The Zurich Film Festival has announced that acclaimed U.S. writer-director Cary Joji Fukunaga, celebrated for his work on "No Time to Die," will chair the jury for the Feature Film Competition. This section showcases 14 films, highlighting the debut, second, or third features from various directors, all vying for the prestigious Golden Eye award and a prize of CHF 25,000 (approximately $30,340).

Joining Fukunaga on the Feature Film Competition jury will be a diverse group of industry professionals, including Swiss-French actress Ella Rumpf, known for "Love Letters"; Mexican director and screenwriter Fernando Eimbcke, recognized for "Moscas"; producer Julie Billy, associated with "The Little Sister"; and Italian film editor and director Walter Fasano, acclaimed for "Nino – Un Film Su Nino Rota." Meanwhile, Danish filmmaker and anthropologist Sine Plambech, whose film "Heartbound" was a past Golden Eye winner at Zurich, will preside over the Documentary Competition jury, which also features 14 films. Her latest work, "Rescue," is set for its European premiere at the festival.

Plambech's jury will comprise Spanish cinematographer Alfredo de Juan ("Edge of the Unknown"), Norwegian producer Anne Köhncke ("Pervert Park"), Swiss director Jela Hasler ("Les Nouvelles Èves"), and Austrian director and producer Nikolaus Geyrhalter ("Homo Sapiens"). Fukunaga's connection to the Zurich Film Festival dates back to 2009, when his debut feature "Sin Nombre" was screened in competition, and again in 2021, when his James Bond film "No Time to Die" was presented as a Gala Premiere, further solidifying his presence and influence within the festival's history. His extensive filmography also includes "Jane Eyre" and "Beasts of No Nation," and he co-wrote the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's "It." Recently, Fukunaga completed production on an adaptation of Jo Nesbo's "Blood on Snow." In television, he earned an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for the inaugural season of HBO's "True Detective."

The Zurich Film Festival continues to be a vibrant platform for celebrating cinematic excellence and fostering emerging talent. The selection of such distinguished figures as jury heads underscores the festival's commitment to showcasing groundbreaking storytelling and artistic vision, inspiring both filmmakers and audiences alike to explore the transformative power of film.