Swiss, Austrian and American films have won the top prizes at the seventh Zurich Film Festival, which ended on Sunday.
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On Saturday night, the four Golden Eye awards went to: Take Shelter by US director Jeff Nichols, Atmen (Breathing) by Austrian Karl Markovics, Buck by American Cindy Meehl and Darwin by Swiss director Nick Brandestini.
Norwegian film Sykt Lykkelig (Happy, Happy) received the Critic’s Choice award, and Swiss film Unter Wasser Atmen (Breathing Under Water) took home the Audience Award.
Award-winning American actor, screenwriter, director and producer Sean Penn was honoured with this year’s Golden Icon Award for his life’s work. The 51-year-old graced the festival’s green (standing for environmental awareness) carpet on Wednesday.
The winner of the 2009 award, Roman Polanski, also came to Zurich to pick up his prize. On his way to the ceremony two years ago, the Franco-Polish filmmaker was arrested at Zurich airport in connection with a 1977 child rape case in the United States.
The 11-day festival screened about 100 international films, with a particular focus on German-language cinema.
According to organisers, the festival attracted 51,000 visitors this year, about 30 per cent more than in 2010.
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Zurich Film Festival expands
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The SFr4.9 million ($5.56 million) festival will open on September 22 with the screening of US thriller Contagion starring Laurence Fishburne and directed by Stephen Soderbergh. Fishburne will also preside over the jury in the International Feature Film category which carries a prize of SFr20,000. Swiss film-making will feature prominently with the premiere of Alles…
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The two-time Oscar winner will receive the prize for his life’s work on September 28, organisers said on Friday. “Sean Penn is one of the most impressive film actors of our time. We are extremely pleased and feel very honoured that such an important artist has accepted our invitation to the Zurich Film Festival,” said…
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In 2009 the Oscar-winning Franco-Polish filmmaker was arrested at Zurich airport en route to the ceremony in connection with a 1977 child rape case in the United States. The move caused an international media and cinema world furore – and turned the spotlight on the film festival. Polanski was later placed under house arrest in…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.