Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl has won top honors at the 20th Zurich Film Festival, winning the Golden Eye for best film.
Zurich’s competition jury, led by Lee Daniels, praised the film for its spectacular cinematography, exquisite sound design and breathtaking performances. Nyoni’s follow-up to her breakout debut I Am Not A Witch is a surreal and seriocomic family drama about sexual abuse, set in Zambia’s capital city of Lusaka. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section this year, winning best director for the Welsh-Zambian filmmaker.
Shiori Itō’s Black Box Diaries won Zurich’s audience award and took best documentary honors. The astounding investigative film follows the five years Itō spent trying to bring to justice the older, more powerful man who sexually assaulted her. The film, which premiered at Sundance, earned accolades from the documentary jury for its brave and personal approach to addressing misogyny.
Jasmin Gordon’s Swiss family drama Les Courageux (The Courageous) took the Zurich Film Festival’s critics award. In the film, Ophélia Kolb stars as Jule, a single mother of three struggling to keep up appearances who forms an unlikely, profound friendship with a Muslim woman.
The awards for the 20th Zurich Film Festival were handed out at a gala ceremony at the Zurich Opera House Saturday night. Honorary Golden Eye awards were handed out earlier to Jude Law and Pamela Anderson for their contributions to cinema. Kate Winslet and Swiss comedy legend Emil Steinberger received lifetime achievement awards. The film industry Game Changer Awards went to Roeg Sutherland, Co-Head of Media Finance at CAA.
See the full winners list below.
Feature Film Competition Golden Eye
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Documentary Competition Golden Eye
Black Box Diaries
ZFF Critics’ Award
Les Courageux
ZFF for Kids Jury Award
Leeuwin
ZFF for Kids Audience Award
Die Heinzels – Neue Mützen, Neue Mission
Audience Award
Black Box Diaries
Film Prize of the Churches of Zurich
Les Courageux
Best International Film Music
Ahmed Soroko
Golden Icon Award
Kate Winslet
Golden Eye Award
Jude Law
Golden Eye Award
Pamela Anderson
Golden Eye Award
Alicia Vikander
A Tribute To… Award
Edward Berger
Lifetime Achievement Award
Emil Steinberger
Career Achievement Award
Howard Shore
Game Changer Award
Roeg Sutherland
