The 20th ZFF will take place from 3 to 13 October 2024.
This year’s film program for will be announced on 19 September. The ticket presale starts on 23 September. Films and events from previous years can be found in our archive.
Film sections
The ZFF program consists of around 100 films presented in eight different sections.
The Competition forms the core of the festival and presents the most exciting new voices in contemporary cinema. In the «Feature Film» category, fourteen films by first, second and third time filmmakers compete for the Golden Eye, the main award of the festival that also includes a cash prize of 25,000 Swiss francs. All films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award.
The Competition forms the core of the festival and presents the most exciting new voices in contemporary cinema. In the «Documentary» category, fourteen films by first, second and third time filmmakers compete for the Golden Eye, the main award of the festival that also includes a cash prize of 25,000 Swiss francs. All films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award.
The «Gala Premieres» section showcases the year's most highly anticipated films and brings together distinguished directors and actors.
In the «Signatures» section, ZFF showcases auteur films with a unique artistic signature, both narrative features and documentary films.
The «Hashtag» section focuses on a specific trending topic that influences conversations around the world. It is a selection of feature and documentary films that shine a light on the issue from different angles. #BigCityLife focuses on urban life and the fascinating microcosms in which people of all backgrounds and lifestyles come together. The section invites audiences to think about the future of cities as a field of tension between living space, culture, nature and concrete.
The «Border Lines» section presents feature films and documentaries dealing with human rights issues as well as current social conflicts.
The «Sounds» section celebrates the relationship between film and music in all its aspects. Since always film history has been closely linked to music, and that's exactly where “Sounds” wants to latch on. With an exquisite selection of feature and documentary films, for once the soundtrack takes center stage - whether the film shines its light on musicians, captivates with exceptional film music, or deals with the topic of sound in a very fundamental way. The program is complemented by two special screenings: One accompanied by live music and one with a live commentary by the film composer.
The «ZFF for Kids» section presents outstanding films for children and families. The films are shown in the original language and simultaneously translated into German.
