DANIEL HOPE – DER KLANG DES LEBENS[/caption]
The Zurich Film Festival will spotlight homegrown Swiss films, three documentary films and two feature films in its Special Screenings’ section. The Special Screenings’ section also includes a line-up of eight short films put together by the Swiss Cancer League (Krebsliga).
The 39-year-old, Hamburg-born filmmaker Nahuel Lopez accompanies the British violinist Daniel Hope, who was appointed Music Director of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra last year, on a cinematic journey through his musical career. DANIEL HOPE – DER KLANG DES LEBENS is the portrait of an extraordinarily talented violinist whose career is as closely linked to Yehudi Menuhin as Yehudi is to Switzerland.
She was a muse, model and performer, a dazzling star that shone bright and intensely: Lady Shiva went from street prostitute to muse of such artists as Ursula Rodel, Lou Reed and David Bowie. She lived life in the fast lane and died tragically young. Zurich-born filmmaker Gabriel Baur’s documentary GLOW goes in search of an irrepressible woman with, ultimately, a self-destructive desire for freedom.
Mikhail Gorbachev, former General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Soviet Union, is the father of the political reform movements Glasnost and Perestroika. His brave politics earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. US filmmaker Leila Conners’ Swiss co-production THE ARROW OF TIME is the portrait of a Russian politician, who still continues in his tireless quest for global peace.
Born in Zurich in 1936, Rolf Lyssy is regarded as the ‘old master’ of Swiss filmmaking. His film DIE SCHWEIZERMACHER, which he made in 1978, remains at the top of Switzerland’s list of greatest box-office successes in the last 50 years. His most recent comedy DIE LETZTE POINTE highlights the less light-hearted subject of assisted suicide. Monica Gubser excels in her role as a life-weary pensioner.
37-year-old, Berne-born Juri Steinhart’s LASST DIE ALTEN STERBEN also falls into the tragicomedy category. His most recent film is the portrait of a present-day generation’s malaise brought on by living in a cotton-candy world – what is there to rebel against when everything is accepted and permitted? Lead actor Max Hubacher plays the wannabe young revolutionary.
The Swiss Cancer League (Krebsliga) presents eight short films about cancer. Filmmakers from around the word highlight in five short fiction films, two animation films and a short documentary film what it means to live with cancer. The project was initiated and supported by the Swiss Cancer League. Each director has tackled a different aspect of the illness.
Topics raised include dealing with extreme experiences, saying goodbye and the fears a cancer diagnosis can trigger, for example the fear of no longer being able to cope with everyday life or the fear of losing ones own parents. The films also demonstrate how cancer affects a person’s whole social setting.
The aim of the Swiss Cancer League’s film programme is to encourage greater understanding and increase public awareness of the plight faced by cancer sufferers and their loved ones. The Swiss Cancer League informs, accompanies and supports people during and after the diagnosis of cancer, and is committed to making sure their concerns are heard both socially and politically.
Flavio undergoes a mammography out of solidarity for his wife – with surprising results for both. A Turkish girl loses her grip when her mother is sent home from hospital, (apparently) showing no sign of having healed. Regina’s reoccurring dream sees her battle a mysterious beast – she finally manages to escape its clutches. A young woman refuses to accept that her partner is ill and finds comfort in daydreaming. SIE offers an unembellished peek at the experiences of two men whose partners both suffer from cancer. Béa sees the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly as the symbol of her imminent death. An unusual friendship develops when a stubborn old man and a nervous young girl are forced to share a hospital room. And a mother, who lies dying, gradually says goodbye to her loved one.Zurich Film Festival
The Zurich Film Festival provides a platform for the most promising filmmakers from around the globe. It aims to promote exchange between emerging directors, successful film workers, the film industry and the general public. Every autumn, the ZFF presents the year’s greatest discoveries and most anticipated films.
