The Zurich Film Festival has confirmed its Golden Eyes for 2025, with Father by Tereza Nvotová triumphing in the Feature Film Competition and I Love You, I Leave You by Zurich-based Moris Freiburghaus victorious in the Documentary Film Competition.
This marks the first time the Golden Eye in the Documentary Film Competition has been awarded to a Swiss film.
The Feature Film category showcased 14 first, second and third feature films by emerging directors from across the globe.
While Father took home the top prize, there were special mentions for Love Letters by Alice Douard and Left-Handed Girl by Tsou Shih-Ching.
Speaking of Father’s win, the jury said: “This film tells the story of an ordinary family facing extraordinary circumstances. Its central character is neither a villain nor a hero, but a flawed human being caught in a single, devastating mistake.
“The film shows how that mistake can shatter what we love most, and yet it is, at its heart, about compassion, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.
“We were deeply moved by the craft and the humanity of this film. It is our honour to present the Golden Eye Award to Tereza Nvotová for Father.”
Meanwhile, The Ground Beneath Our Feet by Yrsa Roca Fannberg and Namir Abdel Messeeh’s Life After Siham received special mentions in the Documentary category, but were pipped by I Love You, I Leave You.
The jury explained: “We loved all three films, but when it came to our winning film, we all agreed that we had never seen anything like it before.
“In capturing his best friend’s battle with manic episodes over the course of a year, Moris Freiburghaus’ bold directorial debut gives us an unflinching look at mental illness and the unshakeable bonds of friendship and family.
“For its beautifully rendered and cinematically inventive style, it’s a massive honour for us to present the Golden Eye Award for Best Documentary – for the first time in the festival’s history – to a Swiss film.”
Elsewhere, Memory of Princess Mumbi by Damien Hauser received the ZFF Critics’ Jury Award, with the film praised for its “whimsical, humorous and profoundly original” approach, while stars including Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson took home honorary awards.
The full list of winners is now available on the ZFF website.
