The 21st Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) once again turned the city into a global hub for cinema, glamour, and cultural exchange. With 135,000 visitors attending and 115 films screened – including 40 world and European premieres – the festival confirmed its position as one of Europe’s most dynamic and inspiring film events.
From Sechseläutenplatz to the Kongresshaus, the Tonhalle, and Zurich’s most elegant partner hotels, the city was immersed in cinematic energy for eleven unforgettable days. Stars such as Dakota Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell, and Amanda Seyfried graced the green carpet, presenting their latest films to enthusiastic audiences.
Hollywood Meets Zurich
This year’s festival shone brighter than ever with an impressive lineup of international talent — among them Alexander Skarsgård, Anthony Mackie, Claire Foy, Wagner Moura, Noah Baumbach, Matthias Schweighöfer, James McAvoy, andHildur Guðnadóttir. Their presence brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Limmat city, turning Zurich into a stage for both established names and emerging creatives.
Beyond the premieres, the festival was marked by joyful, spontaneous moments: Russell Crowe playing tennis at the Dolder, Wagner Moura dancing on the green carpet, and jury members celebrating the festival’s success with a swim in Lake Zurich.
Festival Director Christian Jungen summed it up perfectly:
“For 11 days, Zurich was immersed in film fever — cinemas were packed, and many world stars personally presented their new works, feeling very much at home with us. The ZFF has reached a level of international prominence never seen before.”
Awards & Highlights
At this year’s Award Night at the Zurich Opera House, a film was screened for the first time alongside the ceremony. James McAvoy presented his directorial debut California Schemin’ as the closing film, adding a new creative dimension to the evening.
Swiss filmmaker Moris Freiburghaus celebrated a double triumph, winning both the Golden Eye for Best Documentary and the Audience Award for I Love You, I Leave You. The Golden Eye for Best Feature Film went to Tereza Nvotová for Father.
As the curtains closed on this 21st edition, one thing was clear: Zurich has firmly established itself as a capital of cinematic glamour and artistic excellence — where international stars, local talents, and film lovers come together to celebrate the magic of storytelling.
