ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL COMES OF AGE; ATTRACTING MAJOR STAR POWER

Jeremy Irons, Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Tate Taylor, Maximilian Schell join Sean Penn, Roman Polanski, Paul Haggis, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jeremy Thomas Among Others in Zurich

The 7th edition of the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) promises to be the biggest yet, with a lineup of hot new films and more star power than ever. 96 films from around the world, including 10 World Premieres, will be showcased from September 22nd to October 2nd as all eyes turn to Zurich for a Festival that has become a marquee destination for the hottest films and biggest talent.

Co-director of the Festival, Karl Spoerri commented, "Over the last seven years, we have worked hard to build a legitimate Festival with an exceptional program that would be recognised on the world stage and this year's lineup shows that we have turned the corner. We are so happy with the support we are now receiving from filmmakers, distributors and actors in the Hollywood community as well as our very important local markets, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. It has helped tremendously to elevate our status in the annual film festival calendar. "

The star studded guest list for this year’s Festival includes Sean Penn (Golden Icon Award recipient), Roman Polanski (A Tribute To… award recipient) Alejandro González Iñárritu (Career Achievement Award recipient), Paul Haggis (Tribute Award recipient), Laurence Fishburne (Jury President), Emma Stone (actress), Jeremy Irons (actor), Maximilian Schell (actor), Viola Davis (actress), Alice Eve (jury), Xavier Koller (jury), Christian Ulmen (actor), Sabine Timoteo (actress), and Nadine Vinzens (actress), among many others.

This year ZFF will screen many highly anticipated films from some of the world’s most recognized directors. Among them are Steven Soderbergh (CONTAGION), Gus Van Sant (RESTLESS), Lars von Trier (MELANCHOLIA), George Clooney (IDES OF MARCH), David Cronenberg (A DANGEROUS METHOD), Steve McQueen (SHAME), Tate Taylor (THE HELP), Andrea Arnold (WUTHERING HEIGHTS), Werner Herzog (CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS), Andreas Dresen (HALT AUF FREIER STRECKE) and Rolf Lyssy (URSULA – LEBEN IN ANDERSWO), to name a few.

Additionally, the much anticipated MONEYBALL from director Bennett Miller and starring Brad Pitt will have its European Premiere at ZFF. Oren Moverman’s RAMPART starring Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright and Ben Foster will also screen at the Festival.

The Zurich Film Festival itself is now bigger than ever and has made significant changes to accommodate rising demand and heightened popularity. Increased attendance has led to more theaters being used by the Festival. 10 Theaters (up from seven the previous year) will screen films this year. Additionally, the Festival Centre has been moved to the Sechseläutenplatz to allow for expansion and greater traffic. Zurich’s famed Opera House will be utilized for the first time – providing the magnificent setting for the Festival’s award night. A new Night Lounge will also be offered to Festival goers this year.

This summer’s wildly successful breakout hit THE HELP has been selected as the Festival’s closing night film. The Tate Taylor directed film stars Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell and Sissy Spacek. Steven Soderbergh’s CONTAGION is the Festival’s opening night film.

The complete Zurich Film Festival program can be viewed at http://www.zurichfilmfestival.org

Talent Recognition

Multiple Academy Award® winner and humanitarian Sean Penn will be in Zurich to accept the Festival’s coveted Golden Icon Award in a ceremony taking place on September 28th.

Oscar® winning director Roman Polanski will attend the Festival to accept the lifetime achievement award that was intended for him two years ago, to honor his outstanding career achievements as a filmmaker. The World Premiere of a full-length non fiction film will follow the tribute ceremony. Details regarding the film and the world premiere will not be released before the official screening on September 27th.

Academy Award® nominee Laurence Fishburne heads this year’s international jury and will also receive a special achievement award. Fishburne stars in Steven Soderbergh’s sci-fi thriller CONTAGION which will open the Festival on Thursday, September 22nd.

Academy Award® nominated director Alejandro González Iñárritu (“AMORES PERROS, 21 GRAMS, BABEL) will be feted with a Career Achievement Award from ZFF and will also participate in the Festival’s Master Class series.

Multiple Oscar® winner Paul Haggis (CRASH, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, CASINO ROYALE) will be on hand to receive the Festival’s prestigious Golden Eye Award within the framework of the prestigious “A Tribute to...” series at the Festival. ZFF will also present a Paul Haggis retrospective to mark the presentation of the award and will screen several of his films. Haggis will also take part in the Master Class series.

About the Zurich Film Festival

The Zurich Film Festival was founded in October 2005 and became firmly established in the national and international festival landscape within a very short period of time. This year’s seventh edition will again see Zurich transformed into an eleven-day film festival capital celebrating the art of film in all its facets.

One of the aims of the Zurich Film Festival is to offer audiences an insight into the work of young, upcoming filmmakers from around the globe and to promote the exchange of ideas between established film workers, young talent and the public.

The international competition will witness young filmmakers competing for the coveted Golden Eye – the festival’s main award. In addition to the competition, ZFF will also present the latest films by renowned filmmakers as exclusive gala premieres. Furthermore, the New World View series will focus upon the current cinematic oeuvre of a developing film region. In the past years, ZFF focussed on Israel (2008), Argentina (2009) and Australia (2010).

Numerous fringe events and parties give individuals from the field of film and movie-smitten visitors the opportunity to discuss happenings and bring the cinema day to an agreeable end in a pleasing and relaxed atmosphere

ZFF is organized by Spoundation Motion Picture GmbH, based in Zurich, in cooperation with local institutions and sponsors. The Zurich Film Festival cooperates with numerous distributors and producers from Switzerland and abroad. The idea to create a Festival in Zurich came from Karl Spoerri. Today, the Festival directors are Karl Spoerri (artistic director) and Nadja Schildknecht (public relations, marketing and sponsoring).

The Zurich Film Festival is generously supported by its main sponsors: Credit Suisse, Die Post, Kuoni and Audi.

For more information please visit www.zurichfilmfestival.org