Wer stiehlt uns die Zeit? Im Gespräch mit Konrad Wakolbinger tauchen wir in eine Welt vor der mechanischen Uhr ein, kritisieren die Welt, in der Arbeit den Rhythmus bestimmt, und finden heraus, dass Konrad Wakolbinger, der Regisseur des Films Auf der Suche nach der gestohlenen Zeit, währenddessen sehr wenig von der Uhr bzw. Zeit hält.

„LEADING FEMALES IN FILM“ is an industry Event organized by the Zurich Film Festival. Reta Guetg Vize Festival Director of Zurich Film Festival gives us some more insights about the event. This years edition was focused on the „Next Gen“ and in collaboration with the Zurich University of the Arts and provided by taskforce4women.

ZFF driver Lukas Müller gives an insight into his everyday festival life and explains why the ZFF is like coming home for him.

In the heart of the underground music scene, a young woman’s relationship with the enigmatic frontman of a metal band leads to a turbulent journey of discovery, blurring the line between freedom and fanaticism.

This is a film about school, yes — but even more, about time, memory, and the way we carry our younger selves with us, always. In UN ANNO DI SCUOLA, director Laura Samani follows a class of teenagers in Trieste, Italy through their transformative months marked by adolescence, friendships, jealousy and the quiet pressure of choices yet to be made. It's a tender, intimate portrait of youth on the brink of adulthood; capturing the beauty of everyday rituals, the intensity of firsts, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.

He built the world of 2093 in Kenya with almost no budget, but the reasons why run deeper than the film itself. For 24-year-old Damien Hauser, this ambitious sci-fi project was an answer to a difficult personal chapter. The result is a story where the journey behind the camera is just as powerful as the world he created on screen.

Nia DaCosta’s rewritten HEDDA by Hendrik Ibsen engulfs you in a festive drama where we follow Hedda’s development throughout the night and how she loses herself while being torn between a loveless marriage and the appearance of an ex- lover.

I LOVE YOU, I LEAVE YOU – a film about mental health, friendship, and how Dino Brandão and Moris Freiburghaus navigate this chapter of their lives. Together they discuss the making of the film and how friendship, creativity, and dealing with mental illness are deeply intertwined. Expect an intense conversation that offers personal insights and highlights the importance of solidarity, authenticity, exchange and friendship.

In DOWNHILL SKIERS, professional racers reflect on the challenges of downhill skiing. Director Gerald Salmina talks about how this sport is defined by passion, discipline, and just the right amount of craziness to handle such speed and risk.

In KABUL, BETWEEN PRAYERS director Aboozar Amini delves deeply into the everyday reality of two brothers living under the influence of the Taliban. Over several years, Amini closely followed the Taliban Soldier Samim and his younger brother Rafi. Their lives shaped as much by family ties as by religious ideology. Through striking, intimate images, he opens a window into a world usually hidden from outsiders – a world between prayer, farm work, and the effects of indoctrination.

Vincent Munier invites us on a journey journey of uncommon beauty into the heart of wild forests with his new documentary LE CHANT DES FORÊTS. In this interview, he shares his heart behind the film and allows us to understand a bit more about his passion for nature.

Once a year, the picturesque village of Carrbridge in the Scottish Highlands hosts a unique event: the World Porridge Making Championship. Participants from all over the world compete for the legendary trophy, the “Golden Spurtle.” Director Constantine Costi accompanies the people behind the competition on their journey to the world championship. While doing so he and his team created a loving portrait of traditions, great passions, and the art of turning simple things into something special.

Julian Assange (WikiLeaks) might never have been freed without her. Jennifer Robinson has been his lawyer, fighting for freedom of speech and human rights for over 15 years. The film THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN tells the story of this incredible case and the immense battle she fought behind the scenes.

In FACING WAR, director Tommy Gulliksen takes you behind the scenes of NATO – into places where journalists or filmmakers are usually not allowed. For two years, he closely documented how decisions of war and peace were made inside the so-called “War Room.” The film shows how politics works: discussions, power struggles, compromises – and the personal proximity to figures such as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Tommy Gulliksen immersed himself so deeply that he almost became part of the story.

Around 70 percent of our planet lies hidden beneath the ocean’s surface, yet the deep sea remains one of the least explored places on Earth. Director Eleanor Mortimer takes us on a poetic journey alongside marine biologists as they search for life in this almost extraterrestrial world.

