Zurich Film Festival Jury: Fukunaga and Plambech as Co-Chairs
The Zurich Film Festival jury has been announced: Cary Joji Fukunaga will chair the feature film competition, and Sine Plambech will chair the documentary competition for the Golden Eye. Both are returning as former ZFF award winners.
The Zurich Film Festival has announced the members of this year’s competition juries. This year, the Zurich Film Festival jury will be led by two internationally renowned filmmakers: James Bond director Cary Joji Fukunaga will preside over the feature film competition jury, while Danish director and anthropologist Sine Plambech will head the documentary film competition jury. In both categories, fourteen films each—exclusively first, second, or third feature films—will compete for the Golden Eye, which comes with a prize of 25,000 Swiss francs.
Zurich Film Festival Jury: Fukunaga Returns to the Place Where He Made His Breakthrough
Cary Joji Fukunaga has long been associated with the ZFF: In 2009, his debut film *SIN NOMBRE* was screened in competition, and in 2021, his James Bond film *NO TIME TO DIE* celebrated its gala premiere in Zurich. Joining Fukunaga on the feature film jury are actress Ella Rumpf, director Fernando Eimbcke, producer Julie Billy, and film editor and director Walter Fasano.
«Both competitions are dedicated to emerging talent—directors at the beginning of their careers who are presenting their first works. Cary Joji Fukunaga was once in this very same position; his very first feature film, *SIN NOMBRE*, was in our competition in 2009, and he went on to have a highly successful career. In 2021, we had the honor of presenting his James Bond film *NO TIME TO DIE* as a gala premiere,» explains Reta Guetg, Festival Director of the ZFF.
Fukunaga's filmography also includes *Beasts of No Nation* and the film adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's *Jane Eyre*. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for the series *True Detective*. Ella Rumpf, who grew up in Zurich, won the César Award and the Swiss Film Award in 2024 for *LE THÉORÈME DE MARGUERITE*. Fernando Eimbcke is considered one of Latin America’s most influential directors; his debut film, *DUCK SEASON*, premiered at Cannes in 2004. Julie Billy’s credits include *THE LITTLE SISTER*, which won the Queer Palm at Cannes. Walter Fasano won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.
Plambech Returns as a Former Award Winner
Sine Plambech herself won the Golden Eye at the ZFF in 2018 for her documentary debut, *HEARTBOUND*. This year, she will present her latest film, *RESCUE*, in its European premiere in Zurich. «Danish director Sine Plambech will chair the jury for the documentary film competition. In her dual role as a filmmaker and anthropologist, she understands how documentary filmmaking shapes our view of society,» Guetg continued. «Now two filmmakers are returning as jury presidents. A typical ZFF story. We’re very pleased that Sine Plambech and Cary Joji Fukunaga, as filmmakers themselves, are taking the time to mentor the next generation.»
In addition to Plambech, the documentary film jury includes cinematographer Alfredo de Juan, producer Anne Köhncke, Swiss director Jela Hasler, and Austrian director and producer Nikolaus Geyrhalter, known for films such as *HOMO SAPIENS* and *UNSER TÄGLICH BROT*.
Competition films from around the world
The feature film competition includes, among others, *DUA* by Blerta Basholli, *SERIFE TAVSAN* by Tareq Daoud, and *SEVDA* by Ufuk Emiroglu. In the documentary competition, films such as *SCHRECKSCHRAUBE* by Simon David and *THE SIEGE OF PARADISE* by Gar O’Rourke are vying for the Golden Eye.
The Zurich Film Festival is the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking world and presents the latest film discoveries over the course of eleven days each fall. The 22nd edition will take place from September 24 to October 4, 2026.
