Zurich Film Festival

Kristen Stewart | ZFF Masters 2019 | #FromTheArchive

Kristen Stewart is one of the most influential actresses of her generation. At the age of eleven, she appeared alongside Jodie Foster in PANIC ROOM. She made her big breakthrough with the role of Bella Swan in the film adaptation of the TWILIGHT series. In later projects such as SEBERG, CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA, and STILL ALICE, she demonstrated her versatility. She was nominated for an Oscar in 2022 for her role as Princess Diana in SPENCER. Back in 2019, she was honored with the Golden Eye Award at the 15th Zurich Film Festival. In a previously recorded, previously unreleased episode of ZFF Masters, she talks about her career.

Ethan Hawke | ZFF Masters 2023 | #FromTheArchive

Ethan Hawke joined us at #ZFF2023 for a ZFF Masters conversation about his multifaceted career. As he is now nominated for the 2026 Oscars for his performance in BLUE MOON, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit this episode #FromTheArchive. A quick note: we experienced some technical issues during the recording of this episode, but the conversation was far too good to keep in the vault. Hawke first captured worldwide attention in DEAD POETS SOCIETY and has since demonstrated remarkable range across genres: from the romantic wit of the BEFORE trilogy to the intensity of TRAINING DAY. Beyond acting, he has also built an impressive body of work as a producer, director, and author. In this ZFF Masters, he reflects on his creative journey, artistic curiosity, and the many directions his career has taken.

Rolf Lyssy | ZFF Masters 2020 | #FromTheArchive

Der Schweizer Regisseur Rolf Lyssy gehört mit seinem beeindruckenden Œuvre aus Spiel- und Dokumentarfilmen zählt Rolf Lyssy zu den herausragenden Filmemachern der Schweiz. So gehört sein Meisterwerk DIE SCHWEIZERMACHER bis heute zu den erfolgreichsten Schweizer Filmen. Weitere grosse Erfolge feierte er mit Dialektkomödien wie TEDDY BÄR und LEO SONNYBOY. Gleichzeitig widmete er sich gesellschaftlichen Brennthemen, mit DIE LETZTE POINTE etwa dem selbstbestimmten Leben im Alter. In seiner ZFF Masters aus dem Jahr 2020 sprach Lyssy über Hochs und Tiefs seiner Karriere und seinen Spielfilm EDEN FÜR JEDEN.

Claire Foy | ZFF Masters 2025

British actress Claire Foy is one of Europe's most versatile character actresses. Known for her portrayal of young Queen Elizabeth II in the award-winning Netflix production THE CROWN (2016–2023) and works in films like THE SEASON OF THE WITCH (2011), WOMEN TALKING (2022) and ALL OF US STRANGERS (2023), she earned praise by critics world wide. In this ZFF Masters episode, she shares personal stories from her career in the film business and how she became the actress she is today. She also talks about her latest drama, H IS FOR HAWK, which celebrated its international premiere at Zurich Film Festival. The film released in the UK and US on 23 January 2026. ZFF Masters are in-depth conversations with renowned voices from world cinema, which are open to the public and take place during the Zurich Film Festival. They offer audiences insight into the creative process and artistic vision of personalities in film around the world. The full talks are available on YouTube and as podcast. Cover Photo: Sandro Bäbler #ZFF2025 #zurichfilmfestival

James McAvoy | ZFF Masters 2025

In this ZFF Masters session, Scottish actor James McAvoy reflects on his journey as an actor, his Scottish roots, and what art means to him. He discusses how defining roles in films such as THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, X-MEN, and ATONEMENT shaped his career and artistic identity, and shares insights into his directorial debut CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN'. Renowned for his remarkable range, James McAvoy is one of the most distinctive performers of his generation. The Scottish-born actor appeared early on in television and film projects including THE NEAR ROOM, REGENERATION, and BAND OF BROTHERS. He achieved international recognition with SHAMELESS (2004–2005), followed by global success as Mr. Tumnus in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. His performance in THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND earned him a BAFTA Scotland Award, while ATONEMENT brought BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. From the psychological intensity of SPLIT to blockbuster roles in the X-MEN franchise, McAvoy continues to demonstrate extraordinary versatility. With CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN', he now steps behind the camera for his directorial debut.