Festivals
ZFF 2020 Gala Premieres
The 16th Zurich Film Festival is only a few weeks away. The founders of the festival are very happy that despite Covid-19 many filmmakers will come personally to the festival to present their films.
The festival just announced 12 of its Gala Premieres.
“Although the US border is still closed, we were able to secure important American films,” explains Artistic Director Christian Jungen. “Like NOMADLAND, one of the highly anticipated US titles of the year. We are also particularly looking forward to the British-American espionage thriller THE COURIER, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which we are allowed to show as a European premiere at the ZFF. The film ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI about the encounter of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, a prestige production of Amazon, will be shown as a premiere in the German-speaking world”.
THE COURIER
The Courier – credit photo ZFF
European premiere
Thriller
UK, USA, 2020
Director: Dominic Cooke
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan, Jessie Buckley
When a high-ranking Soviet officer offers top-secret information about his country’s nuclear plans, the British secret service is on the lookout for a suitable contact person. Instead of a trained agent, they need to recruit an unassuming civilian. Their choice is Greville Wynne, a married businessman who, thrown headlong into the middle of the Cold War’s political conflict, must now prove that he is anything but ordinary. Based on true events.
CONTRA
CONTRA – © Constantin Film
International premiere
Comedy
Germany, 2020
Director: Sönke Wortmann
Cast: Christoph Maria Herbst, Nilam Farooq, Hassan Akkouch,Ernst Stötzner, Meriam Abbas, Mohammed Issa
After a video of Professor Pohl racially abusing the student Naima makes the rounds, he is ordered by the university president to help her prepare for an important debating competition. Two people who could not be more different are thrown together to work as a team. Greatly entertaining cinema that tackles the topic of political correctness with great humour.
LACCI
LACCI – Credit ZFF
International premiere
Drama
Italy, 2020
Director: Daniele Luchetti
Cast: Alba Rohrwacher, Luigi Lo Cascio, Laura Morante, Silvio Orlando, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Adriano Giannini, Linda Caridi, Francesca De Sapio
Naples in the early 1980s. Aldo enters the kitchen, stands next to his wife, Vanda, and confesses to cheating on her. Completely surprised by the news, and feeling like the ground has disappeared from under her feet, Vanda doesn’t know how to react. What does this mean for her family? Based on Domenico Starnone’s novel “Ties” and carried by its strong cast, this emotional drama shows that you can never escape your family, even if love draws you into a new relationship.
NOMADLAND
NOMADLAND – credit photo ZFF
Premiere in German-speaking world
Roadmovie
USA, 2020
Director: Chloé Zhao
Cast: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie
Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.
SUPERNOVA
SUPERNOVA – credit photo ZFF
Premiere in German-speaking world
Drama
UK, 2020
Director: Harry Macqueen
Cast: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci
Sam and Tusker have been an inseparable pair for the last 20 years. When Tusker is diagnosed with early onset dementia, the two set off in their motor home on a final autumnal road trip through England to revisit friends, family and the places of their past. But during the trip, Sam and Tusker’s ideas about the future begin to clash, putting their love for each other to the test like never before. A heartrending and deeply romantic love story packed with sensitive humour.
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – credit photo ZFF
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI
Premiere in German-speaking world
Drama
USA, 2020
Director: Regina King
Cast: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Leslie Odom Jr., Aldis Hodge, Eli Goree, Jasmine Cephas Jones
Cassius Clay – later known as Muhammad Ali – is forbidden from celebrating his legendary win at the location of his triumph due to the legally embedded rule on racial segregation. Instead, he spends the night in an African-American neighbourhood celebrating with his closest friends: activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and football star Jim Brown. Spurred on by Cassius’ victory, the group is determined to usher in a new era of equality. Based on the eponymous play by Kemp Powers, the film tells the story of the fictional meeting of four pioneers of the civil rights movement.
Come back tomorrow for the 6 additional Gala Premieres.
