Zurich Film Festival surprises DCM co‑founders with career award

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) will honor Berlin‑based distributor DCM with a Career Achievement Award on September 24, the opening day of its 22nd edition. The award goes to co‑founders Marc Schmidheiny, Christoph Daniel, Dario Suter and Joel Brandeis, as well as Swiss managing director Stephanie Candinas.

They will receive the honor before the screening of Wim Wenders’s documentary *From Inside Out: The Architecture of Peter Zumthor*, which DCM is distributing in Germany and Switzerland and co‑produced.

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## Background & Context

Founded in 2008, DCM has built a reputation for bringing critically acclaimed titles to German‑speaking audiences. The company has distributed Oscar winners such as *The Artist* and *Moonlight*, and the recent *I’m Still Here*. It also handled family blockbusters like *Bibi & Tina* and *The School of Magic Animals*.

DCM’s roots in the Zurich Film Festival run deep; its first feature, *Waffenstillstand*, premiered there in 2009 and won the Audience Award.

In 2013 DCM expanded into Switzerland by distributing *Kon‑Tiki*, and later championed local hits such as *The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch* and *Bonjour Switzerland*.

The summer of 2025 saw a strategic move: DCM acquired Ascot Elite Entertainment, the country’s largest independent distributor, in a friendly takeover led by the original owners Karin G. Dietrich, Ralph S. Dietrich and Stephan Giger.

This consolidation positions DCM as a major indie player in the German‑speaking market.

DCM also produced the series *Heidi*, which wrapped filming this summer in the Bergell valley and will air on Swiss broadcaster SRF next year. The company’s catalogue will feature a world premiere of Frauke Finsterwalder’s *Eurostrash* at the festival, underscoring its ongoing commitment to diverse cinema.

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## What the Festival Attendees Say

“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. “The founders always act entrepreneurially and in the interest of the films.

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.” Jungen praised DCM’s passion for American independent film, German cinema, and Swiss film, highlighting the company’s influence on the regional industry.

Marc Schmidheiny shared his personal connection to Zurich. “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. He added that standing on the festival’s own stage felt both an honor and a motivation.

Schmidheiny noted an initial confusion: “there was a misunderstanding that this was a Lifetime Achievement Award, which we feel far too young for.” He framed the award instead as a catalyst for future projects.

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## The Road Ahead for DCM and ZFF

The Career Achievement Award signals ZFF’s gratitude for DCM’s contributions to cinema and its encouragement of the company’s continued efforts. With the award, DCM’s founders will celebrate their longstanding partnership with Zurich, a relationship that began when *Waffenstillstand* first premiered there.

The honor is expected to inspire new collaborations and projects that will return to the festival in future editions.

The 22nd ZFF runs from September 24 to October 4, offering a slate of international and local films. DCM’s film *From Inside Out: The Architecture of Peter Zumthor* will open the program, followed by other titles from its catalogue.

This schedule underscores the festival’s role as a launchpad for both established and emerging filmmakers across the German‑speaking world.

As DCM continues to expand its distribution network and production slate, the partnership with Zurich is poised to deepen. The Career Achievement Award marks a milestone that celebrates past successes while laying groundwork for future cinematic ventures in Switzerland and beyond.