Zurich, September 9, 2026 — The 22nd Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) will bring a major lineup of international film talent to Switzerland from September 24 to October 4, 2026. Held under this year’s motto, “Dream Big,” the festival will screen 133 films over 11 days, including a record 46 world and European premieres and 21 Swiss productions.
The festival is also expected to welcome around 500 filmmakers, who will attend in person to present their latest work. Among the announced guests are Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Olivia Colman, Jesse Eisenberg, John Turturro, Juliette Binoche, Leïla Bekhti, Wim Wenders, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Alexander Skarsgård, Richard Linklater, Joe Locke, Martin McDonagh, Danny Boyle and Kane Parsons.
“With the ZFF, we celebrate cinema, which is once again enjoying great popularity at the moment, especially among younger generations,” said Christian Jungen, CEO of the Zurich Film Festival. “With our program, we want to inspire people to once again experience films together on the big screen more often.”
Jungen described 2026 as a “‘Gran Riserva’ vintage” for cinema, highlighting films including TENZING, I PLAY ROCKY and THE DEBUT for their positive role models and connection to the festival’s “Dream Big” theme.
“The seventh art is in dazzling shape – 2026 is a ‘Gran Riserva’ vintage, distinguished in particular by films such as TENZING, I PLAY ROCKY, and THE DEBUT, which inspire us to dream through positive role models – true to this year’s motto ‘Dream Big’,” Jungen said. “The fact that Hollywood stars and great auteur filmmakers are once again coming to Zurich every day shows just how significant ZFF is for the international film industry.”
Zurich Film Festival Announces Record Number of Premieres
The 2026 program features 133 films, with 46 world and European premieres making it the festival’s largest premiere selection to date. The lineup also includes 21 Swiss films, another record for the event.
The festival’s two main competitions are the Feature Film Competition and Documentary Film Competition. Each section will feature 14 films from filmmakers presenting their first, second or third works, with the winners competing for a Golden Eye award carrying a CHF 25,000 prize.
Festival Director Reta Guetg highlighted several titles from this year’s competition lineup.
“In the Feature Film Competition, the British mystery thriller BLACK CHURCH BAY stands out with rising star Tom Cullen, as does THE GUEST: the Danes are world champions in this genre, and it’s unsettling how a family celebration turns, piece by piece, into an emotional minefield here, carried by an outstanding Trine Dyrholm,” Guetg said.
She also pointed to the Iranian comedy HEAD TO HEAD, which moves from overt activism into an examination of resistance and courage.
Among the documentaries, Guetg highlighted THE MATCH, which explores football beyond the sport itself, and THE SIEGE OF PARADISE, which examines overtourism in Italy’s Cinque Terre.
The festival will also feature around 40% more Swiss films than in previous editions, with filmmakers from French-speaking Switzerland particularly prominent. Among them are the thriller SEVDA, set within Istanbul’s real estate industry, and the debut documentary VIEILLE PEAU, which focuses on the director’s great-aunt.
Gala Premieres and Films Exploring Contemporary Issues
Beyond the two main competitions, the Zurich Film Festival’s program includes several sections covering international cinema and contemporary themes.
The Gala Premieres section will showcase some of the year’s anticipated films, while Now/Future, #artificialintelligence and Sounds explore current social and cultural subjects.
The Signatures section will focus on filmmakers with distinctive visual and narrative styles.
Among the highlights is Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, who will have two films at this year’s festival, including MUSK. The documentary is part of the #artificialintelligence section and examines how Elon Musk’s ideas are influencing everyday life.
Another film in the section, TECHPLOMACY, follows Denmark’s first tech ambassador as he advocates for a democratic society in Silicon Valley.
The new Now/Future section focuses on ecological, social and economic sustainability. It includes DEREK VS. DEREK, which follows two neighbouring farmers with opposing approaches to food production and nature.
Swiss cinema is also represented in the section through the thriller ENJOY YOUR STAY, about a Filipina without papers who becomes caught between competing interests and her own moral boundaries at the luxury ski resort of Verbier.
Andy García to Headline Zurich Film Festival Award Night
Hollywood actor and filmmaker Andy García will be a special guest at the Zurich Film Festival’s Award Night on October 3.
García will present his new film DIAMOND at the Zurich Opera House and join the festival’s closing celebrations alongside the award winners.
The film marks García’s most personal directorial project to date. A film-noir homage to his adopted hometown of Los Angeles, DIAMOND sees García directing, writing the screenplay and score, producing and starring in the film.
The ensemble cast includes Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, Brendan Fraser and Vicky Krieps, among others.
García received an Oscar nomination in 1991 for his performance in THE GODFATHER PART III. His other notable films include THE UNTOUCHABLES, BLACK RAIN, WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN and OCEAN’S ELEVEN.
Leïla Bekhti to Receive Golden Eye Award
French actress Leïla Bekhti will receive the Zurich Film Festival’s Golden Eye Award in recognition of her career and her performance in VIOLETTE, the new film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet based on the international bestseller by Valérie Perrin.
Bekhti will accept the award in person on October 1 and will also take part in a ZFF Masters session discussing her career.
Over nearly two decades, Bekhti has established herself as a prominent figure in contemporary French cinema, appearing in both arthouse productions and major commercial films. Her credits include A PROPHET by Jacques Audiard, ALL THAT GLITTERS, THE SOURCE, SINK OR SWIM, THE RESTLESS and ALL YOUR FACES.
In 2026, Bekhti also served as president of the Un Certain Regard jury at the Cannes Film Festival.
Other Zurich Film Festival Award Recipients
Several other major figures from international cinema will also be honoured during the 22nd Zurich Film Festival:
- Julianne Moore — Golden Icon Award
- Naomi Watts — Golden Eye Award
- John Turturro — Golden Eye Award
- Tom Hiddleston — Golden Eye Award
- Luna Wedler — Golden Eye Award
- Martin McDonagh — A Tribute To … Award
- Richard Linklater — Career Achievement Award
- Gabriel Yared — Career Achievement Award
Zurich Film Festival 2026 Program and Tickets
The complete Zurich Film Festival 2026 program will be available at 12:00 PM, while ticket sales will begin on September 14 at 10:00 AM through the festival’s online ticket shop.
Further information about the program, individual sections, ZFF Masters, awards, supporting events and the wider festival schedule will also be available through the Zurich Film Festival’s official website. The festival’s media hub will provide additional information for media professionals.
The 22nd Zurich Film Festival runs from September 24 to October 4, 2026, in Zurich, Switzerland.