Nextyear'sSwiss Film Prize is to move from January's Solothurn Film Days to a new venue at Lucerne's Culture and Conference Centre (KKL) on March 7 in a gala ceremony.

The eventwill beorganised by national broadcaster SRG SSR with the partners Swiss Films, the Federal Office of Culture (BAK) and the Swiss Film Academy.

Speaking to Screendaily at the opening evening of this week's Visions du Reel international documentary film festival in Nyon, Sven Waelti, managing director of the Swiss film industry's 'umbrella' organisation Cinesuisse, revealed that the much anticipated Swiss Film Academy will be founded by his members in May.

The Academy would then be responsible for deciding on the nominations for the next Swiss Film Prize and announce them at a special event on January 23 during the Solothurn Film Days.

The nominations, which will continue to include cash awards provided by the BAK, will also be able to consider films premiering in Solothurn.

A specially convened jury will then decide on the final winners of the Quartz trophies to be presented on March 7.

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