Zurich Film Festival started in 2005 and takes place in Zurich, Switzerland
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Zurich Film Festival Spotlights Home Grown Swiss Films in Special Screenings’ Lineup
[caption id="attachment_24540" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] DANIEL HOPE – DER KLANG DES LEBENS[/caption]
The Zurich Film Festival will spotlight homegrown Swiss films, three documentary films and two feature films in its Special Screenings’ section. The Special Screenings’ section also includes a line-up of eight short films put together by the Swiss Cancer League (Krebsliga).
The 39-year-old, Hamburg-born filmmaker Nahuel Lopez accompanies the British violinist Daniel Hope, who was appointed Music Director of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra last year, on a cinematic journey through his musical career. DANIEL HOPE – DER KLANG DES LEBENS is the portrait of an extraordinarily talented violinist whose career is as closely linked to Yehudi Menuhin as Yehudi is to Switzerland.
She was a muse, model and performer, a dazzling star that shone bright and intensely: Lady Shiva went from street prostitute to muse of such artists as Ursula Rodel, Lou Reed and David Bowie. She lived life in the fast lane and died tragically young. Zurich-born filmmaker Gabriel Baur’s documentary GLOW goes in search of an irrepressible woman with, ultimately, a self-destructive desire for freedom.
Mikhail Gorbachev, former General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Soviet Union, is the father of the political reform movements Glasnost and Perestroika. His brave politics earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. US filmmaker Leila Conners’ Swiss co-production THE ARROW OF TIME is the portrait of a Russian politician, who still continues in his tireless quest for global peace.
Born in Zurich in 1936, Rolf Lyssy is regarded as the ‘old master’ of Swiss filmmaking. His film DIE SCHWEIZERMACHER, which he made in 1978, remains at the top of Switzerland’s list of greatest box-office successes in the last 50 years. His most recent comedy DIE LETZTE POINTE highlights the less light-hearted subject of assisted suicide. Monica Gubser excels in her role as a life-weary pensioner.
37-year-old, Berne-born Juri Steinhart’s LASST DIE ALTEN STERBEN also falls into the tragicomedy category. His most recent film is the portrait of a present-day generation’s malaise brought on by living in a cotton-candy world – what is there to rebel against when everything is accepted and permitted? Lead actor Max Hubacher plays the wannabe young revolutionary.
The Swiss Cancer League (Krebsliga) presents eight short films about cancer. Filmmakers from around the word highlight in five short fiction films, two animation films and a short documentary film what it means to live with cancer. The project was initiated and supported by the Swiss Cancer League. Each director has tackled a different aspect of the illness.
Topics raised include dealing with extreme experiences, saying goodbye and the fears a cancer diagnosis can trigger, for example the fear of no longer being able to cope with everyday life or the fear of losing ones own parents. The films also demonstrate how cancer affects a person’s whole social setting.
The aim of the Swiss Cancer League’s film programme is to encourage greater understanding and increase public awareness of the plight faced by cancer sufferers and their loved ones. The Swiss Cancer League informs, accompanies and supports people during and after the diagnosis of cancer, and is committed to making sure their concerns are heard both socially and politically.
Flavio undergoes a mammography out of solidarity for his wife – with surprising results for both. A Turkish girl loses her grip when her mother is sent home from hospital, (apparently) showing no sign of having healed. Regina’s reoccurring dream sees her battle a mysterious beast – she finally manages to escape its clutches. A young woman refuses to accept that her partner is ill and finds comfort in daydreaming. SIE offers an unembellished peek at the experiences of two men whose partners both suffer from cancer. Béa sees the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly as the symbol of her imminent death. An unusual friendship develops when a stubborn old man and a nervous young girl are forced to share a hospital room. And a mother, who lies dying, gradually says goodbye to her loved one.
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Aaron Sorkin to Receive Career Achievement Award + Premiere MOLLY’S GAME at Zurich Film Festival
Aaron Sorkin will receive the Festival’s Career Achievement Award at this year’s Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), which takes place from September 28 to October 8, 2017.
The Academy-Award® winning screenwriter and renowned playwright will receive the Award for his life’s work on October 4 at the Corso Cinema. The presentation will be followed by a Gala Premiere screening of his latest film and directorial debut Molly’s Game, which will have it’s European premiere at the ZFF. Molly’s Game stars Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba and Kevin Costner.
