Tips for the Zurich Film Festival

Ever since the early days of cinema, image and music have been inextricably linked – and this is where the ‘Sounds’ section comes in. Since 2019, the ZFF has dedicated a separate programme to the interplay between film and sound. The selection brings together feature films and documentaries from all over the world in which the soundtrack is far more than mere background music. ‘Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!’ invites you to dance, ‘Die Zukunft ist Vergangenheit’ tells the story of music clubs as social safe havens, whilst ‘Nino – Un Film su Nino Rota’ traces the life and work of the Italian composer.

‘Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!’: 24 September, 8.45 pm; 26 September, 5.45 pm; 2 October, 8.45 pm
‘The Future Is the Past’: 30 September, 9.15 pm; 1 October, 8.45 pm; 3 October, 8.15 pm
‘Nino – A Film About Nino Rota»: 27 September, 8.30 pm; 2 October, 5.45 pm; 3 October, 2.30 pm

Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of everyday life for millions of people in a very short space of time. The film industry, too, cannot ignore it. What does AI mean for creativity and copyright? And what happens to the people whose work it changes or replaces? The ‘Hashtag #artificialintelligence’ section explores these and other questions. In the sci-fi drama ‘Sheep in the Box’, director Hirokazu Kore-eda asks whether androids can help people cope with grief. In his documentary ‘Musk’, Alex Gibney, on the other hand, examines the tech billionaire’s far-reaching influence on contemporary politics. The section is complemented by discussions with experts from the fields of science, the film industry and journalism.

‘Sheep in the Box’: 30 September, 8.15 pm; 3 October, 9.15 pm; 4 October, 1 pm
“Musk”: 27 September, 12.15 pm; 29 September, 7.30 pm; 4 October, 1.15 pm

The ZFF looks not only to the future, but also to the past – specifically at the work of Richard Linklater, this year’s recipient of the Career Achievement Award. A retrospective will bring selected films from the indie icon’s extensive body of work to the big screen. The retrospective is rounded off by the Swiss premiere of *Blue Moon* (2025). During a public discussion at the Filmpodium, Linklater will offer insights into his cinematic universe and talk about the influences that have shaped his filmmaking. Visitors can also discover a film programme curated by him – an opportunity to get to know not only his films, but also the films behind his films.

‘Cinema Seen Through the Eyes of Richard Linklater’: 27 September, 6 pm, Filmpodium
‘Blue Moon’: 27 September, 8.45 pm; 3 October, 6.30 pm, Filmpodium
‘Before Sunrise + ZFF Masters Richard Linklater’: 28 September, 5.45 pm, Filmpodium

There’s plenty on offer for the festival’s youngest visitors too. The programme includes, amongst other things, the film adaptation of the classic Swiss children’s book *De Rägebogefisch* and a sequel to the animated classic *Shaun the Sheep*. But the programme isn’t limited to cinema screenings: in numerous workshops, children can get hands-on and step into the shoes of actors, make-up artists, reporters or jury members. Finally, the ZFF Family Day puts the whole family in the spotlight. As well as entertaining film screenings, the festival offers hands-on activities for young and old alike.

‘Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom’: 26 September, 4.15 pm; 27 September, 9.45 am and 2 pm
“De Rägebogefisch”: 3 October, 11.00 am and 4.15 pm; 4 October, 10.15 am
ZFF Family Day: 27 September, 11.00 am to 4.00 pm, Festival Centre; free admission