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Key Points

Tereza Nvotova's film "Father" has taken home the top prize at the Zurich Film Festival. The Slovak-Czech-Polish drama competed against emerging directors from around the world. Jurors were particularly moved by the film's exploration of humanity and compassion. The win marks another achievement for the film, which recently became Slovakia's Oscar entry.

Key Points: Tereza Nvotova's Father Wins Zurich Film Festival Golden Eye

  • Slovak-Czech-Polish drama explores ordinary family facing extraordinary circumstances
  • Film features flawed protagonist caught in devastating mistake
  • Jury praised the work's compassion, hope and human resilience
  • Director Christian Jungen called it a captivating thriller roller-coaster
3 min read

Tereza Nvotova's 'Father' wins Golden Eye for Best Film at 21st Zurich Film Festival

Slovak director Tereza Nvotova's drama "Father" wins Best Film at 21st Zurich Film Festival, praised for its humanity and compassion in portraying family crisis.

"We were deeply moved by the craft and the humanity of this film - Zurich Film Festival Jury"

Zurich, October 5

Slovak director Tereza Nvotova's 'Father' has won the 21st Zurich Film Festival's Golden Eye for Best Film , reported Variety.

Showcased in the Feature Film Competition - dedicated to first, second and third feature films by emerging directors - the Slovak-Czech-Polish drama impressed jurors Reinaldo Marcus Green, Leonie Benesch, Carlo Cresto-Dina, Ali Asgari and Nicole Reinhard.

The jury also awarded special mentions to French director Alice Douard's Love Letters and Taiwanese-American filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou's Left-Handed Girl, which is Taiwan's 2026 Oscar entry.

"We were deeply moved by the craft and the humanity of this film," they stated, discussing 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," added the jury members, as quoted by Variety.

Zurich's director, Christian Jungen, called 'Father' a "captivating thriller which takes us on a roller-coaster." "Film is the medium of empathy and this film shapes our understanding of a man who did a terrible mistake, but is not evil," he said.

In 'Father', which world premiered in Venice and was recently selected as the Slovak Oscar entry.

Another Golden Eye went to Zurich-based Moris Freiburghaus' "I Love You, I Leave You," shown in the Documentary Film Competition, making it the first-ever winner of the section.

"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," said jurors Matthew Heineman, Odessa Rae, David Osit, Katharina Bhend and Helle Faber.

"I Love You, I Leave You" also picked up the ZFF Critics' special mention and Audience Award, according to Variety.

Complete list of awards:

Feature Film Competition

"Father," dir. Tereza Nvotova

Special Mentions

"Love Letters," dir. Alice Douard

"Left-Handed Girl," dir. Shih-Ching Tsou

Documentary Film Competition

"I Love You, I Leave You," dir. Moris Freiburghaus

Special Mentions

"The Ground Beneath Our Feet," Yrsa Roca Fannberg

"Life After Siham," dir. Namir Abdel Messeeh

ZFF Critics' Jury Award

"Memory of Princess Mumbi," dir. Damien Hauser

Special Mention

"I Love You, I Leave You," dir. Moris Freiburghaus

ZFF for Kids Jury Award

"Der Prank," dir. Benjamin Heisenberg

ZFF for Kids Audience Award

"Der Prank," dir. Benjamin Heisenberg

Audience Award

"I Love You, I Leave You," dir. Moris Freiburghaus

Film Prize of the Churches of Zurich

"Life After Siham," dir. Namir Abdel Messeeh

Best International Film Music

Mikal Grigorowitsch

Golden Eye Awards

Dakota Johnson

Benedict Cumberbatch

Claire Foy

Wagner Moura

Lifetime Achievement Award

Russell Crowe

Golden Icon Award

Colin Farrell

A Tribute To ... Award

Noah Baumbach

Career Achievement Awards

Anne Walser

Hildur Gudnadottir

Game Changer Award

Tom Quinn

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Great to see international cinema getting recognition. The description of "Father" reminds me of some of our own Bollywood films that explore complex family dynamics. Would love to watch this!
R
Rohit P
Interesting to see Taiwan's Oscar entry getting special mention. Always good when diverse voices are recognized in global cinema. The documentary about mental illness also sounds important for breaking stigmas.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate international cinema, I do wish Indian regional films got more recognition at such prestigious festivals. We have incredible storytelling talent that deserves global platforms too.
M
Meera T
The theme of "a flawed human being caught in a single devastating mistake" is so universal. This is exactly the kind of cinema that connects people across cultures. Looking forward to watching this! 🎬
V
Vikram M
Good to see emerging directors getting recognition. The documentary "I Love You, I Leave You" winning multiple awards shows how powerful real stories can be. Mental health awareness is crucial everywhere, including India.

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