The Zurich Film Festival has unveiled its high-profile gala slate for its upcoming edition, running from September 24 to October 4. According to festival boss Christian Jungen, via Showbiz and EuropeSays, the lineup highlights targeted “auteur cinema for a broader audience” designed to anchor the Swiss event firmly on the international awards season calendar.
The Bottom Line
- Auteur Focus: Festival organizers curated a robust gala program mixing major international festival titles with high-profile European world premieres.
- Heavyweight Talent: The roster features star-driven projects directed by Peter Farrelly, Lee Chang-dong, and Beth de Araújo.
- Global Circuit: Key selections bridge stops across Toronto, Venice, Sundance, and Berlin ahead of the Zurich run.
Navigating the Awards Circuit in Zurich
As reported by Showbiz, the 22nd edition boasts a sprawling international program. Among the buzziest titles making waves is Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky, which stars Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone fighting tooth and nail to retain creative control over his screenplay. Backed by a cast including Matt Dillon and Stephan James, the biographical drama is slated for a world premiere in Toronto before heading to Swiss audiences for its European premiere, per EuropeSays.
Netflix entry Possible Love—the latest drama from South Korean director Lee Chang-dong, known for Burning—makes a direct jump to Zurich following its premiere in Venice. The film tracks two contrasting married couples navigating hidden desires and socioeconomic divides, starring an ensemble featuring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong.
High-Profile World Premieres and European Debuts
Zurich isn’t just importing festival favorites; it is serving as the launching pad for major European talent. According to Showbiz, German directors Andreas Dresen and Doris Dörrie will both debut fresh features on Swiss soil. Dresen brings the tragicomedy Love, After All, starring Dagmar Manzel and Joachim Król as a long-married couple grappling with the realities of retirement. Dörrie launches How Can I Help?, with Christian Jungen noting that both filmmakers craft stories grounded in everyday life that reflect contemporary society with a wry wink.
The festival is also staking a claim in prestige drama and documentary programming. Beth de Araújo’s drama Josephine—which previously screened at Sundance and Berlin—stars Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan as parents struggling to help their eight-year-old daughter regain a sense of safety after witnessing a violent crime. On the documentary and true-life front, Mauro Mueller’s Swiss-Canadian co-production 111 – Echoes from Halifax captures the aftermath of the 1998 Swissair Flight 111 crash, serving as the opening film for the Atlantic Film Festival before heading to Zurich.
| Film Title | Director | Key Cast / Details | Festival Debut Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Play Rocky | Peter Farrelly | Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, Stephan James | European Premiere (World Premiere in Toronto) |
| Possible Love | Lee Chang-dong | Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung | Venice / Zurich Festival Run |
| Josephine | Beth de Araújo | Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Mason Lily Reeves | Sundance and Berlin / Zurich Gala |
| Love, After All | Andreas Dresen | Dagmar Manzel, Joachim Król | World Premiere in Zurich |
| How Can I Help? | Doris Dörrie | Zeitsprung Pictures / Wild Bunch Germany | World Premiere in Zurich |
The Expanded International Slate
Rounding out the robust gala lineup are additional titles fresh from Venice, including Casey Affleck’s mystery Company, starring Nick Nolte and Ben Mendelsohn; Nanni Moretti’s It Will Happen Tonight, featuring Louis Garrel and Jasmine Trinca; and the documentary Burgundy from The Truffle Hunters filmmakers Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw, according to Showbiz. Simon Wallon’s documentary The Hammer, focusing on auctioneer Simon de Pury, also joins the world premiere roster.
With an eclectic mix of Hollywood biographical drama, high-end streaming acquisitions, and celebrated European auteur cinema, Zurich’s 22nd outing is positioning itself as a crucial testing ground for fall contenders. As the schedule locks in ahead of the September 24 kickoff, industry watchers will be tracking how these galas translate into broader awards season momentum.
