American Oscar Contenders and World Premieres by Acclaimed German Directors

From September 24 to October 4, the Zurich Film Festival’s Gala Premieres section presents the year's most anticipated films. These are often the films that count among the award favorites. In the spotlight are established figures from the world of film, both behind and in front of the camera. Oscar winners, celebrated directing talents, or artistic highlights with major festival resonance: these premieres celebrate cinema.

«The Gala Premieres section is dedicated to auteur cinema for a broader audience», says Christian Jungen, CEO of the ZFF. «We present films that will play an important role later in the award season, such as I PLAY ROCKY, which tells the story behind the making of the cult classic starring Sylvester Stallone, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1977. From a Swiss perspective, 111 – ECHOES FROM HALIFAX deserves special mention. From multiple perspectives, the film sheds light on a major event that shook our nation: the crash of a Swissair aircraft near Halifax. We are particularly delighted that two major figures of German auteur cinema, Andreas Dresen and Doris Dörrie, have entrusted us with the world premieres of their new films. Their films are grounded in everyday life and, with a little wink, reflect on the state of our society.»

The full program of the 22nd Zurich Film Festival will be published on the ZFF website on Wednesday, September 9, at noon. Ticket sales will begin on Monday, September 14, 2026. 

I PLAY ROCKY

European Premiere
Biography
USA, 2026
Director: Peter Farrelly
Cast: Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, Stephan James, AnnaSophia Robb, PJ Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass

New York, mid-70s. Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) is a struggling actor with no money, no prospects, and little chance of making it in Hollywood. Inspired by the legendary boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, Stallone writes the screenplay for ROCKY in just a few days – the story of an outsider seizing his one and only chance. Hollywood agrees to produce the film but only if Stallone gives up the lead role. Although he desperately needs the money, Stallone refuses and risks everything to play the role of a lifetime: Rocky Balboa.

WICKER

Comedy 
USA, 2025
Director: Eleanor Wilson, Alex Huston Fischer
Cast: Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Elizabeth Debicki, Marli Siu, Nabhaan Rizwan, Richard E.Grant, Peter Dinklage

On the outskirts of a small seaside village lives a single fisherwoman (Olivia Colman). The narrow-minded villagers mock her for her persistent fishy smell and unmarried status. One day, she’s had enough of her spiteful neighbors and commissions a wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård). A passionate romance blossoms between them, causing outrage and chaos in the village. With plenty of dark humor and sex appeal, WICKER explores envy, desire, and the pitfalls of social norms.

JOSEPHINE

Drama 
USA, 2026 
Director: Beth de Araújo 
Cast: Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Mason Lily Reeves 

When 8-year-old Josephine witnesses a violent crime, her world is turned upside down. She searches for a way to regain her sense of security. While her empathetic mother (Gemma Chan) wants to work through the experience together, her overwhelmed father (Channing Tatum) tries to prepare Josephine for the harsh realities of life, but increasingly fails. Director Beth de Araújo tells a deeply empathetic family drama about fear and the limits of parental care with the suspense of a thriller. Channing Tatum delivers one of his strongest performances in this major sensation at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

111 – ECHOES FROM HALIFAX

International Premiere
Drama 
Switzerland, Canada, 2026 
Director: Mauro Mueller 
Cast: Ursina Lardi, Kris Holden-Ried, Djebril Zonga, Fathia Youssouf, Natalie Brown 

On September 2, 1998, the lives of many people changed forever. Swissair Flight 111 crashed into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. This event has been etched deeply into the collective memory. Family members struggle to find answers about their loved ones, rescuers try to provide comfort, and residents of the Canadian coast are confronted with the tragedy's aftermath. As time passes and questions remain unanswered, the drama follows the lives of various individuals. A poignant film about how grief can bring people together, change relationships, and open up new perspectives.

