Gäste 2025

Noah Baumbach, a four-time Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director, is one of the most influential voices in contemporary cinema. He made his feature film debut at age 26 with KICKING AND SCREAMING (1995), and gained international recognition when he and Wes Anderson wrote the screenplay for THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (2004). This success allowed him to direct the comedy THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (2005), for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. This was followed by other works, including MARGOT AT THE WEDDING (2007), FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009) and GREENBERG (2010), for which he co-wrote the screenplay with Anderson. After FRANCES HA (2012), WHILE WE'RE YOUNG (2014), and THE MEYROWITZ STORIES (2017), Baumbach wrote and produced MARRIAGE STORY (2019). For this film, he received two Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and a BAFTA nomination, among others. He co-wrote the screenplay for the global box-office hit BARBIE (2023) with his partner, Greta Gerwig. The duo received numerous awards for their work on the film. At the 21st Zurich Film Festival, Noah Baumbach will present his new comedy, JAY KELLY (2025), and be honored for his outstanding career with the «A Tribute to ...» Award. He will also give a ZFF Masters talk about his work.

Noah Baumbach, a four-time Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director, is one of the most influential voices in contemporary cinema. He made his feature film debut at age 26 with KICKING AND SCREAMING (1995), and gained international recognition when he and Wes Anderson wrote the screenplay for THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (2004). This success allowed him to direct the comedy THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (2005), for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. This was followed by other works, including MARGOT AT THE WEDDING (2007), FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009) and GREENBERG (2010), for which he co-wrote the screenplay with Anderson. After FRANCES HA (2012), WHILE WE'RE YOUNG (2014), and THE MEYROWITZ STORIES (2017), Baumbach wrote and produced MARRIAGE STORY (2019). For this film, he received two Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and a BAFTA nomination, among others. He co-wrote the screenplay for the global box-office hit BARBIE (2023) with his partner, Greta Gerwig. The duo received numerous awards for their work on the film. At the 21st Zurich Film Festival, Noah Baumbach will present his new comedy, JAY KELLY (2025), and be honored for his outstanding career with the «A Tribute to ...» Award. He will also give a ZFF Masters talk about his work.

The New Zealander character actor Russell Crowe has thrilled film audiences around the world for decades. He first gained international attention after his appearance in PRISONER OF THE SUN (1990) and his role in ROMPER STOMPER (1992). His Hollywood breakthrough came with the Western THE QUICK AND THE DEAD (1995). This led to a role in the gangster epic L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997), which was nominated for nine Oscars. Crowe received his first Oscar nomination for his lead role in THE INSIDER (1999). Just one year later, he won an Oscar in the same category for his iconic portrayal of Roman general Maximus in GLADIATOR (2000). He won a Golden Globe and was nominated for various other awards in 2001 for A BEAUTIFUL MIND. His other films include AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007), STATE OF PLAY (2009), ROBIN HOOD (2010), LES MISÉRABLES (2012), MAN OF STEEL (2013), and NOAH (2014). Crowe was honored with another Golden Globe for his role in the miniseries THE LOUDEST VOICE (2019). In more recent years, he has enjoyed success in productions like THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (2022) and LAND OF BAD (2024). At the 21st Zurich Film Festival, Russell Crowe will present his new film NUREMBERG and receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his illustrious career. He will also discuss his work in a ZFF Masters session.

The award-winning composer and cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir has earned herself a unique place on the contemporary music scene, thanks to her originality and versatility. With her singular style, she counts among the most innovative composers of our time and stands out as a role model for young talents worldwide. Her groundbreaking score for the HBO series CHERNOBYL (2019) won her an Emmy, as well as Television Composer of the Year at the World Soundtrack Awards. For the soundtrack of the film JOKER (2019), not only did she become the first solo composer to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Score, she also went on to win an Academy Award and a Grammy. Her oeuvre includes numerous films and television projects such as SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO (2018), MARY MAGDALENE (2018), WOMEN TALKING (2022), JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX (2024) and TÁR (2022). In addition to her film music, Hildur Guðnadóttir has released four solo albums and composed music for theater and dance performances. In recognition of her stellar career, the Icelandic composer receives the Career Achievement Award at the 21st Zurich Film Festival, where she also chairs the 13th International Film Music Competition jury.

