The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) announced today that multiple Academy Award® winning actor and humanitarian Sean Penn will receive the coveted Golden Icon Award at this year’s Festival, taking place September 22nd – October 2nd. The announcement was made by ZFF Directors Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht. Serving as the Festival’s most prestigious symbol of recognition, awarded in appreciation of the lifetime achievements of an actor or actress, the Golden Icon Award will be...

Three prominent film personalities will form the jury for the Iris of Tomorrow for best first or second film in the Competition, Latin Universe and Planet Earth categories of the New Montreal FilmFest. Due to the number of films entered, the award will go to a film having its world or international premiere at the festival, which runs from September 18 to 25.Headed by Chinese filmmaker Yon Fan, the jury also includes Chilean director-producer Alex Bowen and Quebec film critic Francine Laurendeau...

Jack Valenti steps down from his power position at the Motion Picture Association of America and has named Dan Glickman as his successor. Valenti, 82, will officially retire Sept. 1, Will he celebrate his birthday with Anne d'Ornano during the Deauville Film Festival remains uncertain.Texas born, Harvard educated, Jack Valenti has led several lives: a wartime bomber pilot, advertising agency founder, political consultant, White House Special Assistant, movie industry leader. In his current role ...