Molly’s Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.
Said the Festival’s Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri: “Aaron Sorkin is not only regarded as one of US cinema’s greatest screenwriters, he is also widely acknowledged as the writer of several legendary plays and as the celebrated creator of The West Wing, one of the most acclaimed TV series ever made, which began in 1999 and sees Martin Sheen play the US President. We are immensely proud to welcome Aaron Sorkin to Zurich, screen his directorial debut Molly’s Game and present him with this year’s ZFF Career Achievement Award.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu4UPet8Nyc
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Jake Gyllenhaal to Receive Golden Eye Award + Premiere STRONGER at Zurich Film Festival
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal will receive the prestigious Golden Eye Award at this year’s Zurich Film Festival (ZFF). Gyllenhaal will be in Zurich to present Stronger as a Gala Premiere on Tuesday October 3.
ZFF Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri state “Jake Gyllenhaal has consistently proven himself to be one of the most exciting and versatile actors working today. We are thrilled to present him with the Golden Eye Award and present Stronger as part of the festival.”
Stronger is the inspiring true story of Jeff Bauman, an ordinary man who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become the symbol of hope following the infamous 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Jeff, a 27-year-old, working-class Boston man who was at the marathon to try and win back his ex-girlfriend Erin (Tatiana Maslany). Waiting for her at the finish line when the blast occurs, he loses both his legs in the attack.
After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Jeff is able to help law enforcement identify one of the bombers, but his own battle has just begun. He tackles months of physical and emotional rehabilitation with the unwavering support of Erin and his family. It is Jeff’s deeply personal account of the heroic journey that tests a family’s bond, defines a community’s pride and inspires his inner courage to overcome devastating adversity.
Filled with raw emotion, humanity and humor, Stronger is the inspirational real-life story of the man who became the living embodiment of “Boston Strong.” The film also stars Academy Award® nominee Miranda Richardson and is directed by David Gordon Green.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkoM5r9LR14
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Zurich Film Festival to Spotlight New Hungarian Cinema
The Zurich Film Festival will spotlight Hungary’s cinema, featuring 18 films made by a thriving new generation of Hungarian filmmakers.
Hungarian cinema has a long history of creating great masters. During the 1970s, a period of cultural thaw in the then socialist state, Hungary was regarded as one of the most important film producing countries in the world. Miklós Jancsó, Márta Mészáros and István Szabó astonished both Soviet and western audiences alike with their extraordinary political candour and their spectacular, cutting-edge film language.
Despite the efforts of some of its leading exponents, namely Bela Tarr and János Szász, the collapse of the Soviet Union signalled a downturn in the popularity of auteur film, and the country’s homegrown productions, which looked to the American model for inspiration, fell on blind eyes.
During a time in an ever more authoritarian country when democratic institutions, such as schools and universities, are closing and press freedom is becoming increasingly less free, a pleasing image is developing: filmmakers are clearly defying the situation – Hungarian cinema is back – and it’s thematically diverse, artistically radical, bursting with international esprit and enjoying remarkable success at the domestic box-office.
One of this cinema’s most striking thematic interests is the outsider, characters who are forced to assert themselves in a world where they feel alone. They do this in a whole variety of contexts, but always with resolute commitment and often with a huge pinch of humour, which can quite easily drift into the dark and absurd.
Hungary’s filmmakers are already at the highest international level when it comes to practising their craft. The renowned Budapest University of Drama and Film, and the countless international large-scale productions made in the capital, form two of Hungary’s most important talent forges. Here, they not only shape great directors, but also form their befitting cinematographers and technicians.
After celebrating success on the film world’s greatest stages, three filmmakers have become synonymous with the latest upturn in Hungarian cinema: director Kornél Mundruczó, an equally well-known force in the theatre world, astounded at Cannes in 2014 with his spectacularly directed, highly metaphoric film WHITE GOD (Un Certain Regard Award).
