Zurich Film Festival, award for director Selman Nakar

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) GoldenEye was awarded to Turkish director Selman Nacar for his film The Wound of Indecision. Also awarded were “Hollywood Gate,” by Egyptian Ibrahim Nashat, shot in Afghanistan, and “Rear View,” a documentary about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, by Polish director Macik Hamela.

As noted in the statement, the artistic director of the event, Christian Jungen, spoke about films that “keep up with the times”, telling about the “harsh realities” of Turkey, Afghanistan and Ukraine. The GoldenEye Prize, worth 25,000 francs, was awarded in three different categories (feature films, focus films and documentaries).

In the feature film section, where works from around the world competed, the jury, chaired by Dutchman Anton Corbijn, awarded the “Wound of Indecision” award for a “humorous” critique of Turkish religious society. The performance of actress Tyulin Ozen, who was called “magnificent,” received special praise.

In the Focus category, dedicated to works from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the American and German product Hollywoodgate won. Nashat followed two Taliban leaders for a year after the Americans and their allies left Afghanistan. The Genevan director Maxime Rappaz and his “Laissez-moi” deserve special mention.

Finally, in the documentary section, GoldenEye went to Rear View. According to the jury, Hamela’s film explores the rampant excesses of war in a “minimalist and assertive” style.

The festival, running from September 28 to October 8, featured 148 films, including 52 European and world premieres. Eighteen Swiss films are participating in the competition. This edition of ZFF, on the 19th, brings stars of the caliber of Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger, Todd Haynes, Ethan Hawke, Wim Wenders and Peter Sarsgaard to the shores of the Limmat.