The 20th Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) celebrates a historic milestone: With 140,000 visitors, the festival has set a new record, reinforcing its reputation as the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking market. Each day, stars such as Jude Law, Pamela Anderson, Richard Gere, and Kate Winslet presented their films, bringing numerous fans to the green carpet and cinemas.
A Festival of Superlatives: The anniversary year of the Zurich Film Festival set new standards in many aspects. With 140,000 visitors, the ZFF surpassed all previous records. The blend of the premieres of Oscar-worthy films, esteemed guests, prestigious events such as the Zurich Summit, and a newly designed festival centre made the 20th edition an unforgettable experience for cinephiles and industry insiders alike. The presence of over 120 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), at the festival and Summit, further points to the festival’s growing significance in the international film scene.
A Star Every Day
This year, the ZFF shone with an extraordinary number of stars. Personalities such as Richard Gere, Kate Winslet, Pamela Anderson, Ralph Fiennes, Jennifer Grey, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Sebastian Stan, Emil Steinberger, Howard Shore, and many others graced the Green Carpet, spoke in our ZFF Masters about their films, and added a special shine to the festival. ‘We have produced an anniversary edition the city of Zurich can be proud of,’ explains Christian Jungen, Artistic Director of the ZFF. “The spirit was positive from the very first day, numerous films received long standing ovations and global stars such as Kate Winslet and Richard Gere took time for fans on the green carpet. The ZFF was the talk of the town, and we attracted far more visitors than we had hoped for. It was a dazzling anniversary edition that showed that the festival has an excellent international reputation and strong support from the local community.’
Like the 140,000 visitors, the big stars themselves were also thrilled to be at the ZFF. Jude Law, who received the Golden Eye award, commented on his honour: ‘It is a great honor to be recognized by a film festival like this – i love film, i’m very passionate about it. […] And Film Festivals are very special places, they are the home of real film fans. So to be recognized by one is a real honor..’
A Big Thank You to Zurich for the Anniversary
The 20th anniversary was also an occasion to thank our loyal Zurich audience and the city of Zurich. Without their continuous support and enthusiasm for cinema, the ZFF would not be what it is today – thank you 140,000 times! This appreciation was also reflected in the words of the international guests. Kate Winslet expressed her admiration for the city and its audience: ‘Arriving here with so many fans who are so polite! In London, they would completely lose it, scream, and go crazy. But here, they are very calm and respectful. It has been lovely to be here!’
The Hidden Star: The New Festival Centre
This year, not only the stars on the green carpet captivated audiences, but also the new festival centre – the radiant heart of the ZFF on Sechseläutenplatz. Roger Crotti, President of the ZFF, describes the brilliant success: ‘Our numerous partners and guests from the city and canton of Zurich or from abroad, whom I personally guided through the new center, were without exception impressed and happy. This impressive wooden structure fascinates with its luxurious seating and invites you to linger – whether over a cool drink indoors or a hot coffee outdoors. The new terraces offer a unique panoramic view of the Green Carpet, the prominent guests, the lake, and the magnificent opera house.’ Crotti proudly adds: “With this spectacular festival centre, we have reached a new dimension of professionalism and excellence. We have not only grown – we have come to stay and redefine the standards. I am delighted that we were able to celebrate our 20th birthday with our existing and new partners. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to them.’
OSCAR® Voters and ZFF Competition Winners
This year, more members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) attended the ZFF than in previous years, underlining the festival’s growing international significance. This was further emphasised by the Zurich Summit, which took place again this year at The Dolder Grand, featuring a high-profile line-up of international and national film producers, executives, creators in film, TV, and entertainment, as well as technology entrepreneurs and financiers.
The competition winners of the festival in the categories of feature film and documentary were ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL by Rungano Nyoni and BLACK BOX DIARIES by Shiori Itō. Here you can find the complete list of winners of the 20th ZFF.
With a new visitor record of 140,000, an impressive line-up of stars, and a brand-new festival centre, the Zurich Film Festival has celebrated its 20th anniversary in an unforgettable way, demonstrating its international reach – with global media coverage – and attracting the best of Hollywood. This sentiment was echoed by Alicia Vikander, who received a Golden Eye Award: ‘The Zurich Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and biggest festivals in Europe, and many talents have performed here over the years. So, the fact that I can now come back and accept this award makes me very proud.’