László Nemes’ debut-of-the-century, the Holocaust drama SON OF SAUL (2015), not only won the Jury Prize at Cannes and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but also proved an astronomical success with Hungarian audiences after clocking up an almost unheard of 270’000 cinema entries in a country where 50’000 entries is already considered a hit. And finally, Ildikó Enyedi, whose breakthrough came in the 1990s, returned after an 18-year respite with her sensual and insidious romantic drama ON BODY AND SOUL (2017) to win a Golden Bear at the Berlinale and captivate the hearts of the Hungarian public.
These three great names of Hungarian cinema are far from standing alone: Hungary has been the recipient of many awards in recent years at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Central and Eastern Europe’s most important platform, including for Lili Horváth’s coming-of ager THE WEDNESDAY CHILD (2015) and Szabolcs Hajdu’s dark-humored family drama IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE (2016), who, in a true Budapest spirit, shot the film in his own apartment with his own family members.
International multi award winning debuts such as Virág Zomborácz’s tragicomedy AFTERLIFE (2014), Gábor Reisz’s pioneering underground comedy FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON (2014) and Attila Till’s black comedy KILLS ON WHEELS (2016) complete this new and remarkable image of a thriving filmmaking country.
This year’s most riveting Hungarian films further enhance the section’s program: Roland Vranik’s naturalization drama THE CITIZEN, György Kristof’s Cannes premiered debut OUT and the Berlin Panorama section’s audience favorite 1945 by Ferenc Török will screen alongside the award-winning documentary films JUDGMENT IN HUNGARY by Eszter Hajdú and DRIFTER by Gábor Hörcher. For the tenth time this year, the International Short Film Festival Winterthur has put together a comprehensive short film block comprising five films to round off the New World View section.
New World View: Hungary Films
AFTERLIFE, Virág Zomborácz, 2014 DRIFTER, Gábor Hörcher, 2014 FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON, Gábor Reisz, 2014 IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE, Szabolcs Hajdu, 2016 JUDGMENT IN HUNGARY, Eszter Hajdú, 2013 KILLS ON WHEELS, Attila Till, 2016 ON BODY AND SOUL, Ildikó Enyedi, 2017 OUT, György Kristof, 2017 SON OF SAUL, László Nemes, 2015 THE CITIZEN, Roland Vranik, 2016 THE WEDNESDAY CHILD, Lili Horváth, 2015 WHITE GOD, Kornél Mundruczó, 2014 1945, Ferenc Török, 2017Short films
DIALOGUE, Gábor Fabricius, 2016 SZEP ALAK, Hajni Kis, 2016 LOVE, Réka Bucsi, 2016 GARAGE INVENTORY, Alyx Ayn Arumpac, 2015 WELCOME, Balázs Dudás, 2016
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BORG/McENROE Starring Shia LaBeouf, Sverrir Gudnason to Open Zurich Film Festival
Danish director Janus Metz Pedersen’s tennis drama Borg/McEnroe starring Shia LaBeouf and Sverrir Gudnason will open the 13th Zurich Film Festival on September 28, 2017. Director Janus Metz Pedersen and Björn Borg-actor Sverrir Gudnason will attend as the Zurich Film Festival’s honorary guests.
Wimbledon, July 5, 1980: tennis pros Björn Borg and John McEnroe square up at the Wimbledon final for one of sporting history’s most legendary duels. The 24-year-old Swede and world’s number one ranked tennis player (Sverrir Gudnason) is feeling exhausted and burned out. The 20-year-old New Yorker (Shia LaBeouf) is determined to beat him. The two opponents go on to deliver a nerve-racking and grinding battle in one of the most suspense-packed matches in tennis history.
Said ZFF Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri: „We are extremely proud to be opening the ZFF for the first time with a Swedish production. Borg/McEnroe is one of the year’s most hotly anticipated movies and is sure to delight cinemagoers around the globe.” They continued: “Borg/McEnroe is most definitely not a film just for tennis fans, but a thrilling cinema experience for everybody.”
Legends of the tennis world
The Swede Björn Borg and US American John McEnroe are two of the tennis world’s greatest legends – and their on-court rivalry is just as legendary. Borg/McEnroe depicts the two tennis icons as they prepare for the Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon. Borg is desperate to leave his mark as the winner of five titles in a row. His opponent is the ambitious young McEnroe, who is only driven by the thought of finally knocking Borg off his throne.
