News

Film entries are now being accepted until June 30, 2012 in four competition sections of the 8th Zurich Film Festival. More information here.

In addition, the film for which an original score of the first International Film Music Competition is to be composed has been announced. More information here.

The first International Film Music Competition will take place within the framework of the 8^th Zurich Film Festival. Participants are invited to compose a piece for orchestra to accompany a 6-minute short film. Composers from around the world aged 35 and under are eligible to enter. The Golden Eye is endowed with a CHF 10’000 cash prize which is offered from our Main Partners Credit Suisse, Die Schweizerische Post, Audi.

The winning composition will be announced during a finalists’ concert on September 27, 2012 at the Tonhalle in Zurich. The five best compositions as judged by a jury will be world premiered within the framework of this concert under the baton of the Tonhalle orchestra’s principal conductor David Zinman.

The competition is now open. If you are interested in entering please contact us using the following address score@zurichfilmfestival.org. The short film for which the music is to be composed will be unveiled on February 15, 2012. The composition, written for a large orchestra, must reach us before June 30. Five finalists will be announced on August 23. The 8^th Zurich Film Festival will take place from September 20 to 30, 2012. 

Red Carpet glamour? The Zurich Film Festival’s carpet is green – but there’s glamour galore this evening when filmmakers gather for the grand Award Night. In addition to Alejandro González Iñárritu and Paul Haggis, who are both set to receive lifetime achievement awards, filmmakers such as Marc Forster and Maximilian Schell are also expected to tread the Green Carpet in front of Zurich’s spectacular Opera House. Photos and autographs from 20:00 onwards.

Before the big award night, jury members Stephen Nemeth, Janine Jackowski, Laurence Fishburne and Güzin Kar will give an insight into their function (Jury Talk, Festival Centre, 12.00). THE CARRIER celebrates its European premiere within the framework of the ‘Border Lines’ series (corso 2, 13:30). The film screening is followed by a discussion on AIDS with filmmaker Maggie Betts and MSF workers. Paul Haggis discusses his methods in the Public Zurich Master Class (Filmpodium, 15:00). The animated world of ‘onedotzero’ enters its last round in the Plaza (EXTENDED PLAY, 18:00 and WAVELENGTH 11, 20:30). And last but not least, an alteration to the programme means an additional helping of THIS MUST BE THE PLACE – a second chance to see Sean Penn deliver a truly brilliant performance in his role as Cheyenne the rock star. Enjoy!

At noon, "Zurich Talks" goes into its next round with the panel discussion on opportunities and risks of "Video on Demand". Lung time screenings include  ALLES EIS DING (12.15, corso 2), GROMOZEKA (12.30, Arena 8) and SCHWARZKOPF (12.45, corso 4). One of the highlights of the day is the ‘Special Screening’ of CLIMATE REFUGEES (17:00, corso 4), which is immediately followed by a panel discussion aimed at exploring the topic of climate change with experts, filmmakers and further invited guests. Director David Wnendt and leading actress Alina Levshin are in Zurich to present their latest film KRIEGERIN. CONTAGION enjoys a repeat screening, presented by its leading actor and this year’s Jury President Laurence Fishburne. Insider tip of the day has to be the start of the ‘onedotzero’ section, opening at the Plaza with the onedotzero_ch competition programme – a live DJ set by animal trainer will round off the evening.

Sean Penn is the star of the moment on this festival day. The American acting icon is in Zurich to pick up the ‘Golden Icon Award’. Green Carpet photo opportunities, interviews and autographs at 19:45. Please find some information on his Haiti project by clicking here.

Away from the media mania numerous other film delights remain to be discovered. For those of you wanting to take stock of the current German-language film scene, take a pew in corso 4. Lovers of French cinema can pay pilgrimage to Le Paris for the premiere of LOUISE WIMMER (in the presence of director Cyril Mennegun, 18:45). Turkish delights are to be had in Arena 9 (ECUMENOPOLIS 19.30, OUR GRAND DESPAIR 21.45 in presence of director Seyfi Teoman).

