Zurich Film Festival Embarks on New Era With Director-Led Buyout

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is set to enter a new chapter following a management buyout of festival owners the NZZ group, led by Zurich festival director Christian Jungen. The buyout, unveiled on Thursday, ends a decade-long partnership between the festival and the Swiss media group.

Jungen is joined in the buyout by festival vice director Reta Guetg, Swiss entrepreneur and TV host Max Loong, long-time ZFF President Felix E. Müller, and finance expert Marek Skreta. The new owners plan to take the Zurich festival to the next level, elevating the event to the top tier of European film festivals.

“I am excited to lead the ZFF into a new era together with our current team and new owners who love cinema and know the festival inside out,” said Jungen in a statement. “We are a Zurich-based solution that has the trust of our partners and the filmmaking community. We are thinking big and we are thinking internationally. Our goal is to position the ZFF as one of Europe’s premier film events, where audiences can see the films and stars that will go on to win Oscars later in the season. We want to bring joy and a celebratory atmosphere to the city and host a festival that Zurich can be proud of. To achieve this, we will secure new private partners and expand support from foundations, donors, and public institutions.”

NZZ, which acquired the Zurich film festival ten years ago, will remain a key partner for the next three years, the new owners said. NZZ CEO Felix Graf described the move as a step toward further professionalization while preserving the festival’s existing framework.

The new leadership team combines deep festival experience with international business acumen. Jungen has overseen the ZFF’s artistic direction since 2019, after spending a decade as a journalist at NZZ. Guetg, who has led industry and programming at ZFF for ten years, brings strong ties to the international film community. Müller, also editor-in-chief of NZZ am Sonntag, authored a book on the ZFF’s history and is a central figure in Swiss cultural life. Loong and Skreta add expertise in sponsorship, hospitality, and global festival strategy, with Skreta having ties to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The ZFF, which drew 140,000 visitors last year, will stage its 21st edition Sept. 25-Oct. 5.