While Borg prepares for the duel aided by his trainer Lennart Bergelin (Stellan Skarsgård), McEnroe continues to hit newspaper headlines. But despite the difference in their personalities, the two men come to realise that they have more in common than they could possibly have imagined.
Björn Borg and John McEnroe played each other a total of 14 times between 1978 and 1981. Their on-court rivalry was famous the world over and compounded by the competitors’ conflicting personalities: while Borg remained cool and placid, McEnroe was famous for his fits of temper.
Sverrir Gudnason and Shia LaBeouf undertook two months of intensive tennis training in order to lend their characters more authenticity. The movie was shot in Borg’s hometown of Södertälje near Stockholm in Sweden, and further in Gothenburg, Stockholm, Prague, London and Monaco.
Borg/McEnroe hits cinemas in Switzerland on October 12, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgfFdEOGUqE
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Lisa Langseth’s EUPHORIA Starring Alicia Vikander to Premiere at Zurich Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_24269" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Euphoria[/caption]
Euphoria directed by Lisa Langseth and starring Alicia Vikander will receive its European premiere as a Gala Premiere at the 2017 Zurich Film Festival on September 29. The film also stars Eva Green, Charlotte Rampling, Charles Dance, Mark Stanley, Adrian Lester.
In the film, two sisters Ines (Alicia Vikander) and Emilie (Eva Green), who have become estranged, after years apart, meet up again and undertake a profound journey together.
In addition to previous Gala Premieres, the festival also announced new films from Tonie Marshall, Destin Daniel Cretton, Amanda Sthers and Silvio Soldini.
NUMÉRO UNE
Directed by: Tonie Marshall
Cast: Emmanuelle Devos, Suzanne Clement, Richard Berry, Benjamin Biolay, Sami Frey
THE GLASS CASTLE
Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
Cast: Brie Larson, Naomi Watts, Woody Harrelson, Max Greenfield
MADAME
Directed by: Amanda Sthers
Cast: Toni Collette, Harvey Keitel, Rossy de Palma, Michael Smiley
IL COLORE NASCOSTO DELLE COSE
Directed by: Silvio Soldini
Cast: Adriano Giannini, Laura Adriani, Valeria Golino, Arianna Scommegna, Anna Ferzetti, Andrea Pennacchi
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Zurich Film Festival to Honor Andrew Garfield with Award, BREATHE to Screen as Gala Premiere
[caption id="attachment_22908" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Breathe[/caption]
Andrew Garfield will receive the prestigious Golden Eye Award at this year’s Zurich Film Festival, and his latest film Breathe will have its Gala Premiere at the festival on Friday, October 6th.
Garfield will be in Zurich alongside actor Andy Serkis, who is making his directorial debut, and producer Jonathan Cavendish, whose parents’ story the film is based on.
“Following on from his masterful performances in Hacksaw Ridge and Silence, Andrew Garfield’s powerful and enthralling turn in Breathe reinforces him as one of the true stars of his generation” stated ZFF Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri. “We are delighted to welcome him to Zurich and present him with our Golden Eye award at this year’s Festival.”
