Films starring Dwayne Johnson, Jodie Foster and Matthias Schweighöfer at the ZFF

Eine Collage aus vier Szenen: ein Mann und eine Frau, die nachts Auto fahren, ein Mann, der eine Frau vor einem Haus tröstet, eine Frau und ein Mann, die sich in einem Auto mit Fotos unterhalten, und ein Boxer, der in einem Ring trainiert wird.

Hollywood gems and three major world premieres from Germany: The ten titles announced today from the «Gala Premieres» section include THE SMASHING MACHINE, starring Dwayne Johnson, A PRIVATE LIFE, starring Jodie Foster, and THE LIFE OF WISHES, starring Matthias Schweighöfer.

In the «Gala Premieres» section, the Zurich Film Festival will once again present the eagerly awaited highlights of auteur cinema from September 25 to October 5, 2025. «Many films this year feature leading actors and actresses who are breaking new ground: Dwayne Johnson shows himself to be a delicate character actor in the role of a wrestler in the sports drama THE SMASHING MACHINE, while Jodie Foster returns to French auteur cinema for the first time in over 20 years in Rebecca Zlotowski's captivating relationship drama A PRIVATE LIFE, speaking French herself. In Nia DaCosta’s HEDDA, Tessa Thompson ignites the screen as Hedda Gabler, a brilliant, untamed force of nature whose fierce independence collides with the suffocating confines of her time. Matthias Schweighöfer shines in THE LIFE OF WISHES in the role of a middle-aged man, revealing the inner life of his protagonist as never before in his career,» explains Festival Director Christian Jungen. «We are particularly proud to be able to present three prestigious German productions as world premieres: THE LIFE OF WISHES, TIME WE LOST and MOMO.» As in previous years, the «Gala Premieres» section always includes films that will later be nominated for Oscars – yet another reason not to miss these films!

The complete program for the 21st ZFF will be published on the website on Thursday, September 11, at 12-midday (CEST). Ticket sales will start on Monday, September 15, 2025.

Ein Mann und eine Frau, die beide angespannt und besorgt aussehen, sitzen auf dem Vordersitz eines Fahrzeugs. Der Mann sitzt am Steuer und hält das Lenkrad fest umklammert, während draußen feurige Funken und Rauch die Szene erfüllen.

THE LOST BUS

European Premiere
Action / Drama
USA, 2025
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson

California, 2018: The deadliest wildfires in the state's history transfigure the small town of Paradise into a sea of flames. When a school class and their teacher Maria (America Ferrera) get trapped by the fires, the headstrong bus driver Kevin (Matthew McConaughey) becomes their only hope for survival. THE LOST BUS, directed with emotional intensity by Paul Greengrass of THE BOURNE SAGA fame, tells the story of a nerve-wracking race against time and dramatically captures the devastating speed and power of forest fires.

Ein muskulöser männlicher MMA-Kämpfer sitzt auf einem Hocker in der Ecke eines Boxrings und erhält zwischen den Runden Ratschläge und Unterstützung von seinen Trainern. Ein anderer Kämpfer steht im Vordergrund, eine Frau hockt an den Seilen.

THE SMASHING MACHINE

Sport
USA, 2025
Director: Benny Safdie
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Bas Rutten, Ryan Bader

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson steps into the role of legendary mixed martial arts superstar Mark Kerr and provides deep insights into the inner turmoil of a man who fights even when no one is watching. Kerr is at the peak of his career, but in his private life he is on the brink of disaster, teetering between fame and self-destruction. His wife Dawn (Emily Blunt) tries to support him despite the setbacks and excesses, but in doing so, reaches her own limits. The film takes an unsparing look behind the façade of a fighter, with Dwayne Johnson reinventing himself in this role.

Eine Frau in einem eleganten Kleid und Handschuhen steht in der Mitte einer überfüllten, formellen Versammlung und schaut mit nachdenklicher Miene nach vorne. Menschen in klassischer Kleidung beobachten sie in einem warm beleuchteten, reich verzierten Raum.

HEDDA

European Premiere
Drama
USA, 2025
Director: Nia DaCosta
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nicholas Pinnock

Hedda (Tessa Thompson) feels disconnected in her everyday life with her colorless husband. Torn between painful memories of her former lover, Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss), and the quiet suffocation of her present life, she is at a crossroads. Over the course of an intense night, long-suppressed desires erupt, drawing Hedda and those around her into a vortex of manipulation, passion, and betrayal. In her re-imagining of Ibsen's classic «Hedda Gabler», Nia DaCosta presents a modern interpretation of feminine anger and the ill-fated longing for self-determination.

Ein älterer Mann in einer blauen Strickjacke steht vor einem Haus und schaut nachdenklich, während eine Frau in einem roten Pullover ihren Kopf an seine Schulter lehnt, die Augen geschlossen, um Trost zu finden. Im Hintergrund sind Bäume und ein weißes Haus zu sehen.

TIME WE LOST

World Premiere
Drama
Germany, Austria, 2025
Director: Neele Leana Vollmar
Cast: Anke Engelke, Ulrich Tukur

School principal Hans (Ulrich Tukur) is about to retire, but neither he nor his wife, Rita (Anke Engelke), are happy about their newly gained free time. For the past 35 years, their marriage has followed a well-established routine, with Rita setting the pace. As far as Rita is concerned, there is no reason to change anything. In fact, she does not like change at all. However, a stroke of fate reopens old wounds and forces them to ask themselves: Are they still a couple, or two separate individuals? This moving drama, featuring Anke Engelke in an unusually serious but all the more convincing role, is about the power of new beginnings.

