The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) announced today the members of the four juries that will preside over the competition categories at the 8th edition of the Festival, which takes place September 20th – 30th.

Three-time Academy Award® nominated writer, producer and director Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption, The Walking Dead) will serve as Jury President for the ZFF’s international section.

The 2012 Zurich Film Festival jury members are:

International Fiction Jury:

Frank Darabont (Jury President)
Pietro Scalia (Italy), two-time Academy Award® winning film editor (Gladiator, Good Will Hunting, Black Hawk Down, Kick-Ass)
Michael Shamberg (US), two-time Academy Award® nominated producer (The Big Chill, Erin Brockovich, Pulp Fiction)
Daniel Espino (Sweden), director, producer and writer (Safe House, Snabba Cash, Outside Love)
Carlos Leal (Switzerland), actor, writer and producer (Casino Royale, Broken Embraces, Snow White)

International Documentary Jury:

Jessica Yu (President), Academy Award® winning director, producer, writer (Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien)
Philippe Diaz (US), producer, director, writer (The Empire in Africa)
Janus Metz (Denmark), director, writer (Armadillo)
Mohamed Al Daradji (Iraq), director, producer, writer (Son of Babylon)

German Fiction Jury:

Julia Jentsch actress (Sophie Scholl)
Florian Flicker director, actor, writer (No Name City)
Peter Luisi award-winning writer, producer, director (The Sandman)
Marcel Hoehn producer (Mostly Martha)

German Documentary Jury:

Gabrielle Kranzelbinder (Jury President) producer (Taxidermia)
Stefan Haupt director, writer, producer (Utopia Blues)
Martin Hagemann producer (Creep)
Miriam von Arx director, producer, writer
 
Entering its eighth year, the Zurich Film Festival has established itself as one of the world’s marquee Film Festivals, discovering and promoting independent voices and talent from around the world and showcasing a diverse array of international films. ZFF continues to serve as the setting for many World and European premieres and is introducing a German language film market for the first time this year.

This year, two-time Academy Award® nominee John Travolta, will be honoured with the prestigious ‘Golden Eye’ award for his achievements in cinema before the opening night screening of Oliver Stone’s “Savages” on Thursday, September 20th. 

In addition, legendary producer and entertainment industry icon Jerry Weintraub (“Ocean’s Eleven” series, “Karate Kid” series) will be in Zurich to receive a special career achievement award on Wednesday, September 26th.

More information about the 8th Zurich Film Festival can be found at: www.zff.com.