ROCC Film · Founder
Christian Martin Schäfer
Founder & Creative Director · Director, Writer, Actor
Christian knows both sides of the camera. Years of work as an actor grew into a passion for storytelling – today he writes, directs and produces films at ROCC Film that move people.
Brief overview
Christian Martin Schäfer (born in Zurich in 1980) is the founder and creative director of the Berlin-based film production company ROCC Film. He directs image, advertising, and recruitment films and works with clients such as BMAS, Commerzbank and Volkswagen personally. Before founding the company in 2014, he won international awards as a copywriter, including a gold award at the New York Festivals. As an actor, he appeared on camera for ARD. He brings over 20 years of experience in advertising and film to the table.
About Christian
From actor to director: Christian's path to ROCC Film
Christian has experience in front of the camera, behind the camera, and much further behind it still. As a copywriter he's won international awards; as an actor he appeared on camera for, among other things, an ARD early-evening series. Before ROCC, he worked as a writer, producer and communications consultant.
This experience makes him a director with an overview, creativity, and above all, empathy. He works sensitively with performers — especially inexperienced ones — and creates the right mood on set. That leads to remarkable results, especially when shooting image or recruiting films with real employees.
In 2014, he and Christoph Wieczorek founded ROCC Film in Berlin — born from their collaboration on the feature film Three Finns. Ever since, the team has been creating image films, commercials, and recruiting films for clients ranging from mid-sized businesses to large corporations.
ROCC Film in numbers — since founding in 2014.
Selected work
Selected work: acting, directing, production
- 2019–20In All Friendship – The Young DoctorsDr. Noah Mattes · 10 episodes
- 2017Inga Lindström: The Cookbook of LoveLead role
- 2014Three FinnsLead role
- ongoingROCC Film — Image, Commercial & Recruiting FilmsDirection · Production
Awards · Copywriting
Copywriting awards: New York Festivals, Cannes Lions, ADC
- GoldNew York FestivalsTruck driving school2011
- ShortlistCannes LionsTruck driving school2011
- SilverNew York FestivalMagic shop2011
- SilverADC SwitzerlandTruck driving school2011
- BronzeADC SwitzerlandMagic shop2011
- AwardADC Germany Junior DaysTruck driving school2011
- 3rd placePSI Campaign of the YearSwiss Life2011
- FinalistOne ShowMagic shop2011
- NominationADC EuropeHWZ Zurich2011
Plus several ADC Switzerland shortlists (including Swiss Life, Sunrise, Harley Heaven).
In Conversation · Press
Christian Martin Schäfer in the press
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about Christian Martin Schäfer
Who is Christian Martin Schäfer?
Christian Martin Schäfer is a Swiss director, copywriter and actor, born in Zurich in 1980. In 2014 he founded the film production company ROCC Film in Berlin, where he directs as creative director and looks after clients like BMAS, Commerzbank and Volkswagen.
Who directs at ROCC Film?
Creative direction rests with founder Christian Martin Schäfer: he listens in the initial consultation, develops the concept and is responsible for the film through to final approval. On many productions he directs himself; on the others, experienced directors from our permanent team take over under his creative direction.
What did Christian Martin Schäfer do before ROCC Film?
He worked as a copywriter in Zurich and won international awards, including Gold at the New York Festivals. As an actor he appeared in the ARD series In aller Freundschaft – Die jungen Ärzte as well as lead roles in Inga Lindström: Kochbuch der Liebe and Drei Finnen.
Why does his acting experience help on set?
Because he knows how people feel in front of a camera. Especially on image and recruiting films with real employees, he takes away the cast's nervousness, and you can see that in the film.
Profiles & Directories