Art
A successful 9th Zurich Film Festival
The 9th Zurich Film Festival ended on Sunday night after 11 busy days. It was an immense success with a total of 71,000 visitors to the 345 screenings, a 22 % increase from the previous year. The festival had more guests, more films, more directors coming to the Premières and also more parties.
Zurich Opera House during the closing ceremony of the Zurich Film Festival – copyright ZFF
Christine Koehli and her hushand Pepe Lienhard – copyright Veronique Gray
Australian actress Bella Heathcote copyright Veronique Gray
Mateusz Banasiuk, new Polish talent credit photo Véronique Gray
For the first time an audience award in the kids’ section was added. David Scheinmann (GB) won it for his film BELIEVE and received a tiny cute award from a child.The French pianist and music composer, Laurent Courbier, won the second Film Music Competition, which took place in the Sihlcity Arena cinema at the beginning of the festival. ZFF had many amazing Master sessions at the Filmpodium hold by stars such as Harrison Ford, jury president Marc Forster, producers Harvey Weinstein and Tim Bevan and Austrian director Michael Haneke. The master class with Harrison Ford was sold-out in a matter of hours.
Zurich Film Festival Audi official cars and ZFF tent next to opera house copyright Veronique Gray
On the German National Day, former chancellors Helmut Koln and Gerard Schröder came to Zurich for the ceremony in honor of the famous Swiss producer, Arthur Cohn.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman who came to present his new film PRISONERS with director Denis Villeneuve, received the Golden Eye Icon award. That night more fans came to welcome the star on the green carpet than the ZFF had seen since the first festival in 2005.
CEO of Jelmoli Franco Savastano and his wife at Tommy Hilfiger Party copyright Veronique Gray
Nadja Schildknecht, CEO of Tommy Hilfiger Daniel Grieder and actress Veronica Ferrres – copyright Veronique Gray
On Saturday the festival hosted its glamorous closing night at the Zurich opera house. For one hour many ladies walked on the green carpet, wearing dresses and shoes, each more prettier and more interesting than the other. Swiss VIPs, guests of the ZFF and winning stars of this year’s festival all paused gladly for the photographers before sitting down for the 2 hour award ceremony. Nadja Schildknecht herself wore a beautiful long green dress.
Nadja Schildknecht, Karl Spoerri, Michael Haneke and his wife – copyright Véronique Gray
Melissa Leo at the ZFF closing ceremony copryright Véronique Gray
Director of Das Erste Meer, Clara Trischler with friend on the green carpet of ZFF for the closing ceremony – copyright Véronique Gray
After a rap introduction, the brilliant moderator Steven Gätjen called the jury members on stage for the four competition categories. Out of the many women presenting their films at the festival this year one of the biggest winners was the German director Frauke Finsterwalder. She won the German Language Feature and the critics choice awards for FINSTERWORLD.
Winner of International Feature Film Mexican director Diego Quemada Diez and winner of German Feature Film director Frauke Finsterwalder – copyright Veronique Gray
While Marc Rensing didn’t win with his drama DIE FRAU,DIE SICH TRAUT, the jury presided by German actress Veronica Ferres, acclaimed his excellent emotional movie.
Anna Thommen from Switzerland won a Golden Eye in the section Documentary in the German Language for her film NEULAND. Just a few weeks after winning the First Steps Award in Berlin, she won in Zurich. She held a moving speech, thanking her camera woman, the producers, the protagonists of her film and of course, Christian Zingg, the amazing teacher from the Basel integration school. Everyone seemed to already know the team before they even won the prize!
The Golden Eye for the International Documentary went to Danish director Kaspar Astrup Schröder for RENT A FAMILY, a movie which took him 3 years 1/2 to finish.
Marc Forster handed the Golden Eye to the best International Long Feature films to the Mexican director Diego Quemada Diez for his film LA JAULA DE ORO. He said that he and his team jurors chose that film because of its beautiful shots, acting and directing.
German directors Noel Dernesch and Moritz Springer received the audience award for JOURNEY TO JAH, a film which took them 7 years to complete!
Sabine Gisiger, Markus Imhoof and Tizza Covi – copyright Véronique Gray
Nadine Vinzens at the ZFF closing ceremony copyright Veronique Gray
The ZFF invited British singer Marlon Roudette for an acoustic song called “New Age”. The man with a pianist, and accompanying himself at the guitar, seemed to already have many fans in the audience.
Finally the Zurich Film Festival paid tribute to Austrian director and Oscar winner for AMOUR (2012), Michael Haneke. Haneke, who came to Zurich with his wife, looked quite touched and honoured by the award and speech from German actor, Burghart Klaussner.
Fiona Hefti wearing a white dress at the ZFF closing ceremony copyright Veronique Gray
With an after-party with delicious oysters from La Brasserie Lipp, sausages from Sternen Grill, Taittinger Champagne, Lindt chocolates served by Maitres Chocolatier and great D.J music, ended the closing ceremony at the Bernhard Theater.
the winners of the ZFF 2013 – copyright ZFF
Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri are now looking forward to the 10th Zurich Film Festival, which will go from Sept 25th to Oct. 5th,2014.