Andrew Garfield
In 2016, Garfield appeared on the big screen in Mel Gibson’s Academy Award®-nominated World War II epic, Hacksaw Ridge. Garfield’s critically acclaimed performance earned him lead actor nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards and BAFTA Awards. That year Garfield also starred in Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of the literary classic Silence alongside Liam Neeson and Adam Driver. Garfield’s additional film credits include: Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which combined grossed over 1.5 billion at the box-office; Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homes opposite Michael Shannon and Laura Dern; David Fincher’s The Social Network, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor; Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go opposite Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan; Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; Spike Jonze’s robot love story I’m Here; Robert Redford’s Lions for Lambs; Julian Jarrold’s Red Riding Trilogy – 1974; and John Crowley’s Boy A, for which he earned BAFTA’s Best Actor Award in 2008. Garfield will soon be seen in A24’s modern noir crime thriller Under the Silver Lake, written and directed by David Robert Mitchell. Garfield could last be seen on stage in the UK in the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of Tony Kushner’s ‘Angels in America’ directed by Tony Award®-winning Marianne Elliott. Garfield made his Broadway debut in 2012 in the revival of Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play ‘Death of a Salesman’, opposite Phillip Seymour-Hoffman and directed by Mike Nichols. His portrayal of Biff Loman earned him a Tony® nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play.Breathe
Based on the true story of Robin Cavendish, Breathe is a heart-warming and highly emotional celebration of bravery and human possibility, a love story about living every breath as though it’s your last. The film stars Andrew Garfield as Cavendish and Claire Foy as his wife Diana. From a script by twice Academy Award-nominated screenwriter William Nicholson , Andy Serkis (globally known for his performances including, War for the Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) delivers a hugely impressive directorial debut with this inspirational true story of love without limits. Adventurous and charismatic, Robin Cavendish has his whole life ahead of him when he is paralysed by polio whilst in Africa and given just months to live. Against all advice, Robin’s wife Diana brings him home from hospital where her devotion and witty determination inspire him to lead a long and fulfilled life. Together they refuse to be limited by expectations, dazzling others with their humour, courage and lust for life. The film’s supporting cast members include Hugh Bonneville (Paddington) and Tom Hollander (The Night Manager) as Robin’s devoted, long-time friends. Stephen Mangan (Rush) and acting legend Dame Diana Rigg (Game of Thrones, the original The Avengers) complete the cast, with a soundtrack by the acclaimed composer Nitin Sawhney.
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Zurich Film Festival 2017 Gala Premieres – BATTLE OF THE SEXES, THE FLORIDA PROJECT and More
[caption id="attachment_23729" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
THE FLORIDA PROJECT[/caption]
With the 13th Zurich Film Festival, taking place September 28 to October 8, 2017, about a month away, the festival is giving a first look at the 2017 Gala Premieres films. Films from Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, Mike White, Claire Denis, Sean Baker, Ruben Östlund, Michael Haneke, Yorgos Lanthimos and Luca Guadagnino will be presented as Gala Premieres.
The festival previously announced the inclusion of AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER with Al Gore and THE WIFE with Golden Icon Award recipient Glenn Close.
2017 Zurich Film Festival Gala Premieres
BATTLE OF THE SEXES Directed by: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris Cast: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough BRAD’S STATUS Directed by: Mike White Cast: Ben Stiller, Michael Sheen, Jenna Fischer, Luke Wilson, Austin Abrams UN BEAU SOLEIL INTERIEUR Directed by: Claire Denis Cast: Juliette Binoche, Xavier Beauvois, Philippe Katerine, Josiane Balasko, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, Gérard Depardieu THE FLORIDA PROJECT Directed by: Sean Baker Cast: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Valeria Cotto, Christopher Rivera, Bria Vinaite, Macon Blair, Sandy Kane, Caleb Landry Jones, Karren Karagulian THE SQUARE Directed by: Ruben Östlund Cast: Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Christopher Laessø, Marina Schiptjenko, Elijandro Edouard, Daniel Hallberg, Martin Sööder HAPPY END Directed by: Michael Haneke Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mathieu Kassovitz THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos Cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Sunny Suljic, Raffey Cassidy, Alicia Silverstone CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Directed by: Luca Guadagnino Cast: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, Victoire Du Bois, Vanda Capriolo, Antonio Rimoldi, Elena Bucci, Marco Sgrosso, André Aciman, Peter Spears
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Glenn Close to Receive Zurich Film Festival’s Golden Icon Award and Present Latest Film THE WIFE
[caption id="attachment_23598" align="aligncenter" width="1296"]
Glenn Close (with Jonathan Pryce) in The Wife[/caption]
Actress Glenn Close will receive the Golden Icon Award at this year’s Zurich Festival, and present her latest film, The Wife with her co-stars Jonathan Pryce and Annie Starke and director Björn Runge.
The Golden Icon Award is the Festival’s most prestigious symbol of recognition, in appreciation of the lifetime achievements of an actor or actress. Glenn Close will be honored with the award on Sunday October 1.