 Today is of course all about Roman Polanski, who will be on hand this evening to collect his ‘A Tribute To…’ lifetime achievement award – two years after receiving the honour. A few tickets are still available - and on general public sale. Autographs and cam-flash-frenzy at the Green Carpet from 20:30 onwards. A Turkish ‘New World View’ will round off the evening for all those who remain seated in Arena 9 (screening of four films from the ‘New World View’ series from 14:00 onwards). The world premieres of CALL IT BALANCE IN THE UNBALANCE (in the presence of the film crew and the fashion designer Miguel Adrover), and the Swiss feature ALLES EIS DING (in the presence of the entire crew – but regrettably without the recently deceased Stephanie Glaser), complete the evening programme.

Roman Polanksi will accept the Zurich Film Festival's A Tribute to... Award that was intended for him two years ago tomorrow, September 27 at cinema corso (21.20). The World Premiere of a full-length non fiction film will follow the tribute ceremony. Secure your tickets for this unique event by clicking here.

The Zurich Film Festival is guaranteed to get off to a great weekday start – particularly for the film-famished out there! Competition highlights include the world premiere screening of the Swiss documentary UNTER WASSER ATMEN in the presence of its entire crew (20:15, corso 2). Leading actress Sabine Timoteo has travelled to Zurich for the European premiere of DIE FARBE DES OZEANS (21:00, Le Paris). The Green Carpet will be rolled out over the sidewalk in front of the corso cinema for David Cronenberg’s new film A DANGEROUS METHOD. And all those wanting to meet Anatole Taubman in person, make your way to the Festival Centre at 16:45. Please refer to the following overview for full details of all films and guest appearances.

Charles Ferguson’s Public Zurich Master Class forms the first highlight of the day (Filmpodium, 14:30: screening INSIDE JOB followed by workshop talk). Jeremy Irons treads the evening’s Green Carpet to present his new film MARGIN CALL (interviews and autographs: Green Carpet, 19:30 onwards). Numerous guests are on hand to watch the world premiere screening of the Zurich-based production MARY & JOHNNY (21:00, corso 2). Iñárritu’s BABEL (18:15, Filmpodium) and Woody Allen’s SWEET AND LOWDOWN (21:15, Filmpodium) round off the day’s programme. A perfect opportunity to rediscover films by master filmmakers. Please refer to the overview for full details of all films and guest appearances.

SKATEISTAN will open the ‘Border Lines’ series of films at 13:00 in corso 2. Following the screening, the audience is offered the opportunity to discuss the film and the work done by MSF with the film’s makers and MSF representatives. The world premiere of Rolf Lissy’s URSULA – LEBEN IN ANDERSWO and Christian Ulmen’s new film JONAS are programmed for the evening. Please refer to the overview for full details of all films and guest appearances.

The second festival day brings with it the first huge helping of film fun. In addition to the four competition category kick offs, Friday also sees the start of the Penn, Inarritu and Haggis retrospectives, as well as the ‘New World View’ film series, screening the latest and greatest from the Turkish film world. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (by the ‘Fishtank’ director Andrea Arnold) and RESTLESS (Gus Van Sant’s latest work) are billed as the day’s Gala Premieres, and will be screened in addition to Thomas Imbach’s widely anticipated Swiss premiere DAY IS DONE. Pilgrims of the night will make their way to corso 1 at 23:15 for the horror premiere of LET ME IN.

The day has finally arrived! Following a year of intensive preparation, the festival is ready to open with Steven Soderbergh’s CONTAGION in the presence of its leading actor and this year’s Jury President Laurence Fishburne. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter is to be among the stream of guests.

The festival’s surprise opener is the US independent TAKE SHELTER, which will be screened simultaneously (21:15) at the charming Arthouse Le Paris cinema – it’s also the first competition film, don’t miss it!

Legendary British actor Jeremy Irons will grace the Zurich Film Festival with his presence on September 25, 2011. He will arrive in Zurich to attend the premiere of his latest film MARGIN CALL, in which he plays alongside Kevin Spacey as the unscrupulous boss of a US American investment bank.

Born in 1948, Jeremy Irons currently ranks among the most sought-after character actors of our time, and regularly takes the lead in big European and Hollywood productions. His breakthrough came performing alongside Meryl Streep in Karel Reisz’s 1981 drama THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN. This was followed by numerous leading character roles in large-scale international cinema films. Irons received the Academy Award for best actor in 1991 for his embodiment of Claus von Bülow in Berbet Schroeder’s REVERSAL OF FORTUNE.

