The Zurich Film Festival has announced an exciting lineup of gala screenings for this year’s edition, taking place from September 25 to October 5.
Among the films announced is Benny Safdie’s new movie, The Smashing Machine, featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as MMA fighter Mark Kerr. The plot follows Kerr at the height of his career, balancing on a thin line between success and self-destruction. His journey is tumultuous, marked by fame and personal battles. Emily Blunt portrays Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, a former Playboy model who struggles to keep her own life together while supporting her husband through his challenges.
Another highlight is Hedda, directed by Nia DaCosta. This film offers a contemporary twist on Henrik Ibsen’s classic play. It stars Tessa Thompson as Hedda, a woman caught between a past lover’s memory and her oppressive current existence. As tensions mount during a pivotal night, hidden desires and conflicts come to the forefront, leading to dramatic consequences for Hedda and those in her orbit.
The full list of films will be revealed on September 11, with the complete schedule for the 21st Zurich Film Festival.
THE LOST BUS
European Premiere
Action / Drama
USA, 2025
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson
Directed by Paul Greengrass, THE LOST BUS is a gripping action-drama based on true events about a school bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) and a teacher (America Ferrera) who heroically attempt to rescue 22 children from a deadly wildfire.
THE SMASHING MACHINE
Sport
USA, 2025
Director: Benny Safdie
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Bas Rutten, Ryan Bader
In this sports drama, Dwayne Johnson portrays Mark Kerr, a famed MMA fighter whose life is a precarious balance of professional success and personal turmoil, with Emily Blunt playing his supportive yet struggling wife, Dawn Staples.
HEDDA
European Premiere
Drama
USA, 2025
Director: Nia DaCosta
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nicholas Pinnock
Nia DaCosta’s HEDDA is a bold reimagining of Ibsen’s work, featuring Tessa Thompson as a woman torn between past and present, whose suppressed desires trigger a night of dramatic revelations and emotional upheavals.
TIME WE LOST
World Premiere
Drama
Germany, Austria, 2025
Director: Neele Leana Vollmar
Cast: Anke Engelke, Ulrich Tukur
In TIME WE LOST, a retiring school principal, Hans, and his wife Rita face a turning point in their long-standing marriage that prompts them to reevaluate their lives and relationship amidst unexpected changes and resurfacing tensions.
Additional films include THE LIFE OF WISHES, a drama about a man’s encounter with a mystical opportunity for personal transformation, and A PRIVATE LIFE, a thriller about a psychiatrist’s deep dive into her own life following a patient’s suicide, among others. Each film offers unique narratives and compelling performances set to captivate audiences at the Zurich Film Festival.
The festival will also feature THE BALLOONISTS, a documentary about an adventurous hot-air balloon race, and UNIDENTIFIED, a mystery thriller about a dutiful officer’s quest to uncover the truth behind a girl’s death in the desert.
MOMO and I’M NOT STILLER round out the diverse slate, promising to engage viewers with tales of time theft and mistaken identity, respectively.
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