquarters in Bern. It has production sites in Switzerland , Germany , Sweden , Hungary and Austria .-Structure:The RUAG has following subsidiaries:*RUAG Aerospace RUAG is a Swiss technology company, with its headquarters in Bern. It has production...
, Die Post, Swisslos, Swiss LifeSwiss LifeThe Swiss Life Group is the largest life insurance company of Switzerland. The firm is headquartered is in Zurich. The Swiss Life Group has 7,500 employees and had assets under management of approximately CHF 133 billion in 2010.-Foundation and growth:...
, Coop, Maurice LacroixMaurice LacroixMaurice Lacroix is a luxury brand of Swiss watches based in the Canton of Jura and headquartered in Zurich.-History:Maurice Lacroix was founded as part of Desco von Schulthess of Zurich in 1975. Founded in 1889, Desco von Schulthess is an older company with roots in the silk trade...
, VölklVölklVölkl is a sports equipment manufacturer based in Germany. It is a subsidiary of the Jarden Corporation. Initially it manufactured skis, but has extended its line to snowboards, outerwear, and tennis gear...
, ICRC, BKW FMB Energie AGBKW FMB Energie AGThe BKW FMB Energie AG is a power production and distribution utility with headquarter in Berne, Switzerland. Through some subsidiaries or partner companies it also provides gas and heat...
, Louis Widmer, NovartisNovartisNovartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
, Adam Opel AG, Bank Vontobel, Sika AG, DanzasDanzasDHL Global Forwarding, formerly known as DHL Danzas Air & Ocean, is a division of Deutsche Post DHL providing air and ocean freight forwarding services...
, Roche, Mettler Toledo, IWC Schaffhausen, BMWBMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and ABB Group, - Infofilms for Schweizer Grenzwachtkorps, Universität Zürich, SwissairSwissairSwissair AG was the former national airline of Switzerland.It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero , in 1931...
, Neue Aargauer Bank, Georg FischerGeorg Fischer (Swiss company)Georg Fischer is a Swiss manufacturer of piping systems for water treatment and corrosion fluids, as well as oil and gas markets. +GF+ is a multinational corporation with 120 facilities around the world, 12,500 employees and US$ 4 billion in sales per year...
, SBBSBB-CFF-FFSSwiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
and CrossairCrossairCrossair Ltd. Co. for Regional European Air Transport was a regional airline headquartered on the grounds of EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg in Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin, France, near Basel, Switzerland...
, - interactive Online-Applications for GerberGerber Products CompanyGerber Products Company is a purveyor of baby food and baby products. A former American-owned company, Gerber is now a subsidiary of Nestlé, and is currently located in Fremont, Michigan, USA.-History:...
, PostFinance|Post Finance, and IWC Schaffhausen, - Documentaries about Roger FedererRoger FedererRoger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
, Norman FosterNorman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames BankNorman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, OM is a British architect whose company maintains an international design practice, Foster + Partners....
, Pablo PicassoPablo PicassoPablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
or the Mount-EverestMount EverestMount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
-Expedition in 1952, - Features for Cinema and TV with Gérard DepardieuGérard DepardieuGérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor...
, Richard ChamberlainRichard ChamberlainGeorge Richard Chamberlain is an American actor of stage and screen who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare .-Early life:...
, Julian SandsJulian SandsJulian M. Sands is an English actor, known for his roles in the Best Picture nominee The Killing Fields, the cult film Warlock, A Room with a View, Arachnophobia, Vatel, the television series 24 and as Jor-El in the television series Smallville.-Career:Sands began his film career appearing in...
, Anja KlingAnja KlingAnja Kling is a German actress.-Selected filmography:* September * Traumschiff Surprise - Periode 1 -External links:*...
, Michael GwisdekMichael GwisdekMichael Gwisdek is a German actor and film director. He has appeared in over 130 films and television shows since 1968. His debut film as a director, Treffen in Travers, was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* Woman Doctors * Just for...
, Meret BeckerMeret Becker- Life and career :Becker was born in Bremen, the daughter of the actors Monika Hansen and Rolf Becker. She is the sister of Ben Becker, stepdaughter of Otto Sander and granddaughter of Claire Schlichting....
, Lars Rudolph and with Directors Daniel Schmid, Jan ŠvankmajerJan ŠvankmajerJan Švankmajer is a Czech filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeled surrealist known for his surreal animations and features, which have greatly influenced other artists such as Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, the Brothers Quay, and many others.- Life and career :Jan...
, Xavier KollerXavier KollerXavier Koller is a Swiss film director and screenwriter. His film Journey of Hope won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1990....
, Samir, Nicolas GessnerNicolas GessnerNicolas Gessner is a Hungarian-born film maker who mostly worked in France.His movies are often characterized by strange, quirky atmospheres and unusual cast mixing French and international actors...
, Rolf Lyssy and Dani LevyDani LevyDani Levy is a film maker, theatrical director and actor.-Work:Dani Levy's films include RobbyKallePaul, I Was on Mars, Meschugge, Du mich auch and Väter. Väter starred Christiane Paul...
, - Short Films for IWC Schaffhausen starring John MalkovichJohn MalkovichJohn Gavin Malkovich is an American actor, producer, director and fashion designer with his label Technobohemian. Over the last 25 years of his career, Malkovich has appeared in more than 70 motion pictures. For his roles in Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire, he received Academy Award...
and Jean RenoJean RenoJean Reno is a French actor. Working in French, English, Spanish and Italian, he has appeared not only in numerous successful Hollywood productions such as The Pink Panther, Godzilla, The Da Vinci Code, Mission: Impossible, Ronin and Couples Retreat, but also in European productions such as the... - Musicvideos with Carmen ElectraCarmen ElectraTara Leigh Patrick , professionally known as Carmen Electra, is an American glamour model, actress, television personality, singer, and dancer...
and the Bloodhound GangBloodhound GangBloodhound Gang is a Collegeville, Pennsylvania-based American comedy band, although it began as a rap group and gradually changed its genre throughout the years...