Accompanied by the film’s director J.C. Chandor, Jeremy Irons will attend the premiere screening of MARGIN CALL on Sunday 25.9 at 20:00 in cinema corso’s theatre 1. The film, set on the cusp of the 2008 financial crisis, will receive a second screening in the cinema Arthouse Le Paris on Monday, 26.09 at 19:00. Tickets: click here.

The New World view series is dedicated to Turkish cinema this year. In recent years, not only established Turkish filmmakers such as Nuri Bilge Ceylan or Semih Kaplanoglu have shown that they are capable of great things. It is specially the young Turkish cinema that has gained a lot of attention at international film festivals as well as in theaters. The films selected for this series are all first, second or third directing works. From "blockbusters" to "auteur cinema" - all the aspects of film production have their place. All the films - six feature films and a documentary, portray human relationships and family bonds in an era of social, domestic and political change, with the metropolis of Istanbul playing an important recurring role. The New World View series is curated by Nikolaj Nikitin.

In collaboration with Winterthur International Short Film Festival, we also present a block of 8 turkish short films.

The films in this section:

BROKEN MUSSELS (Seyfettin Tomak 2011, 90', Coming of Age)

ECUMENOPOLIS: CITY WITHOUT LIMITS ( Imre Azem 2011, 88', Documentary)

LOSERS CLUB (Tolga Örnek 2011, 114', Comedy)

MAJORITY (Seren Yüce 2010, 111' Drama)

MERRY GO ROUND (Ilksen Basarir 2011, 93', Family Drama)

OUR GRAND DESPAIR (Seyfi Teoman 2011, 102' Tragi-Comedy)

WORNG ROSARY (Mahmut Fazil Coskun, 90', Tragi-Comedy)

Turkish Shorts (8 short films, 80')

Director Roman Polanski will attend the upcoming 7^th Zurich Film Festival to accept the lifetime achievement award that was intended for him two years ago, to honor his outstanding career achievements as a filmmaker. The World Premiere of a full-length non fiction film will follow the tribute ceremony. Details regarding the film and the world premiere will not be released before the official screening on Sept 27.

Born 1933 in Paris, Roman Polanski first attracted attention with his 1962 feature KNIFE IN THE WATER. This was followed by works such as REPULSION (1965), CUL-DE-SAC (1966) and his Hollywood debut ROSEMARY’S BABY (1968), which brought him the Academy Award for best screenplay. His box-office blockbusters include THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS (1967), CHINATOWN (1974) and the Holocaust drama THE PIANIST (2002), which won him a Golden Palm in Cannes and the Academy Award for best director. Following THE GHOSTWRITER (2010), this year saw the release of his film adaptation of the theatre piece CARNAGE, which was well received by enthusiastic critics at its screening in Venice.

Polanski’s cinematographic work has enjoyed years of worldwide renown. His occupation with such topics as social inability, angst and self-destructive violence is apparent throughout his whole body of films. He portrays his broken, lonely protagonists with often claustrophobic and surreal visuals.

Editors please click here for more information.

Sean Penn’s latest work as an actor THIS MUST BE THE PLACE by Paolo Sorrentino (ITA, FRA, UK 2011) will be screened on Saturday, October 1 at 21:15 in cinema corso’s theatre 1. This European co-production, which sees Penn star alongside Frances Mc Dormand and Judd Hirsch, tells the story of the aging rock star Cheyenne, who goes in search of his father’s former tormentor, a Nazi criminal hiding in the US outback. Tickets now available.

Paul Haggis made a name for himself, not only in his primary role as a screenwriter, but also as a director. He was closely involved in two subsequent Oscar winners: in 2005 as the screenwriter of the boxing film MILLION DOLLAR BABY, and in the following year as author and director of the anthology film CRASH. Haggis will receive the festival’s A Tribute To... Award on the October 1 Award Night at the Zurich Opera House. He will also give a public master class on Saturday, October 1 (Filmpodium, 15:00). 

Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu, one of the younger generation's most prominent filmmakers, is coming to Zurich. He has shot four feature films to date, all of which have celebrated worldwide success. Iñárritu will hold a public master class on September 30 (18:15 at the Filmpodium) and accept the festival's Career Achievement Award for his exceptional contribution to filmmaking at the Award Night on October 1. The Zurich Film Festival, in collaboration with the Filmpodium, will screen a retrospective of his films.