Director Raymond Grimbergen talks about telling the story of LEEUWIN (LIONESS), which follows a 15-year-old girl from Suriname. Despite their differences, he explains how shared human emotions allow him to portray her journey authentically and connect with young audiences.

MARCHING IN THE DARK shares the story of Sanjeevani Bhure, a widow from Maharashtra, India. After her husbands suicide, she joins a group of women to rebuild their lives and fight against patriarchal traditions. The film highlights the strength and support these women find in one another. Tens of thousands of farmers die by suicide each year due to overwhelming debt, leaving their families behind. The documentary focuses on the widows, like Sanjeevani, who are left to raise their children, manage their farms, and deal with the social stigma that comes with being a widow. Despite these challenges, Sanjeevani finds new courage and hope. The film gives a voice to these often-overlooked women and tells their powerful, inspiring stories.

»Ich oder Du« mit Paula Rappaport & Malou Mösli von WHEN WE WERE SISTERS | ZFF Daily 2024

Die beiden Schauspielerinnen Paula Rappaport & Malou Mösli beantworten verschiedene Fragen zum Film WHEN WE WERE SISTERS und den Dreharbeiten. Dabei erfahren wir, wer mehr Outtakes hatte, wer sich eher ein Knasttattoo stechen lassen würde, oder wer sich äusserlich mehr für ihre Rolle verändern musste.

Ever wondered what it’s like to work in a busy Kitchen in the middle of the city that never sleeps? 

With LA COCINA Alonso Ruizpalacios shows us a modern adaptation of an English screen play, documenting the lives of the employees in a bustling restaurant.

Interview mit Michael Krummenacher über

LANDESVERRÄTER | ZFF Daily 2024

In der Lobby des Hotel Wellenberg spricht Regisseur Michael Krummenacher über seinen Film Landesverräter. Er erzählt von der Herausforderung, eine historisches Ereignis filmisch darzustellen, von den politischen und gesellschaftlichen Hintergründen und den aussergewöhnlichen Stilmitteln, die eingesetzt wurden, um einer bedeutenden Persönlichkeit der Schweizer Geschichte ein Gesicht zu geben.

Directors Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó talk about their documentary AGENT OF HAPPINESS at the 20th Zurich Film Festival.

The story follows Amber, the national happiness agent, who is sent out by the government of Bhutan, which regularly measures the happiness of its population. Through intimate stories and unexpected moments, the film reflects on what happiness really means – both for individuals and for an entire nation.

Interview with Mariana Wainstein about

LINDA | ZFF 2024

Director Mariana Wainstein talks about her feature-film 'Linda' which is in the feature film competition at the 20th Zurich Film Festival. The film is about a maid named Linda which starts working for a wealthy family in Buenos Aires. Her unique charisma and mysterious behaviour soon captivates all family members.

Bogdan Muresanu wrote and directed the film 'The New Year that never came'. 

A feature film that portrays six lives during the Romanian Revolution of 1989.

In his interview with ZFF Daily Bogdan Muresanu talks about how his own experiences influenced his work on the film.

Seit zwei Jahrzehnten kreiert Gerald Koller den Golden Eye Award für das Zurich Film Festival. Jede der rund 100 einzigartigen Auszeichnungen ist ein Zeugnis seiner Hingabe. Während Hollywood-Stars sie stolz zur Schau stellen, konzentriert er sich weiterhin auf die einfache Freude am Handwerk. Nun, da er die Tradition an seinen Neffen weitergibt, wird das Erbe dieser kultigen Trophäen mit derselben Liebe zum Detail und der persönlichen Note fortgesetzt, die seine Arbeit von Anfang an auszeichneten.

Nach der Explosion im Jahr 2020 hat sich in Beirut vieles verändert. Das Feuer, das im Herzen der Stadt brannte, hat die Menschen sowohl getrennt als auch zusammengeführt. Nicola von Leffern und Jakob Carl Sauer sprechen bei ZFF Daily über ihren Film 'To Close Your Eyes and See Fire' und erzählen, was sie mit der Stadt Beirut verbindet.

The filmmaker who drove 400 Ukrainians to safety

IN THE REARVIEW

What criteria can be used to judge film music? Nicolas Rabaeus is a Swiss composer and jury member of the 12th International Film Music Competition. The award-winning composer shows what music can do and what role it plays in film.

In the documentary LA LIBERTDAD DE FIERRRO, Mexican director and producer Santiago Esteinou accompanies César Fierro during the process of his release from prison, his reinsertion into society and the search for his freedom.

