'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' and 'Black Box Diaries' Win Golden Eye Awards at 20th Zurich Film Festival

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl and Black Box Diaries - 20th Zurich Film Festival winners — On Becoming a Guinea Fowl and Black Box Diaries

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, the second directorial work by Rungano Nyoni won the Golden Eye award in the Feature Film Competition at the 20th Zurich Film Festival. Black Box Diaries by Shiori Itō won he Golden Eye award in the Documentary Competition along with Audience Award.

The jury issued the following statement, “The golden eye goes to Rungano Nyoni for her miraculous film, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. On a deserted road, Shula stumbles upon the body of her dead uncle. As the preparations for the funeral begin, she and her cousin uncover the dark secrets of their middle-class family. A surreal, dramatic comedy full of surprises about the lies we tell ourselves. From the first shot of this film, we are thrust into a world that is spectacularly shot, filled with incredible music, exquisite sound design, and acting that left us all breathless. We believe she will take over Hollywood.”

Susan Charday, star of On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, accepted the Golden Eye on behalf of Rungano Nyoni.

Awarding Black Box Diaries, the jury commented, “But how do you choose a winner when there is another film, very bravely and personally addressing misogyny in a more activist way? That other film became our winner – by a sliver: Black Box Diaries by Shiori Itō. Journalist Shiori Itō was raped by a respected Japanese journalist with tight links to the ruling government. Over the course of several years, we see her fight the retrograde sexual assault laws of her country, the corruption of the police and the warnings from her own family- to find justice for herself – and for all abused women in Japan and around the world. We were in awe of Shiori Itō’s resilience, openness and courage to be vulnerable. Black Box Diaries with its careful editing unspools as a sensitive, yet thriller-like story. This film has the power to change the systematic violence against women around the world.'”

Also honored at the 20th Zurich Film Festival were Les Courageux by Jasmin Gordon awarded with the ZFF Critics Award chosen by the jury as best Swiss film in the program along with the Film Prize of the Churches of Zurich.

Winners of the 2024 Zurich Film Festival

Feature Film Competition – ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL by Rungano Nyoni

Special Mention: BRIEF HISTORY OF A FAMILY by Jianjie Lin

Documentary Competition – BLACK BOX DIARIES by Shiori Itō

Special Mention: SABBATH QUEEN by Sandi DuBowski

Extra Special Mention: MARCHING IN THE DARK by Kinshuk Surjan

ZFF Critics’ Award: LES COURAGEUX by Jasmin Gordon

Special Mention: A special mention goes to the docufiction E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea by Beatrice Minger and Christoph Schaub for its bold, complex, and original form, structure and use of scenery to tell the story of a bold, complex, and original personality.

ZFF for Kids Jury Award – LEEUWIN by Raymond Grimbergen

ZFF for Kids Audience Award – DIE HEINZELS – NEUE MÜTZEN, NEUE MISSION by Ute Von Münchow-Pohl

Audience Award – BLACK BOX DIARIES by Shiori Itō

Film Prize of the Churches of Zurich – LES COURAGEUX by Jasmin Gordon

Best international Film Music – Ahmed Soroko