. - Circlevision-, 4D-Motion-Simulator-, VistavisionVistaVisionVistaVision is a higher resolution, widescreen variant of the 35mm motion picture film format which was created by engineers at Paramount Pictures in 1954....
-Dome and 70MM-Films for AutostadtAutostadtThe Autostadt is a visitor attraction adjacent to the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, with a prime focus on automobiles. It features a museum, feature pavilions for the principal automobile brands in the Volkswagen Group, a customer centre where customers can pick up new cars, and take a...
with Directors Xavier KollerXavier KollerXavier Koller is a Swiss film director and screenwriter. His film Journey of Hope won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1990....
, Dani LevyDani LevyDani Levy is a film maker, theatrical director and actor.-Work:Dani Levy's films include RobbyKallePaul, I Was on Mars, Meschugge, Du mich auch and Väter. Väter starred Christiane Paul...
, Michael BallhausMichael BallhausMichael Ballhaus, A.S.C. is a German cinematographer. In 1990, he was the Head of the Jury at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.- Life and career :...
, Ralph van DeusenRalph van Deusen- Biografie :Ralph van Deusen attended Utrecht University and Hogeschool Sint-Lukas Brussel where he studied audiovisual Arts. 1996 he moved to Los Angeles. Due to an illness in his childhood, Ralph van Deusen suffers of Aphasia...
, Christoph SilberChristoph SilberChristoph Silber is a screenwriter and film producer born in Berlin. One of Germany's leading screenwriters, he frequently collaborates on film projects in the United States, his adoptive home.-Biography:...
and Michael SteinerMichael SteinerMichael Steiner , a national of Germany, was head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo . He studied law in Paris and Munich from 1971 to 1977 and qualified as a judge in 1981. Later that year, he entered the German Foreign Office...
and for the Swiss National Exhibition Landesausstellung Expo.02Expo.02Expo.02 was the 6th Swiss national exposition, which was held from 15 May to 20 October 2002. The exposition took place around the lakes of Neuchâtel, Bienne/Biel and Morat/Murten. It was divided into five sites, which were called Arteplages, due to the proximity of the water... - 3D-Films for Paul Scherrer Institut PSI
- Product PlacementProduct placementProduct placement, or embedded marketing, is a form of advertisement, where branded goods or services are placed in a context usually devoid of ads, such as movies, music videos, the story line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the...
s und Branded Entertainment for SubaruSubaru; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
, Charles Vögele, Helsana, Qualipet, Hills, Dyson, Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz and Weight WatchersWeight WatchersWeight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
.
With its subsidiary FaroTV also is involved in the creation and production of TV-shows such as
- the TV-Gameshow "Joya Runs" starring Andrea Jansen for Sat1 Schweiz],
- the TV-Gameshow "Joya Travels" starring Andrea Jansen for Sat1 Schweiz,
- the TV-Show "Celebrations" for Sat1 Schweiz,
- the TV-Show "Move-In!" starring Viola Tami for Sat1 Schweiz,
- the Reality-Soap "Chor auf Bewährung" for Schweizer FernsehenSchweizer FernsehenSchweizer Fernsehen is the German language division of SRG SSR, in charge of production and distribution of television programmes in German for German-speaking Switzerland...
SF2, - the Docusoap "leichter leben" starring Viktor RöhtlinViktor RöthlinViktor Röthlin is a Swiss long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.He won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Goteborg Sweden, the bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka Japan, and the gold medal at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona Spain.He...
and Hausi Leutenegger for Schweizer FernsehenSchweizer FernsehenSchweizer Fernsehen is the German language division of SRG SSR, in charge of production and distribution of television programmes in German for German-speaking Switzerland...
SF1, - the Docusoap "Tapetenwechsel" for Schweizer FernsehenSchweizer FernsehenSchweizer Fernsehen is the German language division of SRG SSR, in charge of production and distribution of television programmes in German for German-speaking Switzerland...
SF2, - the TV-Series "Tierische Freunde" for Schweizer FernsehenSchweizer FernsehenSchweizer Fernsehen is the German language division of SRG SSR, in charge of production and distribution of television programmes in German for German-speaking Switzerland...
SF1,
and was also involved in
- the Swiss Saturday-Primetime-Show "Happy Day" starring Röbi Koller for Schweizer FernsehenSchweizer FernsehenSchweizer Fernsehen is the German language division of SRG SSR, in charge of production and distribution of television programmes in German for German-speaking Switzerland...
SF1 - the TV-Series "Bauer ledig sucht" starring Marco Fritsche for TV Broadcaster 3plus
- the Creation and Production of the TV-Casting-Show "Einer wie Beni" starring Bernhard Thurnheer for Swiss Sport Television SSF.
Awards
- 1991: Academy Award (Oscar) for Journey of Hope
- 2010: World Luxury Award, Gold Award for "Spirit of Navigation"
- 2011: Art Directors Club Switzerland, 5 Awards
- 2011: Cannes Lion for "More than Mountains" (Client: Swiss Tourism, Agency: Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett); Shortlist Cannes Lions Category 'Craft' for Camera in "More than Mountains"
External links
- Webpage Condor Films
- Webpage FaroTV
- Condor Films in Procinema
- Condor Films in the Swiss National Film Archive Cinémathèque Suisse
- Imagefilm for Swissair, produced by Condor Films in 1967
- Imagefilm for General Motors produced by Condor Films in 1964