Hollywood is back from pandemic

Hollywood star directors show the continues appeal of world movies and the year’s most highly expected blockbuster, NO TIME TO DIE, is premiered at the 17th Zurich Film Festival, that regains the power after the pandemic, shaking up the theatrical experience. Academy topliners such as auteur filmmakers Paolo Sorrentino and Paul Schrader are anticipated in Zurich as well as acting icon Sharon Stone.

They will set the stage for 164 films from over 53 countries, of which three dozen competition films are in the race for a Golden Eye Award. A regional focus on young Tunisian cinema and a thematic series on sexuality complete the diverse programme of the Zurich Film Festival.

The 17th Zurich Film Festival honors the US actress with its highest accolade. Sharon Stone will be in Zurich to accept the award in person.

The programme team went through 3,500 applications before settling on 164 works from 53 countries for the 17th Zurich Film Festival (ZFF).

25 world or international premieres and five European premieres: thirty-eight of the films are debut features.

As we enter the thick of fall festival season, Zurich brings with it a full slate of amazing new films from all over the world.

THE POWER OF THE DOG is the new film from the Academy Award® winning writer/ director Jane Campion (THE PIANO).

“We’re celebrating the comeback of Hollywood,” Artistic Director Christian Jungen says. “Last year, studios held back many productions because of the pandemic. We can now present several of these highly anticipated titles to audiences, including NO TIME TO DIE, the latest James Bond adventure starring Daniel Craig as 007, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who was already at ZFF with his first feature SIN NOMBRE.”

The Zurich Film Festival is able to screen the film to Swiss audiences shortly after the start of its world premiere in London. The perfect setting for this extraordinary premiere is provided by the newly refurbished Zurich Convention Center and its up to 1,300 seats, 16 m x 6.7 m screen and over 40 speakers, ZFF writes in the press release.

"The ZFF strengthens its position at the heart of the city with this venue and its panoramic location," says Elke Mayer, Managing Director of Spoundation Motion Picture AG.

One of Zurich's highlights is Paul Schrader’s thriller THE CARD COUNTER. The famous Hollywood writer, who penned the screenplays for Scorsese's masterpieces TAXI DRIVER and RAGING BULL, will receive an honourary award for his life's work.

Sharon Stone has also worked with Scorsese: her role in his gangster epic CASINO earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar Nomination. Stone will now receive the Golden Icon Award at ZFF.

Jungen is blessed with the large number of big American titles, which includes Ridley Scott’s THE LAST DUEL and Wes Anderson’s THE FRENCH DISPATCH.

“The fact that we were able to secure so many high-profile Gala Premieres is no coincidence: Hollywood producers have recognised that ZFF, the largest autumn festival in the German-speaking world, offers the perfect platform to position films for the Oscars. Five of the last ten Best Picture winners screened at ZFF.”