Zweimal haben sie es versucht, zweimal hat es nicht stattgefunden: Das erste Skirennen am Fusse des Matterhorns. Das Regie-Duo Flavio Gerber und Alun Meyerhans hat in ihrem Dokumentarfilm AIMING HIGH – A RACE AGAINST THE LIMITS zwei Jahre lang die Organisation und internationale Skitalenten wie Marco Odermatt, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde und Lara Gut-Behrami begleitet. Im Gespräch erzählen die Regisseure von den Herausforderungen beim Dreh und auch den Kontakt zu den Athletinnen und Athleten.

Was, wenn man den Traum leben könnte, um die Welt zu segeln und dabei Gutes zu tun? Für die acht-köpfige Schweizer Familie Schwörer ist dies keine blosse Fantasie, sondern Realität. Vor 23 Jahren stachen die Eltern in See, um Feldforschung in den entlegensten Regionen der Welt zu betreiben und die nächste Generation für den Umweltschutz zu begeistern. Die Filmemacherin Livia Vonaesch begleitete die Familie sieben Jahre lang und dokumentierte im Film HOME IS THE OCEAN, wie die Schwörers konventionelle Normen von Erziehung, Bildung, Heimat und Sicherheit in Frage stellen.

Die Heinzels sind wieder da! Nach dem ersten erfolgreichen Film DIE HEINZELS - RÜCKKEHR DER HEINZELMÄNNCHEN ist nun die Fortsetzung DIE HEINZELS - NEUE MÜTZEN, NEUE MISSION auf den Kino-Leinwänden zu sehen.

Im Interview mit der Regisseurin Ute von Münchow-Pohl erhascht ihr einen Blick hinter die Kulissen des Animationsfilmes und welche Rolle Verantwortung und Diversität dabei spielen.

Julia Buchmann gibt ihr Debüt in der Hauptrolle des Films FRIEDAS FALL und verleiht der Figur eine bemerkenswerte Tiefe. Sie teilt mit uns ihre Erfahrungen aus den Dreharbeiten, spricht über die Herausforderungen, die sie meistern musste und die emotionale Bindung, die sie zur Rolle entwickelt hat. Lasst euch von ihren inspirierenden Gedanken und Einblicken mitreissen.

Interview mit David Constantin über

TSCHUGGER – DE LÄTSCHT FALL | ZFF Daily 2024

TSCHUGGER goes Kino! Nach dem grandiosen Erfolg der ersten drei Staffeln gibt’s nun den abschliessenden Film TSCHUGGER – DE LÄTSCHT FALL exklusiv im Kino .

Die Möglichkeit einen «Tschugger» ins Kreuzverhör zu nehmen, liessen wir uns nicht entgehen. Mit dem Drehbuchautor, Regisseur und Hauptdarsteller David Constantin, sprechen wir über Martina Hingis, sein Talent und lassen uns die offene Frage beantworten: Ist TSCHUGGER – DE LÄTSCHT FALL wirklich sein letzter Fall.

How far can you go as a reporter to tell a story? What if that story is a hostage crisis and all of a sudden you realize that the hostage takers can watch your real time reports?

Tim Fehlbaum‘s new film SEPTEMBER 5 tells the real story of the 1972 summer olympics hostage crisis from the perspective of ABC Sports who were the first in the world to ever live broadcast such an event.

Watch actor John Magaro and Director Tim Fehlbaum talk about their film .

Shiori Itō talks about her documentary film BLACK BOX DIARIES, where she documented the investigation of her own rape case in Japan for 8 years. Anja Fröhner and Reta Guetg (Head of Program at ZFF) let us know how they discovered Shiori Itōs movie and why they think it’s important to talk about these topics.

Die Zürcher Regisseurin und Schauspielerin Lisa Brühlmann ist nach 7 Jahren wieder zurück auf der grossen Leinwand, mit ihrem zweiten Spielfilm WHEN WE WERE SISTERS.

Sie erzählt im Interview von ihrem neuen Film und wie es war, gleichzeitig vor der Kamera zu stehen.

Da ist ein Elefant im Raum, aber niemand spricht über ihn. Jetzt ändern die beiden Regisseure Karl Ammann und Laurin Merz genau das. Gemeinsam sprechen sie über ihren neuen Investigativ-Dokumentarfilm STEALING GIANTS.