About ican films

In 2002, Director-Producer Mirjam von Arx founded ican films gmbh, a Zurich-based production company with a focus on international theatrical documentary films. Through ican films Mirjam von Arx has produced several award-winning theatrical documentaries including BUILDING THE GHERKIN about the planning and construction of Norman Foster’s iconic building in the City of London, SEVEN DUMPSTERS AND A CORPSE about compulsive hoarding, SEED WARRIORS about the world’s first global seed bank, VIRGIN TALES (picked up by Showtime USA) about the Colorado family who started the now (in)famous Purity Balls, the acclaimed documentary features FREEFALLING - A LOVE STORY (also directed by Mirjam von Arx), THE DAY THE SUN FELL by director Aya Domenig, I AM GENTRIFICATION: CONFESSIONS OF A SCOUNDREL by director Thomas Haemmerli and von Arx’ film THE SCENT OF FEAR, winner of the 7. CH-Dokfilm Competiton. HOME IS THE OCEAN is the latest film produced by ican films gmbh, directed by first time director Livia Vonaesch.

2024
HOME IS THE OCEAN

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production with SRF, SRG SSR
Director: Livia Vonaesch
Production: Mirjam von Arx
HD, 94’

Festivals:

  • Zurich Film Festival International Documentary Competition 2024
  • Filmfestival Max Ophüls Saarbrücken, Documentary Competition 2025

2021/22
THE SCENT OF FEAR

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production with SRF
Director: Mirjam von Arx
Production: Mirjam von Arx
HD, 90’
Winner 7. Migros-Kulturprozent CH-Dokfilm Competition
Nomination Prix de Soleure 2021

Festivals:

  • CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival 2021
  • Pariscience Int. Science Film Festival, Grand Écran Competition, 2021
  • Bergen International Film Festival 2021
  • Contemporary Science Film Festival Moscow, 2021
  • Krakow Film Festival, Poland, 2022

2019
BEYOND THE MUSIC – THE BARENBOIM-SAID ACADEMY

produced by ican films gmbh and FLARE FILM, Berlin
in co-production with SRF, rbb, ARTE
Director: David Bernet
Production: Mirjam von Arx, Martin Heisler
HD, 52’

Festivals:

  • Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, Israel, 2019
  • Master of Art, Bulgaria, 2020
  • Winnipeg Jewish Film Festival, Canada, 2021
  • Vancouver Jewish Film Festival, canada, 2021

TV Distribution: Swiss TV, arte, rbb, Deutsche Welle

2017
I AM GENTRIFICATION: CONFESSIONS OF A SCOUNDREL

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production SRF, SRG SSR
Director: Thomas Haemmerli
Production: Mirjam von Arx
HD, 90’ / 52’
Winner Zurich Film Prize 2018
Special Mention, Int. Documentary Competition, Zurich Film Festival 2017
Nomination Prix du Public, Solothurner Filmtage 2018

Festivals:

  • São Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil, New Filmmakers Competition, 2017
  • Filmfest Hamburg, Germany, Competition Political Film, 2017
  • Solothurner Filmtage, 2018
  • DOK.fest München, Best of the Fest, 2018

2015
THE DAY THE SUN FELL

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production SRF, SRG SSR
Director: Aya Domenig
Producer: Mirjam von Arx
HD, 90’ / 52’
Premiere: Int. Film Festival Locarno (Semaine de la Critique) 2015
Nomination Swiss Film Award 2016 Best Documentary
Winner Swiss Film Award 2016 for Best Music
Winner Prix Anthropologie et Development Durable und Prix Mario Ruspoli, Festival International Jean Rouch 2016 and the David Plath Media Award for best film work on East Asian Anthropology

Festivals (Auswahl):

