Staccato Films was founded in 1989 by Herman Pohle and Emjay Rechsteiner in Amsterdam, soon joined by Karen Jaroneski and Walter Martyn Cabell out of New York. Associates over the years include Niels Bourgonje, Aydin Dehzad, Alexandra Lodewijkx, Petra van der Meulen and Marion Slewe.

Started as a co-operative, Staccato was incorporated in 1991 as a group of three private limited liability companies under Dutch law with Drs M.J. (Emjay) Rechsteiner as CEO.