Film festival wraps up in Zurich
Swiss, Austrian and American films have won the top prizes at the seventh Zurich Film Festival, which ended on Sunday.
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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