Summary
The Swiss Film Academy announced the nominees for the Swiss Film Prize 2026 on January 27, 2026. A total of 115 films in 13 categories were reviewed and evaluated by approximately 500 academy members. The awards ceremony will take place on March 27, 2026 at the Zurich Congress Center. Among the nominated feature films are works such as "À BRAS-LE-CORPS" by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo, "HELDIN" by Petra Volpe, and "BAGGER DRAMA" by Piet Baumgartner. The Federal Office of Culture BAK organizes the event in collaboration with SRG SSR and Association Quartz.
People
- Marie-Elsa Sgualdo – Director
- Petra Volpe – Director
- Piet Baumgartner – Director
- Lukas Keller – President of Nomination Committee
Topics
- Swiss Film Prize 2026
- Nominations in 13 categories
- Film academy and evaluation process
- Awards ceremony and supporting program
Detailed Summary
The nominations night took place on January 27, 2026 in Solothurn and marked the starting point for the 2026 Swiss Film Prize campaign. The selection process is based on a transparent system: approximately 500 members of the Swiss Film Academy reviewed all submitted films and cast anonymous votes. These recommendations served as the basis for a five-member nomination committee's final nomination decisions.
The nomination committee is chaired by Lukas Keller (deputy head of Film Culture Service at BAK) and consists of experts from various film sectors: Alexandra Prusa (actress), Sonia Pfeuti (script), Jean Perret (production/journalism), Andreas Bühlmann (institutions), and Gioacchino Balistreri (composer).
Among the nominated feature films are five works, including the drama "À BRAS-LE-CORPS" with particularly strong representation in technical categories. In the documentary film category, five productions were nominated, while the short film and animation film categories each have five candidates.
The awards ceremony will take place on March 27, 2026 at the Zurich Congress Center. In the week before (March 23–29), the "Week of Nominees" will be dedicated to the honored films in cooperation with Cinéma Bio Carouge and Filmpodium Zurich.
Key Messages
- 115 films in 13 categories were approved for evaluation
- Transparent nomination process through 500 academy members and five-member committee
- Awards ceremony on March 27, 2026 at the Zurich Congress Center
- Strong presence of "À BRAS-LE-CORPS" with nominations in feature film, screenplay, music, cinematography, and editing
- Supporting program "Week of Nominees" at two Swiss cinemas
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Filmmakers | Directly affected by nominations and awards |
| Swiss Film Academy | Central role in evaluation and nomination process |
| Federal Office of Culture BAK | Organizer and promoter of the prize |
| Cinemas and Film Festivals | Benefit from increased audience interest |
| Film Audience | Uses nominations for film selection |
| Media Partners (SRG SSR) | Reporting and broadcasting |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Promotion of Swiss film talent | Low international visibility |
| Increased cinema attendance through nominations | Limited funding for prize money |
| Cultural appreciation of film art | Possible criticism of nomination process |
| Network building in the film industry | Dependence on public funding |
Action Relevance
For Filmmakers: Use nominations for career advancement and networking; plan participation in the "Week of Nominees."
For Cultural Institutions: Secure support for the event; evaluate film promotion based on nomination results.
For Media Partners: Prepare reporting on the awards ceremony; analyze audience potential of nominated films.
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements and data verified
- [x] Nomination process and committee composition verified
- [x] Dates and locations confirmed
- [x] No unsupported claims identified
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on January 27, 2026
Additional Research
- Official Source: Federal Office of Culture BAK – Swiss Film Prizes (www.bak.admin.ch)
- Industry Source: Swiss Films – Information on Swiss film productions
- Media Coverage: Solothurn Film Days – Overview of Swiss film landscape
Bibliography
Primary Source:
Press Release from the Federal Office of Culture – "Swiss Film Prize 2026: The Nominees are Announced" (January 27, 2026)
https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/7blRB2sSUyAmDojvMr59H
Official Information Channels:
- www.quartz.ch (main information portal)
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/prixducinemasuisse
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/prixducinemasuisse
- TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@prixducinemasuisse
This text was created with the support of Claude.
Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: January 27, 2026