ZFF Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri state “We’re honored to present Glenn Close with our Golden Icon Award at this year’s Festival. From her commanding portrayal of Patty Hewes in Damages to the glorious Marquise de Merteuil in Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liasions via Alex Forrest and Cruella De Vil, Glenn Close has brought her extraordinary presence to countless memorable roles over a truly formidable career. We are delighted to welcome her to Zurich and screen her latest film The Wife.”
THE WIFE
Behind any great man, there’s always a greater woman … and you’re about to meet her. It is crucial you get to know this woman – many of us already do and don’t even realise it. Joan Castleman (Glenn Close): a highly intelligent and still-striking beauty – the perfect alpha wife. Forty years spent sacrificing her own talent, dreams and ambitions to fan the flames of her charismatic husband Joe (Jonathan Pryce) and his skyrocketing literary career. Ignoring his infidelities and excuses because of his “art” with grace and humor. Their fateful pact has built a marriage upon uneven compromises. And Joan’s reached her breaking point. On the eve of Joe’s Nobel Prize for Literature, the crown jewel in a spectacular body of work, Joan’s coup de grace is to confront the biggest sacrifice of her life and secret of his career. The Wife is a poignant, funny and emotional journey; a celebration of womanhood, self-discovery and liberation.
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Former Vice President Al Gore to Present AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER at Zurich Film Festival
Former Vice President Gore will attend the 2017 Zurich Film Festival to present An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, the long awaited follow-up to An Inconvenient Truth, on Sunday October 8th at the Corso Cinema.
A decade afterAn Inconvenient Truth brought climate change into the heart of popular culture, comes the riveting and rousing follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution. Vice President Al Gore continues his tireless fight traveling around the world training an army of climate champions and influencing international climate policy.
Cameras follow him behind the scenes – in moments both private and public, funny and poignant – as he pursues the inspirational idea that while the stakes have never been higher, the perils of climate change can be overcome with human ingenuity and passion.
ZFF Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri comment “We are proud to welcome Al Gore, one of the most globally influential politicians, environmental activists and Nobel Prize winners of recent years.An Inconvenient Truth was a truly powerful and impactful movie and we respect his continued efforts to inform and inspire audiences around the world. We are delighted to be able to screen An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huX1bmfdkyA
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2015 Zurich Film Festival Awards, RAMS Wins Top ‘Golden Eye’ Award
RAMS (HRÚTAR) by Grimur Hakonarson from Iceland continues its winning streak, grabbing the top award, the Golden Eye for International Feature Film at the 11th Zurich Film Festival. Winner of the Un Certain Regard Award at 2015 Cannes Film Festival, Rams “details the hardships of daily farm work in remote Iceland with humanism and humor,” where two brothers who haven’t spoken in forty years will have to come together in order to save what’s dearest to them : their rams.
The other top 2015 Zurich Film Festival Awards – Golden Eye awards went KINGS OF NOWHERE (LOS REYES DEL PUEBLO QUE NO EXISTE) by Betzabé García from Mexico for International Documentary Film and THANK YOU FOR BOMBING by Barbara Eder from Austria for Focus: Switzerland, Germany, Austria.
The Emerging Swiss Talent Award given to a Swiss film went to THE MIRACLE OF TEKIR by Ruxandra Zenide (Switzerland). The Critics’ Choice Award goes to PIKADERO by Ben Sharrock (Spain), The Audience Award goes to AMATEUR TEENS by Niklaus Hilber (Switzerland) and the Audience Award in the ZFF for Kids section goes to SUPILINNA SALASELTS by Margus Paju (Estonia).
