ZFF honors "Heroine" director Petra Volpe in Los Angeles

"Heroine" is on the Oscar shortlist for Best International Film. The screening will be hosted by the ZFF and organized in collaboration with the US distributor Music Box Films at Soho House Los Angeles. Petra Volpe will accept the award in person.

Since its foundation, the Zurich Film Festival has been committed to Swiss film - to new talent, strong stories and their visibility in the cinema. This commitment does not end at the festival boundaries: With targeted industry events, international screenings and an increased presence during the Award Season, the ZFF also promotes the international exposure of Swiss films and filmmakers. The ZFF is now honoring Petra Volpe for her film "Heldin".

"With "Heldin", Petra Volpe has once again succeeded in creating a socially realistic auteur film with its finger on the pulse of the times that shines a spotlight on the precarious conditions in the care profession and pays tribute to the dedication of carers," explains Christian Jungen, CEO of the ZFF. "In Switzerland, "Heldin" became the most successful domestic film of the year with over 200,000 moviegoers and sparked a debate on improving working conditions in the care sector. We are awarding Volpe the Golden Eye for the cinematic quality and discursive power of her masterpiece and wish her every success in the Oscar race."

Petra Volpe is also delighted about the upcoming award: "We are extremely pleased about this prize and this special recognition. "Heldin" continues to travel the world and shows that Swiss film can have international appeal. I have a special relationship with the ZFF because my first feature film premiered there. It's great to see how the festival has developed and I would like to thank Christian Jungen and the whole team for the award and their support with the Oscar campaign. And as for our chances: You gotta believe!"

A long-standing connection between Petra Volpe and the ZFF

Petra Volpe's path has been closely linked to the Zurich Film Festival for many years. Back in 2013, she celebrated the world premiere of her feature film debut "Traumland" in the ZFF competition and received great international attention. In 2022, Volpe was a member of the ZFF's international feature film jury chaired by Asghar Farhadi. In the same year, she presented the film "The Golden Years" (directed by Barbara Kulcsar) at the festival as a screenwriter.

Petra Volpe was also present at the Zurich Film Festival with her film "Heldin": the ZFF organized a For-Your-Consideration-Screening for the participants of the ZFF Summit. The lead role is played by Leonie Benesch - she was a member of the ZFF International Feature Film Jury in 2025. The drama about a nurse's challenging night shift became one of the most successful Swiss films of recent years with over 200,000 moviegoers and is on the Oscar shortlist for Best International Film. The ZFF is now honoring this extraordinary success with the award for Petra Volpe in Los Angeles.

Petra Volpe - one of the defining voices of Swiss film

Petra Volpe (*1970 in Suhr, Aargau, Switzerland) is one of the most successful and internationally renowned Swiss filmmakers. After studying at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf in Potsdam, she established herself both as a director and screenwriter. Her feature film "The Divine Order" (2017) became one of the most successful Swiss films of all time, was shown at festivals worldwide and was submitted as the official Swiss entry for the Oscar. With "Heldin", Volpe has now made it onto the Oscar shortlist for the first time. In her work, she consistently focuses on socially relevant topics, which she tells with great emotional power, precise characterization and high dramaturgical quality. Her new film "Frank & Louis" - an international co-production and her first English-language film - has been invited to the 2026 Sundance Film Festival program.

Continuity of the ZFF presence in Hollywood

By honoring Petra Volpe, the Zurich Film Festival continues its presence in Hollywood. After honoring Tim Fehlbaum in Los Angeles in 2024, the ZFF is once again underlining its role as the festival that not only supports Swiss filmmakers at an early stage, but also supports them on their international path and creates visibility and networking during the award season.