The 22nd Zurich Film Festival has unveiled 10 titles for its Gala Premieres section, featuring world premieres from directors Andreas Dresen and Doris Dörrie.
Key facts
- •The 22nd Zurich Film Festival is scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 4.
- •Andreas Dresen’s "Love, After All" and Doris Dörrie’s "How Can I Help?" will hold their world premieres at the festival.
- •The Gala Premieres section includes "I Play Rocky," a film detailing the production history of the 1977 best picture winner.
- •"111 – Echoes From Halifax" explores the 1998 crash of a Swissair aircraft near Halifax from multiple perspectives.
- •The full festival program is set to be announced on September 9.
The Zurich Film Festival has announced the initial lineup for its Gala Premieres section, which will feature 10 films including the world premieres of Andreas Dresen’s "Love, After All" and Doris Dörrie’s "How Can I Help?" The festival, which is scheduled to run from September 24 to October 4, aims to showcase auteur cinema for a broad audience. Festival CEO Christian Jungen noted that the selection includes several titles expected to play a significant role in the upcoming awards season.
Featured German Auteur Films
The festival will host the world premieres of two major German productions. Andreas Dresen’s "Love, After All" explores the dynamics of a couple married for nearly 40 years as they navigate retirement and their daughter’s upcoming third marriage. Doris Dörrie’s "How Can I Help?" follows an elderly woman who, after suffering a fall, develops an unexpected bond with a care robot that is also programmed to end her life if her condition worsens.
International Selections and Awards Contenders
The Gala Premieres section also highlights "I Play Rocky," a biographical film about Sylvester Stallone’s struggle to star in the 1977 Academy Award-winning film "Rocky." Another notable inclusion is "111 – Echoes From Halifax," a Swiss-Canadian drama directed by Mauro Mueller that examines the 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111. The festival program also features "Josephine," a family drama directed by Beth de Araújo, and "Possible Love," which marks director Lee Chang-dong’s first film release in eight years.
Additional Gala Premieres
Rounding out the 10-title selection are "Company," a mystery film directed by Casey Affleck; "It Will Happen Tonight," a romance directed by Nanni Moretti; "Burgundy," a documentary about the French wine region by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw; and "The Hammer," a documentary portrait of auctioneer Simon de Pury. The complete program for the 22nd edition of the festival is scheduled to be revealed on September 9.
Timeline
- 1953The setting for a story recounted in the film "Company" regarding an aging hermit and a stranded actress.
- 1975The night a mysterious woman arrives at a holiday gathering in the film "Company."
- 1977The year the film "Rocky" won the Academy Award for best picture.
- Sept. 2, 1998The date Swissair Flight 111 crashed off the coast of Halifax.
- Sept. 9The date the full program for the 22nd Zurich Film Festival will be revealed.
- Sept. 24 to Oct. 4The duration of the 22nd Zurich Film Festival.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Variety.
