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Zurich Film Festival 2025 opens with a bold Gala Premieres lineup
The Zurich Film Festival returns for its 21st edition from Sept. 25 to Oct. 5, 2025, and the festival’s Gala Premieres promise a lively blend of Hollywood heavyweights, bold modern adaptations, and standout German-language debuts. Festival director Christian Jungen has long highlighted the gala strand as a launchpad for awards-season contenders — and this year’s selection underlines that ambition.
Headline films and plot summaries
The Smashing Machine (dir. Benny Safdie)
A dramatic pivot for Dwayne Johnson, The Smashing Machine chronicles the rise and fall of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. The film tracks Kerr’s brutal climb to prominence and the personal struggles he faces when the spotlight fades. Emily Blunt co-stars as Dawn Staples, Kerr’s partner, offering an intimate counterpoint to the violence of the ring.
Hedda (dir. Nia DaCosta)
Nia DaCosta reimagines Henrik Ibsen’s classic Hedda Gabler for a modern audience. Tessa Thompson leads as the enigmatic Hedda, supported by Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots and Tom Bateman. Expect psychological tension, contemporary social themes, and a fresh cinematic language that bridges theater and film.
The Lost Bus (dir. Paul Greengrass)
Inspired by true events, Paul Greengrass’s The Lost Bus follows a school bus driver, played by Matthew McConaughey, who becomes embroiled in one of America’s deadliest wildfires. America Ferrera portrays a teacher who helps evacuate and protect 22 children, delivering a high-stakes, human-centered survival drama.
Cast, crew and production notes
These gala films bring auteurs and star power together: Benny Safdie’s hands-on directing style, Nia DaCosta’s bold adaptation instincts, and Paul Greengrass’s documentary-inflected approach to action. The line-up also features Rebecca Zlotowski’s A Private Life with Jodie Foster, Erik Schmitt’s The Life of Wishes, Stefan Haupt’s Swiss literary adaptation I’m Not Stiller, Neele Leana Vollmar’s Time We Lost, Haifaa Al Mansour’s Unidentified, Christian Ditter’s family film Momo, and John Dower’s documentary The Balloonists.
Critical reception and festival buzz
Early reactions at press screenings and industry tastings have highlighted the audacious casting choices and the festival-ready blend of spectacle and intimate storytelling. While formal reviews will roll out closer to Zurich’s screenings, the pedigree of directors and performers suggests strong awards-season potential — exactly the kind of cinema the Gala Premieres aims to showcase.
Why this lineup matters — and a brief opinion
As a film enthusiast, the 2025 gala slate feels carefully curated: it balances mainstream appeal and arthouse integrity, giving audiences blockbuster talent alongside daring European cinema. The Smashing Machine offers a fresh genre turn for Dwayne Johnson, Hedda invites reinvention of a canonical text, and The Lost Bus speaks to urgent, real-world drama. All three are must-see entries for anyone tracking the festival circuit, awards buzz, and modern cinematic storytelling.
The festival’s full program will be announced on Sept. 11 — until then, this gala selection is a compelling preview of the films likely to shape the autumn festival season and the coming awards conversation.
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