The ZFF is more than just a festival. It celebrates films all year round, culminating in eleven festival days during which Zurich acts as the stage for great cinema.

As one of Europe's ten leading film festivals, the ZFF brings Hollywood to the banks of the Limmat river, connecting some 135,000 visitors, filmmakers, emerging talent, and industry decision-makers. Here, audiences get to see films that go on to win Academy Awards and meet the stars of today and tomorrow.

The ZFF is committed to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers and talent. It supports emerging filmmakers and offers them the opportunity to network with established figures from the international film industry. As the Home of Talent, the ZFF champions young filmmaking, provides a platform for new voices, and fosters exchange and mentoring.

The Zurich Film Festival was first held in October 2005 and has since grown to be one of Europe's leading film festivals. It is led by CEO Christian Jungen and Festival Director Reta Guetg.

In March 2026, Mehmet Inan became Managing Director of Spoundation Motion Picture AG. In this role, he is part of ZFF executive management and oversees marketing, partnerships and hospitality.

Since July 2025, the festival has been owned by a new ownership group. The ownership includes Christian Jungen, Reta Guetg, entrepreneur and television host Max Loong, long-serving ZFF President Felix E. Müller and finance expert Marek Skreta. Since July 2026, the Board of Directors of the Zurich Film Festival has been chaired by internationally renowned film producer Martin Moszkowicz.

This relatively young festival is now the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking world and has been named one of the ten most important film festivals in Europe by The Guardian.