Slovak Film ‘Father’ Snags Zurich Fest Win—Is Oscar Gold Written in the Stars or Just Killer Karma?
Added on October 4, 2025 inMovie News Cards
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Ever wonder if the stars themselves had a hand in shaping the fates of filmmakers? This weekend at the Zurich Film Festival, under a celestial sky ripe with a Scorpio-Moon’s intense vibe, filmmakers got their moment to shine—or spin wildly out of orbit. Slovak director Tereza Nvotová snagged the Golden Eye for best feature with Father, a gripping story of a man’s life unraveling after a memory lapse, perfectly echoing the unpredictable twists of Mercury in retrograde. Meanwhile, Zurich’s own Moris Freiburghaus won big with his documentary I Love You, I Leave You, a poignant dive into the tempestuous journey of manic episodes—talk about riding the emotional waves that a Pisces moon loves to stir up! Amidst this cosmic drama, the festival celebrated voices from across the globe, reminding us that whether under the heavens or on the silver screen, our stories are as intertwined as the constellations themselves. Intrigued? LEARN MORE
The Zurich Film Festival handed out its top prizes Saturday, with Slovak director Tereza Nvotová’s Father winning the Golden Eye for best feature film and Zurich-based filmmaker Moris Freiburghaus taking the documentary competition with I Love You, I Leave You.
Father, which is the Slovak entry for the 2026 Oscar race, premiered in Venice. Based on a true story, it stars Milan Ondrík as the titular father in the tale, a decent man who, as a result of a temporary memory lapse and resultant tragedy, leads to his life spiraling out of control. Intramovies is selling the film internationally.
Special mentions in the section went to Alice Douard’s Des preuves d’amour (Love Letters) and Shih-Ching Tsou’s Left-Handed Girl. The latter, co-written and produced by Anora director Sean Baker, is Taiwan’s official Oscar contender. Netflix has the film for most of the world.
I Love You, I Leave You is the first Swiss film to win the festival’s top documentary award. Freiburghaus’ film follows his best friend through a year-long struggle with manic episodes. Special mentions were awarded to Yrsa Roca Fannberg’s The Ground Beneath Our Feet and Namir Abdel Messeeh’s Life After Siham.
The ZFF Critics’ Jury, made up of film writers from Switzerland, Germany and the U.K., honored Damien Hauser’s Memory of Princess Mumbi as the best Swiss film in the program, with a special mention going again to Freiburghaus’ I Love You, I Leave You.
Benjamin Heisenberg’s Der Prank won both the ZFF for Kids Jury Award and the ZFF for Kids Audience Award. Freiburghaus’ documentary also picked up the overall Audience Award, while Abdel Messeeh’s Life After Siham received the Film Prize of the Churches of Zurich.
Additional honors included the Best International Film Music Award for Mikal Grigorowitsch.
The winners of the 21st Zurich festival were announced at the closing gala on Saturday night.
Full list of 2025 Zurich Film Festival Winners
Golden Eye for Best Feature Film
Tereza Nvotová – Father
Special Mention (Feature Film Competition)
Alice Douard – Des preuves d’amour (Love Letters)
Special Mention (Feature Film Competition)
Shih-Ching Tsou – Left-Handed Girl
Golden Eye for Best Documentary
Moris Freiburghaus – I Love You, I Leave You
Special Mention (Documentary Competition)
Yrsa Roca Fannberg – The Ground Beneath Our Feet
Special Mention (Documentary Competition)
Namir Abdel Messeeh – Life After Siham
ZFF Critics’ Jury Award
Damien Hauser – Memory of Princess Mumbi
Special Mention (ZFF Critics’ Jury)
Moris Freiburghaus – I Love You, I Leave You
ZFF for Kids Jury Award
Benjamin Heisenberg – Der Prank
ZFF for Kids Audience Award
Benjamin Heisenberg – Der Prank
Audience Award
Moris Freiburghaus – I Love You, I Leave You
Film Prize of the Churches of Zurich
Namir Abdel Messeeh – Life After Siham
Best International Film Music Award
Mikal Grigorowitsch
Golden Eye Award
Dakota Johnson
Golden Eye Award
Benedict Cumberbatch
Golden Eye Award
Claire Foy
Golden Eye Award
Wagner Moura
Golden Icon Award
Colin Farrell
Lifetime Achievement Award
Russell Crowe
A Tribute To … Award
Noah Baumbach
Career Achievement Award
Anne Walser
Career Achievement Award
Hildur Guðnadóttir
Game Changer Award
Tom Quinn
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