German director Roland Emmerich will be honored with this year’s A Tribute to… Award at the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) alongside a retrospective of his work, from his debut film THE NOAH’S ARK PRINCIPLE to the widely known INDEPENDENCE DAY, GODZILLA, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW and ANONYMOUS. The 15th edition of the festival will also feature Emmerich taking part in a special ZFF Masters session.
Roland Emmerich is an international director, producer and screenwriter whose films — including INDEPENDENCE DAY, STARGATE, GODZILLA, THE PATRIOT, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, 2012, WHITE HOUSE DOWN, AND INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE — have taken in more than $4 billion worldwide.
Co-Directors of the ZFF Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri comment: “Emmerich is a true Hollywood auteur who creates cultural milestones, breaks barriers as an artist and crafts socially conscious messages while entertaining audiences worldwide. He has shown incredible range over the course of his amazing career and we are deeply honored to welcome him to Zurich.”
Emmerich’s latest feature, MIDWAY, centers on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the U.S. fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy which marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Starring Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Nick Jonas, Etsushi Toyokawa, Tadanobu Asano, Luke Kleintank, Jun Kunimura, Darren Criss, Keean Johnson, Alexander Ludwig, with Mandy Moore, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson, the film is based on the real-life events of this heroic feat and tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds. The film is financed by Starlight and Ruyi Films. Lionsgate will release MIDWAY in the U.S. on November 8th and Bona Film Group will release the film China, with AGC International overseeing international distribution.
In his native Germany, Emmerich’s career began when his first film, a student project called THE NOAH’S ARK PRINCIPLE, played in competition at the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. He subsequently set up Centropolis Entertainment in 1985 and under this banner, he has produced and directed over 20 feature films. Today, he is largely recognized as one of Hollywood’s most successful directors, delivering impactful films which challenge both the eye and the mind. Outside the focus of producing and directing, Emmerich is a campaigner and contributor for various charities and projects including the Cambodian Children’s Fund, the Gay and Lesbian Education Network (GLSEN), Global Green, American Red Cross, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
The 15th edition of the Zurich Film Festival takes place from September 26 to October 6. 2019.