Eine Person mit kurzen, hellen Haaren und blauen Augen liegt auf dem Boden und blickt ruhig und mit einem leichten Lächeln in die Kamera, in einem weichen, natürlichen Licht.

THE LIFE OF WISHES

World Premiere
Drama
Germany, 2025
Director: Erik Schmitt
Cast: Matthias Schweighöfer, Luise Heyer, Verena Altenberger, Benno Fürmann, Henry Hübchen, Ruby O.Fee

Felix (Matthias Schweighöfer) is going through a rough patch. His wife Bianca wants to divorce him, his children are distancing themselves from him, he has lost his job, and his hair is thinning. But then he has a fateful encounter with a mysterious stranger who grants him three wishes. Hoping to rediscover the meaning of his life, Felix asks for all his wishes to come true. But what happens when all your wishes are granted – even the ones you didn't know you had? This is a gripping adaptation of a novel about the temptations of boundless desires.

Zwei Frauen sitzen sich in einem hellen Büro mit großen Fenstern gegenüber. Die eine Frau sitzt hinter einem mit Büchern und Papieren vollgestopften Schreibtisch, während die andere ihr gegenüber sitzt und aufmerksam zuhört.

A PRIVATE LIFE

Thriller
France, 2025
Director: Rebecca Zlotowski
Cast: Jodie Foster, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, Daniel Auteuil, Vincent Lacoste

Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster) is a psychiatrist who regularly sees patients in her apartment. One day, when she learns that her longtime patient Paula (Virginie Efira), has allegedly committed suicide, she begins to have doubts. Convinced that Paula was murdered, she decides to investigate on her own. In the crime comedy A PRIVATE LIFE, Oscar winner Jodie Foster returns to the big screen in a French language role for the first time in over 20 years.

Zwei Männer in blauen Uniformen sitzen in einer leuchtend roten kugelförmigen Kapsel, die durch ein rundes Fenster zu sehen ist. Das Innere wirkt mechanisch, mit sichtbaren Zifferblättern und Instrumenten um sie herum.

THE BALLOONISTS

European Premiere
Documentary
USA, UK, Austria, 2025
Director: John Dower
Cast: Brian Jones, Bertrand Piccard

In the winter of 1999, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard and British flight instructor Brian Jones embarked on a mission to conquer the last great challenge of 20th-century aviation: to fly a hot air balloon nonstop around the globe. Other teams around the world saw this as an opportunity to attempt the feat themselves, and the race for a place in history began. In THE BALLOONISTS director John Dower offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at this pioneering achievement in aeronautical adventure, in which the team had to overcome difficult weather conditions, technical hurdles, and mental and physical extremes.

Eine Frau mit schwarzem Kopftuch sitzt auf dem Fahrersitz eines Autos, blickt mit ernster Miene nach vorn, ist angeschnallt und hat die Hände am Lenkrad.

UNIDENTIFIED

European Premiere
Mystery / Thriller / Crime Drama
Saudi Arabia, 2025
Director: Haifaa Al Mansour
Cast: Mila Al Zahrani, Shafi Al Harthi, Aziz Gharbawi, Fatima Sharif, Adwa Al Asiri

The lifeless body of a young girl is found in the desert. Fearing that an investigation would bring shame upon her family, no one wants to solve the murder – until rookie police officer Noelle Al Saffan decides to take matters into her own hands. Her curiosity soon turns into an obsession. Even though her superiors want to quickly close the case, she is determined to uncover the truth. In her search for justice, Noelle delves not only into an unsolved crime but also into a society in transition. This is a gripping thriller about the courage of women to stand up against silence.

Ein Mädchen mit langem, lockigem, rotem Haar und Sommersprossen lächelt, während es eine große Schildkröte vor sich hält, mit einer verschnörkelten goldenen Tür im Hintergrund.

MOMO

World Premiere
Family Entertainment
Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, 2025
Director: Christian Ditter
Cast: Alexa Goodall, Martin Freeman, Araloyin Oshunremi, Kim Bodnia, Claes Bang, Laura Haddock, Jennifer Amaka Pettersson, David Schütter

Momo (Alexa Goodall), an orphan girl living in the ruins of an old Roman amphitheater, has a sympathetic ear for everyone in the neighborhood. However, when a powerful international corporation begins stealing people's time, everyone suddenly turns away from her, including her best friend, Gino (Araloyin Oshunremi). Then, a mysterious turtle appears and leads Momo to Master Hora (Martin Freeman), the guardian of time. Together, they can take on the time thieves. This modern interpretation of Michael Ende's bestseller about a world under constant time pressure is more relevant now than ever.

Ein Mann in Anzug und Hut sitzt in einem Auto und zeigt einer Frau in einem roten Mantel ein Schwarz-Weiß-Foto eines Verdächtigen. Auf dem Autofenster im Hintergrund ist Regen zu sehen.

I'M NOT STILLER

International Premiere
Literary Adaptation
Switzerland, Germany 2025
Director: Stefan Haupt
Cast: Albrecht Schuch, Paula Beer, Max Simonischek, Marie Leuenberger, Stefan Kurt, Sven Schelker, Marius Ahrendt, Martin Vischer

James Larkin White (Albrecht Schuch) is arrested upon entering Switzerland. He is suspected of being Anatol Stiller, a missing Swiss sculptor accused of being involved in a dubious political affair. But how can White prove his identity when not even the prosecutor (Max Simonischek), his own court-appointed lawyer, or Stiller's wife (Paula Beer) seem to recognize him? Director Stefan Haupt returns to the Zurich Film Festival with this gripping drama about identity and self-perception based on a novel by Zurich author Max Frisch.