A HAPPY FAMILY

Press Screening: SAT, 4.7.2026 | 10:30 | Congress Hall
World Premiere: SAT, 4.7.2026 | 19:30 | Grand Hall
Screenings: www.kviff.com

120 min. / Switzerland 2026 / feature

Trailer: vimeo.com

Director Jan-Eric Mack and main actress and screenwriter Anna Schinz are available for interviews.

A HAPPY FAMILY by writer-director Jan-Eric Mack is world premiering in the Crystal Globe Competition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2026. The debut feature is the first Swiss production competing in the main competition in the history of the festival.

A HAPPY FAMILY is a compelling social drama infused with elements of a thriller. It explores themes of poverty and social inequality in Switzerland, focusing especially on the precarious. situation of single mothers, who are often disproportionately affected by systemic injustice. By combining intimate social observation with the tension and atmosphere of a thriller, the film paints a striking portrait of economic insecurity and social marginalization in one of the richest societies in the world.

Co-writer Anna Schinz, who is half Czech, also takes on the leading role alongside a cast featuring Julia Jentsch, Bettina Stucky, Michael Neuenschwander and Martina Apostolova.

SYNOPSIS
Niki has two kids, two jobs, and no money. After a fire turns her life upside down, her children are placed in foster care. Banned from contact, she assumes a new identity risking everything to stay close to them.

Jan-Eric Mack was born in Trüllikon in 1983. He studied feature film directing at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). During his studies, he already directed several award-winning short films. His Master’s thesis film, FACING MECCA, won the Student Oscar® in 2017, the Swiss Film Award in 2018, and was shortlisted for the 90th Academy Awards (Oscars®) in the “Live Action Shorts” category. In 2020, he directed the third season of the hit series WILDER for Swiss television. He then co-directed the historical spy series DAVOS 1917, an international co-production which celebrated its world premiere at the 19th Zurich Film Festival and aired on SRF, ARD, and ORF on Christmas 2023. A HAPPY FAMILY is his first feature film.

A HAPPY FAMILY is produced by Martin Joss and Peter Reichenbach, a C-FILMS AG Production, in collaboration with DCM, in coproduction with SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen and SRG SSR, with the support of Zürcher Filmstiftung, Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK), Valais Film Commission, Film Commission Zurich, Focal Stage Pool, Suissimage.

The project was part of the 2025 Work In Progress Selection of the Les Arcs Film Festival and was awarded with the 22d Music award.

The domestic release in Switzerland through DCM Film Distribution is planned for January 2027.

Director: Jan-Eric Mack
Screenwriters: Anna Schinz, Jan-Eric Mack, Nikita Afanasjew and Eva Kienholz.
Cinematography: Yunus Roy Imer
Editing: Benjamin Fueter
Music: Thomas Kuratli
Original Sound: Barnaby Hall
Sound Design: Gina Keller
Production Design: Marie-Claude Lang Brenguier
Costumes: Irene Schweizer
Make up: Marina Aebi
Casting: Nora Leibundgut

Production Company:
C-FILMS AG
c-films@c-films.com
www.c-films.com

World Sales:
Bendita Film Sales
sales@btafilms.com
www.btafilms.com

©/CREDITS:

Stills: © C-Films