Zurich Film Festival 2025: Swiss double victory

The 21st Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) moved Zurich and the international film world. Over eleven days, the ZFF presented 115 films, including 40 world or European premieres.

Hollywood glamor on the Limmat: the festival shone with an impressive list of international stars. Dakota Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell, Amanda Seyfried and many other greats from the film industry presented their new works in person in Zurich. Original moments such as Russell Crowe's appearance at the Zurich Summit tennis tournament and Colin Farrell's visit to the sauna made additional headlines.

A special triumph for the Swiss film scene: Swiss director Moris Freiburghaus not only won the Golden Eye in the documentary film competition with his documentary "I Love You, I Leave You", but also the Audience Award. It is the first time that a Swiss filmmaker has triumphed in this category. The touching film about friendship, mental health and family cohesion won over both the jury and the audience. Protagonist Dino Brandão expressed his gratitude at the award ceremony with the moving words: "It's good to see that vulnerability is worth a prize."

The Zurich Summit consolidated its position as the "Davos of the film industry" with the highly acclaimed panel "Beyond Imagination: Creativity in the Age of AI". The discussion on the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in the film industry received worldwide media coverage, from the Washington Post to the BBC.

Christian Jungen, Festival Director, was highly satisfied: "For eleven days, Zurich revelled in film fever, the auditoriums were full and many world stars presented their new works to the audience in person." The new Festival President Doris Fiala particularly emphasized the positive impact on the catering, hotel and tourism industries.

The 22nd edition of the Zurich Film Festival will take place from September 24 to October 4, 2026.