NEON founder and CEO Tom Quinn has left a lasting mark on the modern independent film industry through his exceptional instinct for bold, innovative, and culturally resonant cinema. With NEON, he built one of the most influential studios in contemporary international auteur filmmaking and guided films such as Parasite, Anatomy of a Fall, and Anora not only to worldwide critical acclaim, but also to major box office success and Academy Award recognition. A visionary entrepreneur and passionate cinephile, Quinn is widely regarded today as one of the key driving forces behind modern independent cinema. Under his leadership, NEON achieved an unprecedented five consecutive Palme d’Or wins at the Cannes Film Festival with Parasite, Titane, Triangle of Sadness, Anatomy of a Fall, and Anora. At the same time, Quinn pioneered new strategies for the global distribution of prestige films, proving that sophisticated arthouse cinema can also reach wide mainstream audiences. Over the course of a career spanning more than 30 years, Quinn has been involved in more than 400 film productions and theatrical releases. He founded the distribution labels RADiUS and Magnet, and played a pivotal role at Magnolia Pictures in developing early video on demand strategies. He also oversaw the distribution of groundbreaking films such as Snowpiercer, It Follows, 20 Feet from Stardom, and Citizenfour. For his remarkable eye for exceptional storytelling, his willingness to break new ground, and his lasting influence on the international film industry, Tom Quinn will be honored with the Game Changer Award at this year’s Zurich Summit during the Zurich Film Festival.

With her captivating performances and burgeoning career as a producer, Dakota Johnson has established herself as a Hollywood personality. Following her breakthrough role in the critically acclaimed drama THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010), she appeared in comedies like THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT (2012) and 21 JUMP STREET (2012). She went on to achieve worldwide fame for her role as Anastasia Steele in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (2015), FIFTY SHADES DARKER (2017), and FIFTY SHADES FREED (2018). Receiving high praise from both critics and audiences for her performances, she was nominated for a 2016 BAFTA Rising Star Award. Since then, she has appeared in numerous indie films, including A BIGGER SPLASH (2015), SUSPIRIA (2018), THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON (2019), and OUR FRIEND (2019), as well as in blockbusters like BLACK MASS (2015), and THE LOST DAUGHTER (2021). In 2019, Johnson expanded her repertoire by founding the production company TeaTime Pictures with Ro Donnelly. Johnson will open the 21st Zurich Film Festival with her new production, SPLITSVILLE. Moreover, she will receive the Golden Eye Award on opening night for her career achievements, and share with the audience insights into her work at a ZFF Masters session.

Charisma, intelligence, and an unmistakable voice set him apart: Benedict Cumberbatch, CBE, stands out as one of the most influential and multi-faceted actors of his generation. He has worked with many renowned directors like Jane Campion, Joe Wright, Steve McQueen, and Wes Anderson, breathing life into a wide variety of characters. Catapulted to international fame with his title role in the BBC series SHERLOCK (2010-2017), Cumberbatch delivered convincing performances, among others, as a British aristocrat in ATONEMENT (2007), as an ambivalent plantation owner in 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013), and as a torn rancher in THE POWER OF THE DOG (2021). For the latter, he received his second Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the previous one being for his portrayal of Alan Turing in THE IMITATION GAME (2014). Demonstrating his vast talent, he also made his mark in contemporary blockbuster cinema as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Universe. His distinctive voice has shaped his work too: he created an unforgettable character as Smaug the dragon in THE HOBBIT trilogy that enjoys cult status to this day. At the 21st Zurich Film Festival, Benedict Cumberbatch will receive the Golden Eye Award for his versatile career. The award will be presented to him during a ZFF Masters event, followed by a screening of his new film THE THING WITH FEATHERS (2025).

Brazilian-born actor and director Wagner Moura counts among South America’s most popular actors. He is particularly well known for his portrayal of the notorious drug cartel boss Pablo Escobar in the hit Netflix series NARCOS (2015-2017), a role for which he received a Golden Globe nomination and critical acclaim worldwide. Moura's multifaceted acting prowess has seen him embody a wide range of characters, including the edgy revolutionary «Spider» in Neill Blomkamp's ELYSIUM (2013), a hot-tempered gangster in Heitor Dhalia's BALD MOUNTAIN (2013), a charismatic lifeguard in PRAIA DO FUTURO (2014), and an impostor in the comedy VIPS. He made his debut as a feature film director in 2019 with MARIGHELLA, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. One of his early international film successes back in 2007, TROPA DE ELITE (ELITE SQUAD), was a box office hit in his native Brazil. Other notable appearances include roles in the Oscar-nominated animated film PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (2022), SERGIO (2020), THE GRAY MAN (2022), TRASH (2014) and WASP NETWORK (2019), directed by Olivier Assayas where he co-starred alongside Ana de Armas and Penélope Cruz. Moura will be at the 21st Zurich Film Festival to present his new film THE SECRET AGENT (2025) and receive the Golden Eye Award in recognition of his performance in the film. He will also share with the audience insights into his work and his creative process in a ZFF Masters session.