11. September 2024

Jude Law Opens the ZFF and Receives Golden Eye

At the opening ceremony on October 3, the Zurich Film Festival (October 3 – 13) will screen the gripping political thriller THE ORDER by Justin Kurzel. In the film, Jude Law plays an FBI agent who dismantles a far-right terrorist cell. The Hollywood star and the director Justin Kurzel will both present the film in person and Jude Law will receive a Golden Eye Award for his remarkable performance and career.

Jude Law © Marco Grob

Becoming a legend: Jude Law has established himself as one of the most influential and versatile actors of his generation. With his charismatic presence, he lends unmatched depth and intensity to his roles. Law has worked with renowned directors like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Sam Mendes, Sally Potter, Wong Kar-Wai, Terry Gilliam, David Cronenberg, Brady Corbett, Antony Minghella, Paolo Sorrentino, Ron Howard and Wes Anderson, and he has delivered brilliant performances in classics such as THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999), COLD MOUNTAIN (2003), SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009), THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014), THE YOUNG POPE (2016), THE NEST (2020) and FIREBAND (2023). Over the course of his career, he has been honored with multiple awards, including a BAFTA, and he has been nominated for an Academy Award twice.

The Zurich Film Festival is thrilled to open the festival with this intense thriller by renowned director Justin Kurzel, who is known for his fearless handling of controversial topics. As the lead actor and producer, with his company Riff Raff, Jude Law carries the film with his captivating on-screen presence. THE ORDER is set in 1983 and sheds light on the activity of extreme right-wing circles in the US – a topic that is more relevant now than ever. The ZFF will award Law the Golden Eye on the opening night on October 3 - in the presence of Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and Zurich Mayor Corine Mauch.

‘An absolute dream guest’

‘Jude Law is an absolute dream guest’, says Christian Jungen, Artistic Director at the Zurich Film Festival. ‘He is not only the leading actor in the thriller THE ORDER, which he carries from A to Z with his charisma, but also the producer. Although the film is set in 1983, it revolves around the machinations of right-wing extremist circles in the USA and is therefore highly topical. On the Opening Night, we will be awarding Jude Law a Golden Eye for his career and the great performance in this film - the perfect prelude to a glamorous and significant anniversary edition.”

Jude Law expresses his excitement about the opportunity to present THE ORDER at the ZFF: 'Thank you to the Zurich Film Festival for inviting our film THE ORDER to open the festival, it is a privilege to join Justin in presenting this story to audiences, the relevance of which speaks for itself. I am incredibly proud of the film and the entire team; to receive the festival's Golden Eye Award is an honour.' Director Justin Kurzel is also looking forward to opening the ZFF with his latest production: 'I could not be more excited for THE ORDER to open such a prestigious festival. It is a great honor.'

Award ceremony and Gala-Premiere

Justin Kurzel and Jude Law will present the film THE ORDER as a Gala Premiere on Thursday, October 3, kicking off the ZFF. AGC Studios’ THE ORDER is undoubtedly another highlight in both their impressive careers.

The Opening Night, where the ZFF will screen THE ORDER, is sponsored by Moët & Chandon.