11th Zurich Film Festival – For eleven days all eyes are on Zurich

Festival directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri unveiled the 11th Zurich Film Festival programme today (Thursday). They are delighted that the event has continued to grow at a steady rate: “This year’s slightly higher budget of 7.1 M francs (previous year: 6.9 M) has enabled the level of sustainable expansion we desire”, said Nadja Schildknecht. „The festival now boasts more than 100 sponsors, a number that cannot be taken for granted in today’s economic climate.”

Amounting to approximately 90%, the ZFF has by far the highest proportion of private sector funding when compared to all other Swiss film festivals. Said Schildknecht: “Subventions from the public sector amount to just 660’000 francs (City of Zurich: 300’000, Canton of Zurich: 210’000, Federal Government: 150’000). Further sources of financing include sponsoring, foundation and donor subscriptions, as well as revenue from projects and ticket sales.”

A celebration for all

Karl Spoerri is pleased to present another high-quality, thematically topical programme. Said Spoerri: „The ZFF has further enhanced its international profile and presents a programme containing the most relevant autumn titles.” He continued: „As usual, the focus is on the three international competition sections and the Gala Premieres section, which this year again screens more world and European premieres. However, it is also important not to sidetrack the New World View, Border Lines and TVision sections, all of which have improved greatly in quality and offer numerous new discoveries.”

In several screenings, ten theatres will show 161 films (previous year: 145) from 33 countries, including 36 debut films and 14 world premieres. Swiss cinema is also well represented this year, with nine new productions set to screen at the festival. Not to forget the Swiss-wide unique star line-up.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Olympia, Terminator and 38th Governor of California, will receive the Golden Icon Award on September 30 for his unparalleled career. German-born Armin Mueller-Stahl, who also commutes between Europe and Hollywood, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. British director Mike Leigh is the recipient of this year’s A Tribute to… Award, and screen stars Kiefer Sutherland and Liam Hemsworth will both receive a Golden Eye Award.

Additionally, renowned international directing stars such as Alejandro Amenábar (REGRESSION), Todd Haynes (CAROL), Scott Cooper (BLACK MASS), Stephen Frears (THE PROGRAM), Anton Corbijn (LIFE), Jean-Jacques Annaud (WOLF TOTEM) and Florian Gallenberger (COLONIA), Maïwenn (MON ROI) and Alice Winocour (MARYLAND) and the Swiss directors Sabine Boss (VERDACHT), Sabine Gisiger (DÜRRENMATT – EINE LIEBES-GESCHICHTE) and Léa Pool (LA PASSION D’ AUGUSTINE), will present their most recent films in person at this year’s ZFF.

Acting stars will also flock to Zurich. Following the screening of INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, two-time Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz will discuss his collaboration with Quentin Tarantino and talk about his unique career. Joseph Fiennes will attend with the film STRANGERLAND, Ellen Page with FREEHELD and Maria Furtwängler with the world premiere of DAS WETTER IN GESCHLOSSENEN RÄUMEN. Mona Petri, Anatole Taubman and Xavier Koller are on the list of Swiss film celebrities attending the ZFF this year.

The opening of the festival with the European premiere screening of THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY will see director Matthew Brown, producer Edward R. Pressman, the actors Jeremy Irons, Dev Patel, Stephen Fry and Devika Bhise squeeze on the Green Carpet together with Zurich’s mayor Corine Mauch and Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister of Culture Alain Berset.

Directors from France

Further film sections also present topical and politically relevant films. The New World View section introduces the latest generation of Iranian filmmakers’ feature and documentary films. The Border Lines section, in association with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), highlights emergency situations in the world’s crisis regions through socially engaged films. And the new Window to the World section presents films from our partner festivals in San Sebastian and Hong Kong, and includes the La nouvelle vague au féminin line-up with films by young female directors from France. ZFF TVision screens a host of pilot series and ZFF for Kids provides big emotions for our smallest viewers.

Our comprehensive supporting programme includes the ZFF Masters at the Filmpodium, the ZFF Talks at the Festival Centre and the International Film Music competition, which is now one of the most popular events at the ZFF. In addition to the competition’s two concert blocks, there is also the opportunity for the public to attend the dress rehearsal. Finally, the ZFF 72 contest, which gives entrants 72 hours to create a clip lasting no longer than 72 seconds, enters its second round.

We wish you a very warm welcome to the 11th Zurich Film Festival!