Interviews

Unfortunately, we had some technical problems during the recording of this episode, but we don't want to withhold it from you: Ethan Hawke has achieved worldwide renown as an actor and shone with his performances across a wide variety of genres. He first attracted significant attention in Peter Weir's coming-of-age drama DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989). He demonstrated his sense of romance and humour in BEFORE SUNRISE (1995), and displayed his action-hero prowess in TRAINING DAY. In addition to acting, Hawke pursues many other artistic activities, including as a producer, director and author. He discusses his multifaceted work as part of the ZFF Masters.

Margarethe von Trotta is the grande dame of German cinema, making a name for herself as a director, screenwriter and actress. As an actress, she became famous for her roles in films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Volker Schlöndorff. In the late 1970s, she moved behind the camera and became one of the most renowned female directors. Her most famous films include DIE BLEIERNE ZEIT (1981), ROSA LUXEMBURG (1986) and HANNAH ARENDT (2012). Margarethe von Trotta was a guest at the 19th ZFF Masters, where she spoke about her long and fascinating career.

The big #Barbenheimer Sommer, strike in Hollywood and 150 films screened at the ZFF: ZFF Artistic Director Christian Jungen and the two ZFF Heads of Program Reta Guetg and Anja Fröhner look back on the last few months and talk about their highlights from the world of cinema. They also share their anticipation for the award season.

As part of "ZFF for Kids", the Zurich Film Festival offers several workshop days throughout the year. In various courses, children aged 8 to 13 can immerse themselves in the world of film and learn from professionals. ZFF editor Vivien Sasso visited one of these workshop days and interviewed the participating filmmakers. In addition, Yvonne Augustin, who is responsible for the children's program at the ZFF, explains what makes this work so valuable and special for her.

The successful Swiss director Michael Steiner was a guest at the 19th ZFF. He not only presented his latest film EARLY BIRDS, but also spoke with ZFF Artistic Director Christian Jungen about his career during a ZFF Masters. In 2006, Steiner received the Swiss Film Award for the film adaptation of the classic children's book MEIN NAME IST EUGEN, and his films SENNENTUNTSCHI, WOLKENBRUCH and UND MORGEN SEID IHR TOT have also enjoyed numerous theatrical releases. Thanks to his innovative style and courageous work, he is already one of the best Swiss directors of all time and fans can look forward to many more directorial works from Steiner's pen.

With the opening of the Frame cinema in Zurich's Europaallee, the Zurich Film Festival now has a year-round home. Frame is operated by the ZFF's marketing company, Spoundation Motion Picture AG (SMP). Jennifer Somm is Managing Director of SMP and explains in this podcast how the ZFF came to open its own cinema. She also reveals what's behind the name of the cinema and what future audiences can look forward to.

This year's ZFF program includes 148 films with a record number of 52 world and European premieres. Every single one of these film gems is close to the hearts of our program team, but there are a few highlights that Artistic Director Christian Jungen is particularly looking forward to. Together with ZFF editor Vivien Sasso, he talks about the program of the 19th ZFF in this podcast episode and reveals one or two insider tips. Immerse yourself in the anticipation of the festival together with the two of them.

The multitalented British actor and Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne shines on the world's cinema screens and theater stages. At the 18th ZFF, the Golden Eye Award winner presents his latest film THE GOOD NURSE and talks about his career.

She's one of the most versatile actresses in European cinema: The two-time César winner Charlotte Gainsbourg presented her movie THE ALMOND AND THE SEAHORSE at the ZFF in 2022. The ZFF Golden Eye Award-winner offers insights into her varied career.  

The 18th Zurich Film Festival is just around the corner! The programme has been announced and preparations are in full swing. The management duo Christian Jungen and Elke Mayer reveal this year's highlights and new additions.    

The 17th Zurich Film Festival 2021 is just around the corner! The programme is online and the Green Carpet (almost) rolled out. Find out what the management duo Christian Jungen and Elke Mayer are up to one week before the festival kicks off and what they're most looking forward in this new ZFF Podcast.  

This episode presents ‘A Conversation with...’ Kristen Stewart – one of the most exceptional and talented young actresses in the USA. She plays the nouvelle vague icon Jean Seberg in her most recent movie SEBERG, which she presented at the ZFF in 2019. Discover more about her acting career in this podcast... 

The screenwriter, director and producer Oliver Stone is one of America's most successful contemporary filmmakers. The three-time Oscar winner is renowned for his controversial and critical films about his country's most recent history. His list of more than 20 films includes masterpieces like... 

Julie Delpy can look back on an extremely varied career. Not only has she been performing in front the camera since being discovered by Jean-Luc Godard at the age of 14, she is also known for her work behind the camera, including as the director of 2 DAYS IN PARIS. She visited the Zurich Film Festival with her latest film MY ZOE...     

The Spanish actor Javier Bardem is one of the most in-demand character actors in the film industry. He worked on the documentary SANCTUARY as a producer, a film that he presented at the ZFF in 2019. He chats in this podcast about his motivation for the climate movement and the biggest challenges...     

The actor Johnny Depp is one of the world's most successful character actors and has appeared on screen for over 30 years in some of the most multifaceted and defining lead roles...  

Wim Wenders has been one of the most important representatives of European cinema since his beginnings as a pioneer of the New German Cinema of the 1970s...  

Artistic Director Karl Spoerri and his successor Christian Jungen discuss the programme of the 15th Zurich Film Festival, its star guests and how it all began.

Whether as hero or villain, Donald Sutherland has left behind a legacy in Hollywood of incisive acting across some 200 films. The iconic actor received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ZFF in 2018. 

The American Character actress Glenn Close has been a leading light on cinema screens, TV and stage for more than 40 years. Also known for her ability to sing, the 70-something counts... 

Whether in mainstream or indie flicks, Woody Harrelson wins over both audiences and critics alike with his charismatic acting...

Daniel Radcliffe has been enjoying his artistic freedom since the end of the HARRY POTTER franchise: And he's proved the versatility of his talent with successful performances on Broadway and ambitious film and series projects... 

"I'll be back" – it's these three words from the cult movie THE TERMINATOR (1984) that catapulted Arnold Schwarzenegger to movie icon status...

Todd Haynes is one of contemporary independent cinema's most interesting personalities. Born in Los Angelesin 1961, the screenwriter and director is celebrated as the vanguard of New Queer Cinema...   

Susanne Bier is one of the most successful European filmmakers of our time. The Danish screenwriter and director's list of internationally successful credits includes...

The score composer Hans Zimmer has created new cinematic worlds with his unique blend of traditional instruments and synthesised sounds. The German's breakthrough moment came in 1988 with the soundtrack for RAIN MAN. Since then, he has composed music for...  

The Austrian director and screenwriter Michael Haneke knows how to make the madness lurking in the mundane visible...

He earned worldwide recognition with ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1976) starring Jack Nicholson, and AMADEUS (1984) about the musical wunderkind Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart…

With his first movie ROCKY (1976), Sylvester Stallone was only the third artist in film history – after Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles – to be nominated for an Oscar in both the Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor categories...