Golden Eye in Los Angeles: ZFF Honors SEPTEMBER 5 Director Tim Fehlbaum

For years, the Zurich Film Festival has been committed to nurturing emerging talents in the film industry. Tim Fehlbaum has established himself as an innovative filmmaker, impressing not only with technically outstanding productions, but also with his boldness in tackling challenging and socially relevant themes. At the 20th anniversary edition of the ZFF, Fehlbaum’s film SEPTEMBER 5 had its premiere in the German-speaking territory in the presence of the director and his excellent ensemble cast, including Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro and Leonie Benesch. The thriller revisits the hostage crisis at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich from the perspective of journalists, bringing media ethics into sharp focus.

As part of the Los Angeles screening, the ZFF partnered with Paramount Pictures to showcase the work of this young Swiss filmmaker to an exclusive group of members of the entertainment industry. During the event, Fehlbaum was honored as Emerging Filmmaker for his exceptional talent in the form of the festival’s Golden Eye Award. Christian Jungen, Artistic Director of the Zurich Film Festival, remarked: "We are proud to have been one of the first festivals to recognize the visionary power of SEPTEMBER 5. Tim Fehlbaum is an outstanding Swiss talent whose work redefines the boundaries of genre cinema. With the Emerging Filmmaker Award, we want to celebrate his remarkable creativity and courage in addressing complex and relevant themes. His film has the potential to make history and, in addition to its well-deserved Golden Globe® nomination, secure an Oscar® nomination for Best Picture. It brings us great joy to have contributed, in a small way, to the journey of SEPTEMBER 5 during the awards season through this Oscar screening."

SEPTEMBER 5, a German co-production by BerghausWöbke Film, Projected Picture Works, Constantin Film and ERF Edgar Reitz Filmproduktion, is distributed globally by Paramount Pictures, except for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which are handled by Constantin Film (D & A) and Praesens-Film AG (CH), respectively.

Said Paramount Pictures President & CEO Brian Robbins, “Tim is a standout talent, as evidenced through the outstanding reception that September 5 has received. We are thrilled to be in business with him, look forward to his continued success, and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”

Tim Fehlbaum: A Swiss Visionary in Genre Cinema

Born in Basel in 1982, Tim Fehlbaum is regarded as one of the leading directors in modern genre cinema. His debut film, HELL (2011), a post-apocalyptic drama, won the German Film Award for Best Sound Design as well as the Zurich Film Award. With TIDES (2021), a visually stunning science-fiction film, he cemented his international reputation, winning the Bavarian Film Award for Best Direction and Cinematography. Hollywood blockbuster director Roland Emmerich, who received the A Tribute to … Award at the Zurich Film Festival, served as Executive Producer on both films. His latest work, SEPTEMBER 5 (2024), revisits the hostage crisis at the 1972 Olympic Games, exploring the media’s role in a live crisis situation. Fehlbaum's films are distinguished by their technical precision, artistic depth, and the courage to engage with socially significant themes. The film was produced among others by two-time Academy Award® winner and Zurich Film Festival’s Golden Icon Award recipient Sean Penn.