The Zurich Film Festival undergoes a management buyback led by the director of the Christian Jungen event with the intention of bringing the Swiss event more and more important to the higher level.
Jungen is joined in the acquisition by the assistant director of the Reta Guet Guetg festival (they are illustrated above), by the Swiss entrepreneur and television host Max Loong, by the longtime president of the ZFF, Felix E. Müller, and the expert finance based in Los Angeles, Marek Skreta.
“The group plans to establish the ZFF as one of the main film festivals in Europe thanks to strategic partnerships with international actors,” they said in a statement. The acquisition ends the partnership between the Festival and the Swiss media group NZZ which had acquired the Zurich Film Festival ten years ago. However, the NZZ will remain a partner for the next three years, have noted the new owners of the event.
“I am delighted to drive the ZFF in a new era with our current team and new owners who love cinema and know the festival upside down”, Jungen in a press release. “We are a solution based in Zurich which has the confidence of our partners and the cinema community. We think great and we think internationally,” he added.
“Our objective is to position the ZFF as one of the first cinematographic events in Europe, where the public can see the films and the stars that will win Oscars later in the season,” continued Jungen. “We want to bring joy and a festive atmosphere to the city and organize a festival of which Zurich can be proud. To achieve this, we will obtain new private partners and will extend the support of foundations, donors and public institutions, ”continued Jungen.
Last year, the 20th edition of the Zurich Film Festival presented an impressive list of international stars, including Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Richard Gere and Pamela Anderson. The event also offers a deep dive into some of the most urgent problems facing industry at its annual Zurich Summit conference.
This year, Tom Quinnn, who is CEO and founder of Neon, will be celebrated with the Game Change Award at the Zurich summit which will take place from September 26 to 28.
The upcoming 21st edition of the ZFF, which attracted 140,000 visitors last year, will take place from September 25 to October. 5
