John Turturro Receives the Golden Eye Award at the ZFF
The Zurich Film Festival is honoring cult actor John Turturro with the Golden Eye Award for his role in *THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK*. The award will be presented to him in person on September 26, 2026.
John Turturro Golden Eye Award: ZFF Honors One of the Most Distinctive Actors of His Generation
The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is honoring John Turturro with the Golden Eye Award for his performance in *THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK*, directed by Noah Segan. Turturro will accept the award in person in Zurich on September 26, 2026. The following day, September 27, he will offer insights into his long-standing acting and film career as part of a ZFF Masters screening.
John Turturro looks back on a career spanning more than four decades, during which he has appeared in an extraordinary range of genres. He has collaborated with some of the most renowned filmmakers in contemporary cinema, including Joel and Ethan Coen, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Robert De Niro, Nanni Moretti, and Pedro Almodóvar.
From «Do the Right Thing» to the iconic role of Jesus Quintana
Turturro first gained international recognition through his collaboration with Spike Lee on films such as *Do the Right Thing* and *Jungle Fever*. His repeated collaborations with Joel and Ethan Coen on films such as *Miller’s Crossing*, *Barton Fink*, *O Brother, Where Art Thou?*, and *The Big Lebowski* were particularly influential. In the latter, he portrayed the iconic character Jesus Quintana. For his leading role in *BARTON FINK*, he was awarded the Best Actor prize at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival as well as the David di Donatello Award.
His diverse filmography also includes Francesco Rosi’s *The Truce*, Robert Redford’s *Quiz Show*, Martin Scorsese’s *The Color of Money*, Robert De Niro’s *The Good Shepherd*, Pedro Almodóvar’s *The Room Next Door*, and Matt Reeves‘ *The Batman*. Later, he reprised the role of Quintana in *THE JESUS ROLLS*—a film for which he also wrote the screenplay and directed. He made his directorial debut with *MAC*, for which he received the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His other works as a screenwriter and director include *ILLUMINATA*, *ROMANCE & CIGARETTES*, *PASSIONE*, and *FADING GIGOLO*.
Turturro has also enjoyed great success in television. He won an Emmy Award for his guest appearance on *Monk*. For the HBO series *The Night Of*, in which he played defense attorney John Stone, he was nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award. Other productions include the HBO series *THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA* as well as the Apple TV+ series *MR. & MRS. SMITH* and *SEVERANCE*, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in both seasons.
A film about New York—by a native New Yorker
According to the press release, in *THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK*, Turturro carries the film from the first minute to the last. ZFF CEO Christian Jungen explains the rationale behind the award as follows: «John Turturro is a cult actor who has made an indelible mark with films like *BARTON FINK* and *THE BIG LEBOWSKI*—his characters stay with you forever. In *THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK*, he carries the film from the first minute to the last, while at the same time turning it into a deeply personal declaration of love for his hometown.»
Turturro himself explains his connection to the material: «Noah’s screenplay and the world he created in *THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK* immediately spoke to me. The film builds palpable tension as time works against Harry, combining this with a finely drawn, character-driven story set in a very specific place and time in New York. As a native and lifelong New Yorker, I found this world to be particularly rich and atmospheric.»
The Golden Eye Award at the Zurich Film Festival
With the Golden Eye Award, the Zurich Film Festival honors actors and actresses who have made a significant impact on the current film year and who, through their body of work, are among the most influential performers of their time. Past recipients include Jude Law, Kristen Stewart, Dakota Johnson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
For more information about the Zurich Film Festival and the program, visit: https://zff.com
