Let’s get it started: The Opening Night of the 20th Zurich Film Festival with Jude Law

The Opening Night of the 20th Zurich Film Festival took place on Thursday evening at the Kongresshaus Zurich. Official partner of the ZFF Opening Night is Moët & Chandon. After walking the green carpet, the guests were welcomed in the hall with a speech by ZFF Artistic Director Christian Jungen, who gave a brief overview of the festival’s history. He shared how, in the early days, hardly anyone believed in the festival - not even himself, who, as a journalist for “Blick” at the time, had heavily criticised the founding duo for their ambitious plans.

However, by the time Sylvester Stallone visited the ZFF, Jungen had changed his opinion about the festival, just like many others involved. Today, the ZFF embodies a headline from that turning point: "At this rate, Hollywood will soon be on the banks of the Limmat." And if the presence of Hollywood star Jude Law at this event doesn’t prove that headline right, what does?! Jungen concluded his speech with a motto he often shares with his team: "Believe me, this is just the beginning. The best is yet to come!"

A Heart for Women

Speaking of “the best is yet to come”: After Christian Jungen, Zurich’s Mayor Corine Mauch took the stage and charmingly mentioned that she isn’t particularly drawn to Jude Law and would have been more excited by a visit from Tilda Swinton - all wrapped up in a small script she wrote about her own speech. Nonetheless, she was thrilled to be at the ZFF, as film and culture are close to her heart. And it was no secret, even in her opening speech of the 20th ZFF, that she considers the ZFF to have become one of Zurich's cultural landmarks in recent years.

Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, who followed Corine Mauch onto the stage, also made room for women in her speech, highlighting the ZFF’s role in promoting women and discussing the responsibility of festivals like the ZFF in fostering debates and empathy.

Golden Eye Award for Jude Law

After the opening speeches from Jungen, Mauch, and Baume-Schneider, it was finally time for the evening’s star guest: Jude Law. The British actor and two-time Academy Award nominee was presented with the Golden Eye Award by Christian Jungen and the ZFF for the incredible strength of character he brings to his roles, a key to his long and successful career.

"Your versatility and passion have led to the biggest directors queuing up to work with you: Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Sam Mendes, Sally Potter, Wong Kar-Wai, Terry Gilliam, David Cronenberg, Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, and Wes Anderson,” said Christian Jungen in his tribute to Jude Law. He continued: “I cry all the time, you declare openly in THE HOLIDAY, a good book, a great film. I weep. I’m a major weeper! And that’s exactly how you make us feel when we watch you and Cameron Diaz fall in love in this heartwarming romantic comedy. Moments like these are what cinema thrives on. Each of us has at least three films with you that come to mind time and time again. For me, they are THE HOLIDAY, THE NEST and THE TALENTED MISTER RIPLEY. Your greatest talent is clear: consistently surprising us as an actor, drawing us in with your intense gaze, and inspiring us. We are grateful for all the wonderful experiences you’ve given us with your films. It is a huge honour for us to present you with the Golden Eye Award for your remarkable career and phenomenal acting.”

Jude Law accepted the award with visible gratitude and expressed in his acceptance speech how much he loves filmmaking and how pleased he is to receive this recognition from the ZFF - something he had already mentioned in his interview on the Green Carpet.

After the award presentation, the audience was treated to a screening of Jude Law’s latest film, THE ORDER - a thriller set in Idaho in 1983, but with its exploration of the threat of right-wing extremism, it deals with a topic that feels more relevant than ever. The film will be shown multiple times at the ZFF in the coming days. In addition, Jude Law will participate in a ZFF Masters session before leaving Zurich, and taking the Golden Eye Award home with him.