Gala Premieres with Oscar potential at the ZFF
Nine additional titles from the «Gala Premieres» section have been confirmed. The list includes films such as AFTER THE HUNT by Luca Guadagnino, BUGONIA by Yorgos Lanthimos, THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN by Olivier Assayas, and TO NEW BEGINNINGS by Paprika Steen.
Films featuring Channing Tatum, Julia Roberts, Leo Woodwall, Sydney Swneeney and Jude Law: In the «Gala Premieres» section the Zurich Film Festival presents the highly anticipated productions of international auteur cinema from September 25 to October 5,2025. Among the nine new titles, we are announcing one world premiere, two international premieres, and three European premieres. «Being able to present so many world and European premieres shows that the ZFF has a strong position in the international film industry calendar», says Festival Director Christian Jungen. «ROOFMAN, TUNER, and CHRISTY are three major European premieres of American films whose leading actors—Channing Tatum, Leo Woodall, and Sydney Sweeney—give what are perhaps the best performances of their careers. We wouldn't be surprised if they were nominated for an Oscar.»
The full program of the 21st ZFF will be published on Thursday, September 11, at 12 PM on the website. Ticket sales start on Monday, September 15, 2025
European Premiere
Comedy
USA, 2025
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Cast: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, Juno Temple, Lakeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn
US military veteran Jeffrey (Channing Tatum) is barely making ends meet. When he robs several McDonald's restaurants, he ends up in prison – and promptly escapes. He finds refuge in a Toys-R-Us store, where he builds himself a hiding place. Months pass and the manhunt is almost forgotten until he falls in love with employee Leigh (Kirsten Dunst). But Leigh knows nothing about Jeffrey's background and his home at her workplace. Based on a true story, ROOFMAN is both a comedy and a love story, showing that justice sometimes lies beyond the pale of the law.
Drama / Thriller
USA, Italy, 2025
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloë Sevigny
Alma (Julia Roberts) is on the verge of becoming the youngest professor in Yale's history to receive a permanent position – till one night changes everything. When her student, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), accuses her closest colleague, Henrik (Andrew Garfield), of crossing a line, Alma must make a decision. As she tries to untangle the web of lies, a secret from her past is revealed. In After the Hunt, Oscar-nominated director Luca Guadagnino brings to audiences a timely thriller about consent and generational conflict.
International Premiere
Thriller
USA, Canada, 2025
Director: Daniel Rohner
Cast: Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Lior Raz
For piano tuner Niki White (Leo Woodall), his sensitive hearing is both a blessing and a curse. Together with his mentor, Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman), he travels around New York taking care of instruments that require his unique talent. This task compels the otherwise quiet Niki to interact with people, including Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), to whom he finds himself immediately attracted. Events take a dangerous turn, when some dubious characters realize that Niki's gift could also be used to open safes. This heist movie is full of thrills, jazz, and romance.
Comedy
USA, South Korea, Ireland, 2025
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias and Alicia Silverstone
Michelle (Emma Stone) is the successful CEO of a powerful pharmaceutical company. Her orderly life is turned upside down when conspiracy theorist Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and his accomplice kidnap her. They are convinced that Michelle is an alien who wants to destroy the Earth. Obsessed with thwarting her supposed plans, the kidnappers will stop at nothing. With his remake of the South Korean sci-fi comedy Save the Green Planet, Yorgos Lanthimos once again creates a distinctive and idiosyncratic work that is as riveting as always.
International Premiere
Drama
Italy, 2025
Director: Andrea Di Stefano
Cast: Pierfrancesco Favino, Tiziano Menichelli, Giovanni Ludeno, Dora Romano, Valentina Bellè
Italy, 1989: After years of intense training, 13-year-old Felice (Tiziano Menichelli) is about to compete in national tennis tournaments for the first time. What he initially thinks to be a few weeks of summer vacation leads him into the care of the unconventional ex-tennis pro Raul (Pierfrancesco Favino), hired as his coach by his ambitious father. Match by match, they undertake a journey along the Italian coast that allows Felice to discover freedom – and gives Raul hopes of a new beginning. Between rallies, missed victories, and small successes, an unexpectedly deep connection is forged.
European Premiere
Sport / Drama
USA, 2025
Director: David Michôd
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Katy O'Brian
Christy (Sydney Sweeney) is an exceptional athlete. Straight after college, she attracts attention when she becomes the first woman to be taken under the wing of boxing trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), launching her groundbreaking career in the ring. The two of them marry, but while Christy celebrates ever-greater sporting successes, their relationship slowly moves toward an abyss. Featuring a formidable Sydney Sweeney in the title role, the drama recounts the story of boxer Christy Martin – a woman who found her way despite all odds.
Thriller
France, 2025
Director: Olivier Assayas
Cast: Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Jeffrey Wright, Jude Law
Russia, early 1990s: The collapse of the Soviet Union has created a new world of opportunities, including for the brilliant filmmaker, Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano). He becomes the PR advisor to the ambitious KGB agent, Vladimir Putin (Jude Law). Skillfully blurring the lines between truth and lies, Vadim remains an enigmatic legend even after his departure from politics. Olivier Assayas brings Swiss author Giuliano da Empoli's novel to the screen with an engrossing look at the workings of Russian politics in the 1990s and a star-studded cast led by Jude Law, who portrays Putin with uncanny precision.
European Premiere
Drama
USA, Japan, 2025
Director: HIKARI
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Akira Emoto, Shannon Gorman
Philip (Brendan Fraser) lives a lonely life in Tokyo. His acting career has stalled, and he longs for stability and meaning – until he takes on an unusual job. A Japanese «rental family agency» hires Philip to temporarily assume a variety of roles in the lives of strangers, such as of best friend, brother, or spouse. As he navigates the line between reality and putting on an act, Philip realizes that the true role of his life is to be himself. A touching comedy about the search for identity and belonging.
World Premiere
Comedy-drama
Denmark, 2025
Director: Paprika Steen
Cast: Tuva Novotny, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Lars Brygmann, Anders W Berthelsen, Christian Tafdrup
A group of old friends meets up on New Year's Eve, as they do every year, to celebrate with traditions, memories, and shared rituals. But someone is missing: Martin, who died in a tragic accident years ago. This year, Nomi, Martin's former girlfriend, brings along her new boyfriend, Finn, for the first time. With little sense of which questions are appropriate and a penchant for bringing up sensitive topics, Finn shakes up the close-knit group. It becomes an unforgettable evening that could mean a new beginning for each of them. Here’s a film full of humor and big emotions.
