Zurich To Honor 'The Artist', 'Moonlight' & 'I'm Still Here' Distributor DCM

Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting

The Zurich Film Festival will honor Berlin and Zurich-based distributor DCM with a Career Achievement Award at its upcoming edition kicking off on September 24.

The award is being given to the company's co-founders Marc Schmidheiny, Christoph Daniel, Dario Suter and Joel Brandeis as well as its Swiss managing director Stephanie Candinas for their long-standing commitment to culture

Founded in 2008, film distributor and production studio DCM is known for distributing Oscar-winning films such as The Artist , Moonlight , and most recently I'm Still Here , as well as the family-entertainment blockbusters Bibi & Tina and The School of Magic Animals ( Schule der Magischen Tiere ).

In-Depth Developments & Factual Context

The history of DCM and its founders have been closely tied to the Zurich Film Festival since the company was launched in 2008.

Their first feature production Waffenstillstand , celebrated its European premiere at ZFF in 2009 and was honored with the Audience Award.

DCM expanded its business into Switzerland in 2013 with the distribution of Kon-Tiki . It has also played a significant role in supporting Swiss cinema releasing local hits such as The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch ( Wolkenbruch ) and Bonjour Switzerland ( Bon Schuur Ticino ).

Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis

This summer, the DCM-produced series Heidi wrapped filming in the Bergell valley and will air on Swiss broadcaster SRF next year.

It consolidated its position in Switzerland in 2025 with the acquisition of the country's biggest independent distributor Ascot Elite Entertainment, in a friendly takeover instigated by the latter company's founding owners Karin G. Dietrich, Ralph S. Dietrich and Stephan Giger.

"DCM is a company run by film and cinema lovers, and it has brought a breath of fresh air to the German-language film scene," said Christian Jungen, CEO of the ZFF.

Forward Outlook & Market Perspective

"The founders always act entrepreneurially and in the interest of the films. Much like us at the ZFF, they have a great passion for good American independent film, for German cinema and for Swiss film. With the acquisition of Ascot Elite, they made a spectacular move and are now ensuring that exciting auteur films continue to reach a large audience in cinemas as the largest indie player in the German-speaking market. With our Career Achievement Award, we want to thank the DCM team for what they have accomplished so far and encourage them in their continued commitment with the new company."

Marc Schmidheiny, co-founder and partner of DCM, said the company had been in love with the Zurich ever since showing Waffenstillstand at the festival during its fifth edition.

"Since then, we've watched as industry giants, role models and cherished colleagues were honored for their work on the ZFF stage, and we have celebrated alongside them," he said.

"To now stand on this stage ourselves and receive a price is both an honor and motivating for us. Because after the initial shock - caused by the misunderstanding that this was a Lifetime Achievement Award, which we feel far too young for - this is instead an incentive for the next chapters and films that will hopefully keep bringing us back to ZFF."

Alongside Wenders' latest work, the 22nd Zurich Film Festival will present further films from the DCM Film AG catalog, including the world premiere of Frauke Finsterwalder's Eurostrash.

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