Zurich, September 4, 2025 – The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) will once again shine a spotlight on international auteur cinema with its prestigious «Gala Premieres» section. This year’s lineup features performances by Hollywood greats including Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Stone, Sydney Sweeney, Paul Dano, Jude Law, and Brendan Fraser—many of whom are already being discussed as strong contenders for next year’s Academy Awards.

Among the nine new titles screening in the section, the ZFF is proud to host one World Premiere, two International Premieres, and three European Premieres. Highlights include AFTER THE HUNT by Luca Guadagnino, BUGONIA by Yorgos Lanthimos, THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN by Olivier Assayas, and TO NEW BEGINNINGS by Paprika Steen.

From September 25 to October 5, 2025, audiences can look forward to an outstanding program of artistic yet accessible films, curated to resonate with both cinephiles and general audiences.

“Being able to present so many World and European Premieres shows that the ZFF has a strong position in the international film industry calendar,” says Festival Director Christian Jungen. “ROOFMAN, TUNER, and CHRISTY are three major European Premieres of American films whose leading actors—Channing Tatum, Leo Woodall, and Sydney Sweeney—deliver what may be the best performances of their careers. We wouldn’t be surprised if they were nominated for an Oscar.”

Gala Premiere Highlights

• ROOFMAN – European Premiere
  A dark comedy by Derek Cianfrance starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, about a down-on-his-luck veteran turned fugitive who finds an unlikely refuge inside a Toys “R” Us store.

• AFTER THE HUNT – Drama / Thriller
  Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, this gripping thriller follows a professor confronted with a dark secret from her past.

• TUNER – International Premiere
  A suspenseful thriller starring Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman, where the fine art of piano tuning collides with the criminal underworld.

• BUGONIA
  A Yorgos Lanthimos comedy starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, about conspiracy theorists who kidnap a CEO they believe to be an alien.

• CHRISTY – European Premiere
  A powerful sports drama starring Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin, a groundbreaking female boxer whose turbulent private life threatens her career.

• THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN
  Olivier Assayas directs Paul Dano, Jude Law, and Alicia Vikander in a thriller tracing the rise of Vladimir Putin’s power through the eyes of his enigmatic spin doctor.

• RENTAL FAMILY – European Premiere
  A poignant drama starring Brendan Fraser as an actor who joins a Japanese “rental family” agency, blurring the line between performance and reality.

• TO NEW BEGINNINGS – World Premiere
  Directed by Paprika Steen, this Danish comedy-drama follows a group of friends as a New Year’s gathering forces them to face buried emotions and consider fresh starts.

Festival Information

The full program of the 21st Zurich Film Festival will be revealed on Thursday, September 11, at 12 PM on the official ZFF website. Tickets go on sale starting Monday, September 15, 2025.