Latest in Zurich Film Festival

Production budgets on U.S. independent movies are regularly too high to make them viable in the international sales marketplace, but it's no easy task for producers to cut them, said speakers at the Zurich Summit yesterday (September 28). Talking at the event, Thorsten Schumacher, founder and CEO of international…

In a rare public speaking engagement, BBC Films director Rose Garnett took to the stage at the Zurich Film Festival yesterday (September 28) to discuss how the organization has changed under her tenure, and how the nature of public service broadcasting is evolving. BBC Films remains a stalwart of the UK business and…

Theatrical play for foreign-language movies is increasingly hard to come by in markets such as the U.S. and UK, despite the best efforts of a handful of dedicated distributors. There are bright spots on the horizon, however, attendees at the 2019 Zurich Summit heard yesterday. Wild Bunch chief Vincent Maraval told the…

The Zurich Film Festival co-founders Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri are stepping down from their roles at the festival in 2020. After 15 years at the helm, during which time Zurich has become a starry European destination for autumn festival movies, artistic director Spoerri will hand the reins over to Christian…

France is set to get three new Imax theaters after Imax Corp struck a deal with French exhibitor CinéAlpes. The move will see screens erected in the cities of Tours, Quetigny and Aubière in central France. The move will mean that France has 24 Imax theaters with 17 currently open and seven set to open. "CinéAlpes…

Jay Arnold has joined the British Council as its new senior program manager for film. He'll join the company, which is the UK's international cultural relations organization, on September 18. In the new role, Arnold will play a leading part in the development and management of the British Council's increasing film…

TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein accepted a Diversity in Film Award from Zurich Film Festival co-director Karl Spörri tonight at a special screening of Lion in Gstaad, Switzerland. Said Weinstein: “Garth Davis’ bravery in making this film and working with a lot of non-actors echoes the qualities we've come to…

The Zurich Film Festival has set The Weinstein Co/See-Saw Films' Lion as its opening night film. The European premiere of the Garth Davis-directed pic will take place on September 22. Based on Saroo Brierley's A Long Way Home, Lion tells the true story of how a wrong train takes a 5-year-old Indian boy hundreds of…

Last year, the London Film Festival was bookended by a pair of Tom Hanks movies. This year, the fest is going in a different direction with opening- and closing-night films set during World War II. The event will open with The Imitation Game on October 8 and now has set David Ayer’s Fury as the capper on October 19…

Iran Reopens Its Film Industry Body After 20 Months Iran has reopened the House of Cinema, its main film industry guild. The move comes nearly two years after it was closed, the BBC reported, citing state news agency Irna. Per the report, Deputy Culture Minister Hojatollah Ayoubi said the decision indicates new…

Marc Forster Tops International Film Competition Jury At Zurich Marc Forster has been tapped to lead the International Film Competition Jury at the Zurich Film Festival, which runs September 26-October 6. The Swiss-German director, producer and screenwriter most recently helmed World War Z. Said Forster, "I have…

Zurich, San Sebastian Film Festivals Opening Windows On Each Other The Zurich and San Sebastian Film Festivals are creating a unique partnership for their upcoming editions, which run almost simultaneously. Zurich will open a San Sebastian Window, which will offer insight into contemporary Spanish cinema by showcasing…