The Zurich Film Festival has set the first crop of its gala titles for this year’s event, which runs from September 25 to October 5.
Titles include Benny Safdie’s latest feature, The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson. The Rock is MMA fighter Mark Kerr. The film’s synopsis reads: Kerr, an icon of the early UFC era, stands at the peak of his career while teetering on the edge of destruction – a life caught between fame and self-destruction. Former Playboy model and Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt, tries to support him through all the setbacks, but finds herself pushed to her own limits.
Also screening is Hedda, the latest film from Nia DaCosta. The film is described as a provocative, modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play. Hedda (Tessa Thompson) finds herself torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. Over the course of one charged night, long-repressed desires and hidden tensions erupt – pulling her and everyone around her into a spiral of manipulation, passion, and betrayal.
Scroll down for the full list of titles. The complete program for the 21st ZFF will be announced on September 11.
THE LOST BUS
European Premiere
Action / DramaUSA, 2025Director: Paul GreengrassCast: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson
From director Paul Greengrass and inspired by real events, THE LOST BUS is a white-knuckle ride through one of America’s deadliest wildfires as a wayward school bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) and a dedicated school teacher (America Ferrera) battle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno.
THE SMASHING MACHINE
SportUSA, 2025Director: Benny SafdieCast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Bas Rutten, Ryan Bader
Fan favorite Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson takes on the role of legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr, offering a deep dive into the troubled life of a man who keeps fighting, even when no one is watching. Kerr, an icon of the early UFC era, stands at the peak of his career while teetering on the edge of destruction – a life caught between fame and self-destruction. Former Playboy model and Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt, tries to support him through all the setbacks, but finds herself pushed to her own limits. This is an unflinching look behind the facade of a fighter, and a role that sees Dwayne Johnson reinvent himself as the ROCKY of a new generation.
HEDDA
European PremiereDramaUSA, 2025Director: Nia DaCostaCast: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nicholas Pinnock
From writer and director Nia DaCosta comes a provocative, modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play. HEDDA (Tessa Thompson) finds herself torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. Over the course of one charged night, long-repressed desires and hidden tensions erupt – pulling her and everyone around her into a spiral of manipulation, passion, and betrayal.
TIME WE LOST
World PremiereDramaGermany, Austria, 2025Director: Neele Leana VollmarCast: Anke Engelke, Ulrich Tukur
Hans, a school principal nearing retirement, feels more like a guest in his wife Rita’s life. Their son left home long ago, and their long marriage follows a well-established routine set by Rita. And as far as she is concerned, there is no reason to change anything. In fact, she doesn’t like change. The new tiles in the bathroom are just the beginning of something that’s starting to worry Rita. Suddenly, old wounds resurface. Suddenly, the two realize how little they know about their son’s life. Suddenly, there is this emptiness in their lives. Suddenly, it is no longer clear whether they are two individuals or a couple. But then life happens…
HE LIFE OF WISHES
World PremiereDramaGermany, 2025Director: Erik SchmittCast: Matthias Schweighöfer, Luise Heyer, Verena Altenberger, Benno Fürmann, Henry Hübchen, Ruby O.Fee
Felix (Matthias Schweighöfer) finds himself at a dead end in both his family life and his career. His wife Bianca (Luise Heyer) wants a divorce, his children are drifting away from him, and his hair is thinning. When he loses his job, Felix finds himself on the brink of disaster. Then a mysterious stranger (Henry Hübchen) offers him three wishes. Felix seizes this last hope of getting his family and his job back—and with them, a sense of purpose in life—and formulates a supposedly clever wish: that all his wishes come true. And suddenly he gets what he’s always wanted—success at work, a full head of hair, and love back in his life. However, beneath it all, his hidden wishes begin to surface. Felix is drawn deeper and deeper into the vortex of his darkest desires and is forced to confront his subconscious longings, before discovering that there is only one true wish for him.
A PRIVATE LIFE
ThrillerFrance, 2025Director: Rebecca ZlotowskiCast: Jodie Foster, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, Daniel Auteuil, Vincent Lacoste
Lilian, a psychiatrist who has moved from New York to Paris, begins to lose her footing – both professionally and emotionally – after one of her patients takes her own life. After years of therapy, what did she really know about this woman? Through self-hypnosis, she delves into the world of the woman who died, only to discover it is deeply intertwined with her own life.
THE BALLOONISTS
European PremiereDocumentaryUSA, UK, Austria, 2025Director: John DowerCast: Brian Jones, Bertrand Piccard
In the winter of 1999, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard and British flight instructor Brian Jones embark on an attempt to complete the last great aviation challenge of the 20th century – to circumnavigate the globe, nonstop in a hot-air balloon. Rival teams are lifting off across the world and the race is on to be the first to write their name in the history books. Working together, Piccard and Jones must overcome extreme weather conditions, survive potentially fatal technical failures and endure increasing mental and physical exhaustion if they want to make it.
UNIDENTIFIED
European PremiereMystery / Thriller / Crime DramaSaudi Arabia, 2025Director: Haifaa Al MansourCast: Mila Al Zahrani, Shafi Al Harthi, Aziz Gharbawi, Fatima Sharif, Adwa Al Asiri
The lifeless body of a teenage girl is discovered in the desert. When no one claims her for fear of bringing shame upon her family, rookie officer Noelle Al Saffan gets obsessively involved. Despite her male superiors’ desire to close the case and the resistance of a society where women have learned to hide themselves to ensure their safety, Noelle is determined to identify the body and uncover the truth.
MOMO
World PremiereFamily EntertainmentGermany, Croatia, Slovenia, 2025Director: Christian DitterCast: Alexa Goodall, Martin Freeman, Araloyin Oshunremi, Kim Bodnia, Claes Bang, Laura Haddock, Jennifer Amaka Pettersson, David Schütter
The young orphan girl Momo (Alexa Goodall) lives in the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater and is always ready to listen to the concerns of those around her. Her favorite companion is her best friend, Gino (Araloyin Oshunremi), with whom she loves spending her days. But when a powerful international corporation begins stealing people’s time, the world around her changes. Suddenly, no one has any time for her, not even Gino! Heartbroken and confused, Momo begins to lose hope. But then a mysterious turtle appears and leads her to Master Hora (Martin Freeman), the custodian of time. With his help, Momo sets out on a daring mission to take on the thieves of time. But will they succeed before it’s too late? A thrilling race against time begins…
I’M NOT STILLER
International PremiereLiterary AdaptationSwitzerland, Germany 2025Director: Stefan HauptCast: Albrecht Schuch, Paula Beer, Max Simonischek, Marie Leuenberger, Stefan Kurt, Sven Schelker, Marius Ahrendt, Martin Vischer
While traveling by train through Switzerland, American James Larkin White is arrested at the border. The accusation: he is believed to be the sculptor Anatol Stiller, who disappeared seven years ago and is wanted in connection with a murky political scandal. White denies the charges and insists he is not Stiller. In an effort to confirm his identity, the authorities call on Stiller’s wife Julika for help. But even she is unable to definitively identify him. As memories resurface, the complex relationship between the couple begins to unfold. Meanwhile, the prosecutor reveals an unexpected connection to the missing man. What really happened back then, and who is Stiller really?
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