Laurence Fishburne found worldwide renown playing Morpheus in the MATRIX films. This charismatic US actor is now coming to Zurich as the Zurich Film Festival's Jury President, and as an actor in Steven Soderbergh's CONTAGION, the festival's Opening Film.

The American actor and director Sean Penn is to receive the Golden Icon Award at the Zurich Film Festival. The two-time Oscar winner will receive the prize for his life’s work on September 28, 2011 at cinema corso. Tickets available for purchase September 8, 2011.

The 2010 Zurich Film Festival competition winners will be released in Swiss theaters as follows:

DAS LIED IN MIR / THE DAY I WAS NOT BORN (Florian Cossen) opens on July 21, 2011!

THE WOMAN WITH A BROKEN NOSE (Srdjan Koljevic) opens on August 4, 2011!

ARMADILLO (Janus Metz) has just been released on DVD in Switzerland!

The countdown is still running: Submissions will be accepted here until June 30.

Septembre 22, 2011 - Octobre 2, 2011. 

We look forward to seeing you!

The Golden Icon award will be collected on Michael Douglas' behalf by Danny DeVito. Get your autograph at the Green Carpet in front of cinema corso from 7.30 pm.

The Golden Icon award giving ceremony and the subsequent screening of Wall Street 2 are sold out. There are last minute tickets available for purchase at the Festival Center at Hechtplatz from 19:00 onwards (octobre, 3).

Courtney Love as surprise guest at the Closing Night, Octobre 2 at Schauspielhaus Pfauen. Additional guests are amongst others Miloš Forman, Oliver Stone, Bob Geldof and Adrien Grenier. Get your autograph at the Green Carpet from 7.30 pm. 

We are paying tribute to Miloš Forman for his life's work. Come and see his films in our large retrospective.

A must-see: "Machete" on Friday, October 1. New film in our programme: "The Road" with Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron. 

The Zurich Film Festival and the Independent Swiss Film Producers lobby invite you to a podium discussion tackling the subject of reforms in the Swiss Film Promotion Concepts. Information here.

Want to enjoy a Sunday Brunch with the stars for a good cause? Charity brunch and screening of "Bon Appétit" on Sunday, 26.9.10. Your 150 CHF contribution will go in its entirety to MSF. Application to barbara.furrer@zurichfilmfestival.org. Find more information here.

The Roc Kidz Crew, protagonists of the film The Rising Sun, will demonstrate their dance moves on the green carpet by 8pm. A must-see!

Register for the Film Finance Forum in Zurich now. There are only a few seats left! Registration here. 

The festival is about to begin! Be a part of it at the opening and see the first films in our competition: Lily Sometimes with Diane Kruger as well as the gripping feature film Adrienn Pal.

Discover the festival's programme now online! You can download the programme also as PDF.

The Swiss feature film "Sennentuntschi", directed by Michael Steiner, will be shown as the opening movie of the 6th Zurich Film Festival on September 23. Moritz Leuenberger will visit the festival as an official representative of the Federal Council of Switzerland.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps will celebrate its premiere at the Zurich Film Festival. Reserve your exclusive tickets now. Advance ticket sale begins on 09.09.10 at 12:00. Tickets are available via our website, in the ticket booth at Paradeplatz and at all kitag cinemas.

Michael Douglas will receive the Golden Icon Award for his life’s work. Douglas had already agreed to collect the award in Zurich before he received the news that he had cancer. The award will now be collected on his behalf by his school day friend Danny DeVito.

Leading experts from the film industry and the world of finance are invited to Zurich’s Hotel Dolder Grand to participate in a day of discussions on the theme of film financing and to explore the influence of current economic trends on the international film industry.

Oscar winner Milos Forman will receive the Festival’s prestigious Golden Eye Award for his life work as a director. The filmmaker will accept the award personally. The Festival will also present a Forman retrospective and screen numerous films such as ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST and AMADEUS.

Representatives of media and film industry can now apply for accreditation.

The Zurich Film Festival is relieved about the decision made by the Swiss Government and is glad that Roman Polanski is finally able to return home to his family.

Besides submissions intended for competition entry, the submission for the onedotzero_ch section is now open as well. In this section, we are looking for short films and clips taking progressive paths in image design. Find more information here.