Official education path
Training takes place at a higher professional school or university of applied sciences and lasts 4 years while working or 3 years full-time.
Top HR
Swiss professionsCulture & Media
Filmemacher/in
You develop film concepts and oversee filming until the final cut
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Filmemacher/in plan, shoot, and edit audiovisual content. You coordinate teams and shape creative projects.
Whether documentary or commercial: Filmemacher/in turn ideas into moving images. You take creative and technical charge of a production. From the first sketch to the final cut, you accompany every step. With a strong team, you bring your vision to the screen or the internet.
FieldCulture & Media
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryAudiovisual Media
Swissdoc 0.814.36.0 - 0.814.49.0 - 0.814.50.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
No verified Swiss salary data is available for this profession yet.
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Filmemacher/in.
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
- 🎓 dipl. Kommunikationsdesigner/in HF, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts
Typical training path
dipl. Kommunikationsdesigner/in HF, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts
Curriculum
- Technisches Know-how und Handwerk: Regie, Kamera, Licht und Ton
- Postproduktion, technische Verfahren kreative und gestalterische Kompetenzen: Drehbuch und Schauspielführung, gestalterische Konzepte Projektentwicklung und Umsetzung: Stufen der Projektentwicklung, Realisierung filmischer Werke Vermarktung und Distribution: Vermarktungskonzepte, Medienplattformen
Prerequisites
- Admission to the higher professional school: Minimum age 18 years
- Admission to the higher professional school: eidg. Fähigkeitszeugnis (EFZ) or Matura (not necessarily subject-specific)
- Admission to the higher professional school: successful admission procedure
- Admission to the higher professional school: admission sur Dossier possible with proof of outstanding creative skills
- Admission to university of applied sciences: Berufsmaturität, gymnasiale Maturität or Fachmaturität
- Admission to university of applied sciences: creative propaedeutic or practical year in a creative professional field
- Admission to university of applied sciences: successful admission exam
- Admission to university of applied sciences: persons with at least 3-year vocational basic training (EFZ) and extraordinary artistic talent may be admitted to the admission procedure
Requirements
- Artistic talent
- Strong sociability and communication skills
- Assertiveness
- Richness of ideas and creativity
- Strong teamwork skills
- Negotiation skills
- 1Technisches Know-how und Handwerk: Regie, Kamera, Licht und Ton
- 2Postproduktion, technische Verfahren kreative und gestalterische Kompetenzen: Drehbuch und Schauspielführung, gestalterische Konzepte Projektentwicklung und Umsetzung: Stufen der Projektentwicklung, Realisierung filmischer Werke Vermarktung und Distribution: Vermarktungskonzepte, Medienplattformen
Where this can lead
Career changes are possible with completed vocational training and proven artistic talent. Specializing in documentaries or commercials also offers alternative career paths.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Artistic vision
- Team coordination
- Communication
- Assertiveness
- Negotiation skills
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand on the filming location and set the direction for the camera and actors with clear instructions. In between, you check the shot frames and coordinate the lighting mood with the crew.
- You develop original script concepts together with writers and research the necessary facts.
- You coordinate the budget with producers and develop a clear financing strategy.
- You plan the filming schedule and define the technical requirements for each scene.
- You lead the casting and fill the key positions for camera and sound.
- You coordinate all artistic and technical teams on site during filming.
- You determine the visual style and implement the vision together with the cinematography team.
- You lead the editing process and shape the post-production until the final film.
Working conditions
You work in studios, on outdoor filming locations, and in editing rooms. You frequently switch between different production sites and locations.
Where to learn
- schweizer syndikat film und video (ssfv)Heinrichstrasse 147, 8031 Zürich
Strengths
- Artistic vision
- Team coordination
- Communication
- Assertiveness
- Negotiation skills
Trade-offs
- Irregular hours
- Fast pace
- Willingness to travel
- Project uncertainty
06 · Similar