2015 Zurich Film Festival Awards
Golden Eye for Best International Feature Film:
HRÚTAR by Grimur Hakonarson (Iceland, Denmark)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=IybJjb3VHhM
A Special Mention goes to:
Koudous Seihon (actor) in MEDITERRANEA by Jonas Carpignano (Italy, France, USA, Germany, Qatar)
Marielle Heller (director) for THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (USA)
Golden Eye for Best International Documentary Film:
KINGS OF NOWHERE (LOS REYES DEL PUEBLO QUE NO EXISTE) by Betzabé García (Mexico)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49kLABSplPM
A Special Mention goes to:
KILLING TIME – ENTRE DEUX FRONTS by Lydie Wisshaupt-Claudel (Belgium, France)
Golden Eye for Best Film in the Focus: Switzerland, Germany, Austria:
THANK YOU FOR BOMBING by Barbara Eder (Austria)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpE4RSMuLTs
A Special Mention goes to:
GRUBER GEHT by Marie Kreutzer (Austria)
The Emerging Swiss Talent Award for Best Swiss Film:
THE MIRACLE OF TEKIR by Ruxandra Zenide (Switzerland/Rumania)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd8fGetLsWw
Critic’s Choice Award
The Swiss Association of Film Journalists (SVFJ) award their prize for Best Debut Feature Film in the Competition Section to:
PIKADERO by Ben Sharrock (Spain, UK)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r5Cv5_YugY
Audience Award
AMATEUR TEENS by Niklaus Hilber (Switzerland)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=o5tjEnAJc5E
Audience Award for Children’s Film
SUPILINNA SALASELTS by Margus Paju (Estonia)
Treatment Competition Award
Stefanie Klemm for RENATAS ERWACHEN (Switzerland)
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Swiss directors Michael Steiner and Jan Gassmann Win 1st Filmmaker Award at 11th Zurich Film Festival
Oscar winner Christoph Waltz presented the first-ever ‘Filmmaker Award’ on Saturday Evening to the two Swiss directors Michael Steiner and Jan Gassmann. Michael Steiner’s project “Und morgen seid ihr tot” (“Tomorrow You’ll Be Dead”) received CHF 75’000 and Jan Gassmann’s project “Europe, She Loves” received CHF 25’000. The two winners were chosen from a total of four nominated projects.
The presentation took place at the IWC gala dinner‚ For the Love of Cinema held as part of the 11th Zurich Film Festival.
Said the delighted film actor Christoph Waltz: “I am proud to be here in person to present this award, which is very important for the Swiss film industry”. He continued: “Providing sponsorship for filmmakers is a necessary and relevant task, one which makes a significant contribution to the diversity of Swiss film.” Christoph Waltz shot to fame with roles in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS and DJANGO UNCHAINED by the American cult director Quentin Tarantino.
The project UND MORGEN SEID IHR TOT from producers Bernhard Burgener and Norbert Preuss tells the true story of two Swiss citizens, Daniela Widmer and David Och, who were kidnapped by the Taliban in Pakistan in July 2011 and succeeded in making a spectacular escape after eight months spent in captivity. Shooting is planned to start in February 2016. The film will be directed by Michael Steiner, known for his works MEIN NAME IST EUGEN and GROUNDING.
Now in post-production, the project EUROPE, SHE LOVES from producer Lisa Blatter portrays five couples forced to draw deep on their reserves of wit and love as they struggle for everyday survival in a Europe shaken by the economic crisis. “The scripts of both these films stood out for their compelling storytelling and the exceptional sensitivity with which these two very different stories were told. Hopefully we’ll be able to see both of them on the big screen soon,” said IWC CEO Georges Kern during the award ceremony.
For director Marc Forster, who was also a member of the jury, the Filmmaker Award represents a real milestone for the domestic film industry: “By specifically backing projects in the pre- or post-production stages, we are plugging a gap in the existing funding available for films,” he explained.
image credit: IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN FOR THE LOVE OF CINEMA GALA DINNER
26 SEPTEMBER, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND Bernhard Burgener, Norbert Preuss and Michael Steiner (Und morgen seid ihr tot) and Lisa Blatter and Jan Gassmann (Europe, She Loves) receive the Filmmaker Award. The award was set up by the Association for the Promotion of Film in Switzerland (Verein zur Filmfoerderung in der Schweiz), a non-profit organization founded by Marc Forster, IWC CEO Georges Kern, the co-directors of the Zurich Film Festival Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri, and the CEO of Ringier, Marc Walder. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Getty Images for IWC)