The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), taking place Sept 26 – Oct 6, announced today that its International Film Competition Jury will be presided over by Swiss-German director, producer and screenwriter Marc Forster, whose most recent and highly successful film WORLD WAR Z, continues its impressive box office run worldwide.

The 43-year-old honorary citizen of Davos proves with WORLD WAR Z that the principles of auteurism can be applied intelligently to the genre of action film. Ever since his big breakthrough in 2001, Marc Forster has been celebrated as one of the most versatile directors of his generation. His oeuvre involves many facets: from the award winning drama MONSTER’S BALL to the melancholy FINDING NEVERLAND, from the experimental film STAY to the cinematic adaptation THE KITE RUNNER and the James Bond adventure QUANTUM OF SOLACE, from the tragicomedy STRANGER THAN FICTION to the social study MACHINE GUN PREACHER and last but not least to the blockbusting WORLD WAR Z – Forster has been performing the art of cinema with grand virtuosity.

Said Forster, “I have followed the success story of the Zurich Film Festival from afar and I’m certain that a fascinating task awaits me.”

The competencies of Marc Forster’s jury colleagues are no less impressive. The producer faction is exceptionally well represented by American luminary Stacy Sher, who, between PULP FICTION and DJANGO UNCHAINED, has brought a whole series of Oscar-nominated works to the fore.      

A further renowned producer, Indian Guneet Monga not only caused a stir at this year’s festival in Cannes with THE LUNCHBOX and MONSOON SHOOTOUT, but also spearheads the spirit of optimism in contemporary Indian film.  

The next member of the jury is Australian director and screenwriter Andrew Dominik whose second film, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD with Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, is as vividly memorable as his KILLING THEM SOFTLY, which was screened in competition at Cannes last year. 

Thaoms Imbach completes the International Feature Film Jury line-up. This Luzern-born Swiss director, screenwriter and producer is as at home in the domain of documentary as he is in the field of fiction and occasionally, as in HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN, combines the two with confident congeniality.

About the Zurich Film Festival

Entering its ninth year, the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) has established itself as one of the world’s top Films Festivals, discovering and promoting independent voices and talent from around the world, showcasing a diverse array of international films and serving as the setting for many World and European premieres.

The aim 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.

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 found a festival in Zurich came from Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht, who serve as Directors of the Festival.