About us
talent and experience
Generative Center
An arrow out of time.
Artur Schmidt
co-directorFilm Director & Producer
Felix A. Bachmann
co-directorFilm and Theatre Director, Writer, Producer
Kevin Merz
co-directorFilm Director, Writer, Producer
Artur Schmidt
Artur Schmidt is an established director based in Bissone, Switzerland, renowned for his work in documentaries and fiction films. He earned a Master’s in film directing from a film school in Poland in 2013. With a career spanning directing and producing, Schmidt has contributed to Playade Production and led Teamvideo.ch in 2014. His films have achieved global recognition, with distribution on traditional media and major platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. A pioneer in integrating advanced technologies, he directed Futuro in 2024, one of the first films to implement generative AI, featured on RSI. Schmidt blends technical expertise in modern cinematography software with a creative vision, producing visually compelling narratives. As a co-founder of the Generative Center AI in Besso, Lugano, he continues to push the boundaries of filmmaking through innovation and artistry.
Felix A. Bachmann
Felix A. Bachmann is a multifaceted artist and innovator renowned for his work as a writer, actor, director, and pioneer in digital and AI-driven art. With a BA in Economics and Philosophy from NYU and a Master’s in Theater Creation from the London International School of Performing Arts, he’s built a career that zips between novels, films, poetry, dance, and cutting-edge tech. As co-founder of Xocolat, he launched hostartist.network and teamed up with Ruse Laboratories to craft VR tools like ALGO and MONA, bringing immersive experiences to schools, healthcare, hospitals and elderly care homes across Switzerland and the U.S.
Based in Ticino, Switzerland, Felix has he’s co-created the HASARD Festival (Fribourg, Switzerland) and NFTopia, blending physical and virtual creativity, while his acting chops shine from hollywood feature films to indie films and powerful physical theater performances.
Felix kicked off young, dabbling in theater before stints as a model, actor, and even Product Manager for L’Oréal Argentina at 21, steering the shift from Miss Ylang to Maybelline. He later bolted to Europe, coordinating production at Buena Onda Films and festivals like Mar del Plata Film Festival. Now, with over 20 years of boundary-pushing work in literature, film, dance, and VR storytelling, Felix keeps the creative fires burning bright. He is a father of four children and works closely with his wife Manuela Bachmann Bernasconi.
Kevin Merz
Kevin Merz is a Swiss filmmaker, creative innovator, and co-founder of the Generative Center, a hub for projects and educational formats in generative AI. With a background spanning author cinema and blockbuster filmmaking, he has worked alongside Peter Fleischmann and Ueli Steiger, gaining a deep understanding of the industry. His documentaries have won awards and been screened at major festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival and on the Piazza Grande at Locarno.
Beyond filmmaking, Kevin is a co-docent at the University of St. Gallen, where he teaches User-Generated Advertising, and has collaborated with the European Film Center Babelsberg to train film professionals in Rwanda. Passionate about the evolving creative landscape, he is currently focused on the transformative power of AI and building a center of competence for generative AI applications in storytelling and beyond.
When not exploring new frontiers in film and technology, he enjoys family life in Lugano with his wife and two children.