COMPANY 

Mystery 
Canada, USA, UAE, 2026 
Director: Casey Affleck 
Cast: Nick Nolte, Ben Mendelsohn, Adelaide Clemens, Scoot McNairy, Emily Alyn Lind, Caylee Cowan  

One cold winter night, a mysterious woman shows up uninvited at a Christmas party. She tells the story of a reclusive hermit who saved an actress during a snowstorm in Colorado over 20 years ago. To pass the time, she recounts the story of a man taken in by a farming couple while gruesome murders spread fear throughout the border region. With intertwining stories across generations, COMPANY, directed by Casey Affleck, is a gripping Gothic mystery about human relationships, revenge, and forgiveness.

POSSIBLE LOVE 

Drama 
South Korea, 2026
Director: Lee Chang-dong 
Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, Cho Yeo-jeong 

Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) leads a quiet life with her son and unemployed husband. That is, until she meets a filmmaker who documents laid-off workers. The filmmaker and her husband lead a wealthy life that stands in stark contrast to Mi-ok’s modest daily life. When Mi-ok agrees to be filmed, the lives of the two couples become increasingly intertwined and hidden longings come to light. In his first film in eight years, acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong (BURNING) once again demonstrates his keen sense for nuanced social analysis and relationships in modern South Korea.

LOVE, AFTER ALL

World Premiere
Tragicomedy
Germany, 2026 
Director: Andreas Dresen 
Cast: Dagmar Manzel, Joachim Król 

Lore (Dagmar Manzel) and Harry (Joachim Król) have been married for nearly 40 years and rarely have a quiet moment together. Old stories, missed opportunities, and the uncertainties of retirement often lead to heated discussions. Lore fears that she will wither away beside Harry in the garden, while he longs for stability and peace. The only thing they agree on is that their daughter, Gloria, hasn’t had much luck in love. Now, she wants to get married for the third time – this time to a wealthy man almost Harry's age. A heartwarming, down-to-earth love story with authentic characters and plenty of humor.

IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT

Romance
Italy, France, Spain, 2026
Director: Nanni Moretti
Cast: Louis Garrel, Jasmine Trinca, Hippolyte Girardot, Angela Finocchiaro, Melina Åkerman Kvie, Elena Lietti, Andrea Lattanzi, Antonio De Matteo, Nanni Moretti

I’ll wait for you, for as long as you want me to. But will it ever happen?

BURGUNDY 

Documentary
France, 2026
Director: Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
Cast: Enzo Ferraroli, Céleste Kalis, Eric Goettelmann, Patrick Maniere, Guillaume Baroin, Bertrand Devillard

Burgundy is one of the world’s most famous wine regions. Through the eyes of novices in hospitality and viticulture, BURGUNDY offers a fascinating glimpse into its unique wine culture, where time-honored traditions live on in rituals centered on luxury and indulgence. Blending documentary and fictional elements, directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw pay homage to the remarkable and charming people whose zest for life shapes and preserves this unique region and its centuries-old culture.

HOW CAN I HELP?

World Premiere
Drama/Comedy
Germany, 2026
Director: Doris Dörrie
Cast: Angela Winkler, Laura Tonke, Josef Ellers, Via Jikeli, Eugene Boateng, Zoë Baier

Due to her advanced age, former actress Mrs. Winkler (Angela Winkler) is dependent on assistance. When her daughter, Emi (Laura Tonke), accepts a role at the theater, she can no longer care for Mrs. Winkler and hires a care robot. What begins as a skeptical encounter between human and machine develops into an unexpected friendship. Under the direction of Doris Dörrie, a sensitive drama unfolds about self-determination, loneliness, and whether artificial intelligence can make and keep a promise to a human.

THE HAMMER 

World Premiere
Documentary 
France, USA, 2026 
Director: Simon Wallon 
Cast: Simon de Pury, Jeff Koons, Marina Abramović, Chloe Wise, Lou Zhenggang

Simon de Pury is a familiar face in the art world. The former chairman of Sotheby’s has a larger-than-life personality and is known as the «Mick Jagger of auctions.» In his documentary, director Simon Wallon traces de Pury’s career, transporting the audience into the world of the top 1% and shedding light on the complex relationship between artists and the business world. We see de Pury's distinguished beginnings in Basel and how he helped set numerous auction records for artists such as Damien Hirst, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Paul Gauguin. An entertaining documentary about a dazzling and influential figure in the art world.