ZFF: Record in anniversary year
The 20th Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is celebrating a historic milestone: With 140,000 attendees, the festival set a new record, thereby cementing its reputation as the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking world.
Every day, stars such as Jude Law, Pamela Anderson, Richard Gere and Kate Winslet presented their new films and attracted numerous fans to the green carpet and the cinemas.
A festival of superlatives
The anniversary year of the Zurich Film Festival set new standards in many respects. With 140,000 visitors, the ZFF surpassed all previous records. The mix of top-class film screenings, first-class guests, prestigious events such as the Zurich Summit and a newly designed festival center made the 20th edition an unforgettable experience - for cineastes and industry insiders alike.
The presence of over 120 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), who were guests at the Limmat, also underlines the growing importance of the festival in the international film scene.
A star every day
This year, the ZFF shone with an extraordinary density of stars. Personalities such as Kate Winslet, Richard Gere, Pamela Anderson, Ralph Fiennes, Jennifer Gray, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Sebastian Stan, Emil Steinberger, Iris Berben, Veronica Ferres, Howard Shore and many more either graced the Green Carpet, spoke about their films in our ZFF Masters and lent the festival a special glow.
"We put on an anniversary edition that Zurich can be proud of," explains Christian Jungen, Artistic Director of the ZFF. "The atmosphere was positive from day one, numerous films received long standing ovations and international stars such as Kate Winslet and Richard Gere took plenty of time for their fans on the green carpet. The ZFF was Talk of the Town and we attracted many more visitors than we had expected. It was a glittering anniversary edition that showed that the festival has an excellent international reputation and a local population that is fully behind it."
In addition to the visitors, the big stars themselves were also delighted to be at the ZFF. Jude Law, who was awarded the Golden Eye, commented on his honor: "It's a great honor to be recognized by a film festival. I love movies, they are my passion, and festivals like this are the home for true movie fans. To be honored by a festival is a true honor."
A big thank you to Zurich on its anniversary The 20th anniversary was also an opportunity to say thank you to the loyal Zurich audience and the city of Zurich. Without their continuous support and enthusiasm for cinema, the ZFF would not be what it is today - 140,000 thanks! This appreciation was also reflected in the words of the international guests. Kate Winslet was impressed by the city and its audience: "To arrive here with so many fans who are so polite! In London they would completely freak out, scream and go crazy. But here they are very calm and respectful. It was just wonderful to be here!"
The hidden star: The new festival center
This year, it wasn't just the stars on the green carpet that impressed, but also the new Festival Center - the heart of the ZFF on Sechseläutenplatz. Roger Crotti, President of the ZFF, describes the success: "Our numerous partners and guests from the city and canton of Zurich or from abroad, whom I personally guided through the new center, were impressed and happy. This imposing wooden structure fascinates with its luxurious seating and invites you to linger - be it with a cool drink inside or a hot coffee in the open air. The new terraces offer an incomparable panoramic view of the green carpet, the celebrity guests, the lake and the magnificent opera house." Crotti adds with pride: "We have come to stay and redefine the standards. I am delighted that we were able to celebrate our 20th birthday with our existing and new partners. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them very much."