  • 68. Locarno International Film Festival, Semaine de la Critique, 2014
  • Weltfilmtage Thusis, 2015
  • Hiroshima International Film Festival, 2015
  • This Human World, Wien, 2015
  • Solothurner Filmtage, 2016
  • Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis Saarbrücken, Wettbewerb, 2016
  • Mumbai International Film Festival, Int. Wettbewerb, 2016
  • DOCfeed Eindhoven, Wettbewerb, 2016
  • Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, 2016
  • Green Image Film Festival, Tokyo, Wettbwerb, 2016
  • Bolzano Filmfestival, Wettbewerb, 2016
  • 26. Filmkunstfest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Wettbewerb, 2016
  • 13th Göttingen Int. Ethnographic Film Festival, 2016
  • Int. Filmfestival Innsbruck, Wettbewerb, 2016
  • EDOC – Encuentros del Otro Cine, Ecuador, 2016
  • Seoul Human Rights Film Festival, Korea (SHRFF), 2016
  • Festival Interational Jean Rouch, Paris, 2016

2014
FREEFALLING – A LOVE STORY

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production with SRF SRG SSR, BR and ARTE
Director/Producer: Mirjam von Arx
HD, 90’ / 52’
Premiere: 10th Zurich Film Festival 2014

TV Distribution: Swiss TV, BR, ARTE

Festivals:

  • Zurich Film Festival, 2014
  • DOK.fest Munich, Wettbewerb, 2015
  • Solothurner Filmtage, 2015
  • Int. Bergfilm Festival Tegernsee, 2015
  • Bergfahrt Bergün, 2016

2012
VIRGIN TALES

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production with SRF SRG SSR, ARTE G.E.I.E.
Director/Producer/Co-Author: Mirjam von Arx
HD/35mm, 87’ / 57’
Winner Zurich Film Award 2012
Finalist Maysles Brothers Award 2012

TV Distribution: Swiss TV, arte, Showtime USA, CBC Canada, DR Denmark, YLE Finland, Sky Network New Zealand, Austrian TV ORF, 3sat

Festivals (selection):

  • Visions du Réel, Nyon 2012 (Schweiz)
  • AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs Festival, Int. Competition 2012 (USA)
  • Festival del Film Locarno 2012, Appellation Suisse (Schweiz)
  • Vancouver International Film Festival 2012, Nonfiction Features (Canada)
  • Woodstock Film Festival 2012, Int. Competition (NY, USA)
  • 46. Internationale Hofer Filmtage 2012 (Deutschland)
  • DOK Leipzig 2012, Int. Programme (Deutschland)
  • 36. Duisburger Filmwoche 2012 (Deutschland)
  • STARZ Denver Film Festival 2012, Int. Competition (USA)
  • Solothurner Filmtage 2013 (Schweiz)

2009
SEED WARRIORS

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production with ARTE/ZDF, SF
Directors: Mirjam von Arx / Katharina von Flotow
Producer: Mirjam von Arx
HD/35mm, 86’ / 52’
Nomination Int. Green Film Award, Cinema for Peace Gala Berlinale 2011

TV Distribution: Swiss TV, arte, TSI, NRK Norway, UR Sweden, TVE Spain, TVP Poland, Film Media Group (USA), True Visions (Thailand), Link TV (USA)

2007
SEVEN DUMPSTERS AND A CORPSE

produced by ican films gmbh, in co-production with SF
Director: Thomas Haemmerli
Producer: Mirjam von Arx
DV / Super 8mm, 81’
Winner Zurich Film Award 2007
Nominated for Swiss Film Award 2008

TV Distribution: Swiss TV, 3Sat, SBS Australia, YES Israel, Canadian Documentary Channel

2005
Building the Gherkin

co-produced by ican films gmbh
Director / Exec. Producer: Mirjam von Arx
Digibeta / 35mm, 89' /52’
Winner First Prize Int. Film Festival sur l’Art, Montréal 2006

TV Distribution: Swiss TV, 3Sat, SKY Artsworld, ABC Australia, MICO/NHK Japan, NRK Norway, Arts Channel New Zealand, Public TV Taiwan, FOX Int. Italy, CzechTV