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Zurich Film Festival celebrates 20 years with a star-studded lineup
The Zurich Film Festival is set to commence its 20th edition this Thursday, promising a rich array of European cinematic gems, critically acclaimed films, and a newly unveiled festival center. This year’s event also features a comprehensive industry forum, making it a must-attend for film enthusiasts and professionals alike.
A galaxy of stars and a focus on industry challenges
The festival will shine brightly with the presence of international stars such as Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Richard Gere, and Pamela Anderson. These luminaries will not only grace the red carpet but also engage in discussions about some of the most pressing issues in the film industry at the annual Zurich Summit Conference.
Opening night and special awards
The festival will kick off with Justin Kurzel’s neo-Nazi thriller, The Order, starring Jude Law, who will be honored with the festival’s Golden Eye career achievement award. This year, the festival has streamlined its structure, eliminating the German-language Focus Competition and reducing the lineup to 107 films, 41 fewer than last year. The main competitions now include feature films and documentaries, alongside sidebars such as Gala Premieres, Signatures, Border Lines, Hashtag #BigCityLife, Sounds, and ZFF for Kids.
Industry insights at the Zurich Summit Conference
The Zurich Summit Conference is a key highlight, bringing together leading international film producers, sales executives, creators, technology entrepreneurs, and financiers. This year, the summit will honor CAA co-head Roeg Sutherland with the Game Changer Award. The conference will delve into timely topics such as the impact of AI, financing indie films, the role of investors, the advantages of shooting in Europe, the evolving management business, and the challenges facing the theatrical sector.
Notable participants
Participants at this year’s summit, scheduled for October 5, include Rebecca Kearey from Searchlight Pictures, Tom Quinn from Neon, Stuart Ford from AGC Studios, Alex Brunner and Theresa Peters from UTA, Christian Vesper from Fremantle, Elisabeth d’Arvieu from Mediawan, Stefanie Fahrion from Film4, Sébastien Raybaud from Anton, Maren Olson from 30West, and David Unger from Artist International Group.
Premieres and festival hits
Zurich will showcase a selection of the year’s festival hits along with world premieres. Notable films include Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice, Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, Richard Gray’s The Unholy Trinity, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, Edward Berger’s Conclave, Halina Reijn’s Babygirl, Tim Fehlbaum’s September 5, Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, Steve McQueen’s Blitz, and Sean Baker’s Anora.
Female directors and political documentaries
Female directors are prominently featured, especially in the race for the top Golden Eye award. Artistic director Christian Jungen notes, “This year, the female gaze dominates our competition. Numerous films tell their stories through the eyes of women, such as Linda or Mother Mara. Eight out of 14 films are made by women, which is exciting.”
The Documentary Competition is more political than ever, with films like Homegrown, which portrays three Proud Boys, and Russians at War, about Russian frontline soldiers in Ukraine, addressing the fragility of democracy. Another significant topic is land ownership and commercial cultivation, explored in The Battle of Laikipia, which focuses on agricultural communities in Kenya struggling with the effects of climate change.
Swiss films take center stage
Swiss films continue to play a central role in the festival’s lineup. “The ZFF takes place in Zurich, where two-thirds of Swiss distributors and production companies are based,” Jungen explains. “It is therefore important that we provide Swiss films a big stage and bring them into the conversation.”
This year, Zurich will present 12 world premieres of Swiss films, including Lisa Brühlmann’s patchwork family drama When We Were Sisters and Jasmin Gordon’s The Courageous, about the struggles of an eccentric and delinquent mother in a small Swiss town. Other Swiss films include Maria Brendle’s historic drama Frieda’s Case, Flavio Gerber and Alun Meyerhans’ ski documentary Aiming High – A Race Against the Limits, and Michael Krummenacher’s World War II spy drama The Traitor.
A new festival center for the 20th anniversary
To mark its 20-year milestone, the festival is unveiling a new, innovative, and sustainable center. “For our 20th anniversary, we are presenting a center that is more innovative, more open, and more sustainable, both architecturally and in its spirit,” says Jungen. “The new center is primarily geared towards our audience, allowing visitors to experience the stars as closely as possible. An even more open green carpet and a new outdoor deck ensure that film talents and audiences meet even more directly.”
Honoring cinematic excellence
This year’s festival will also honor several stars and filmmakers. Kate Winslet will receive the Golden Icon Award as she presents her latest work, Ellen Kuras’ Lee. Pamela Anderson will be awarded a Golden Eye for her versatile career and role in Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl. Edward Berger will receive the A Tribute to… Award at the premiere of Conclave.
Other honorees include Alicia Vikander, who will attend the European premiere of Fleur Fortuné’s The Assessment, composer Howard Shore, who will receive a Career Achievement Award, and Swiss cabaret artist Emil Steinberger, who will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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