Zurich Film Festival Award Night 2025

Last night’s Award Night at the Zurich Film Festival was a whirlwind of elegance, cinema, and celebration. I was invited by Breitling for a pre-event dinner at the Schiller Brasserie, just steps away from the opera house. The setting was classic Zurich: refined, intimate, and buzzing with anticipation. I wore a Chronomat 36 in mint green and a diamond parure by Ontoo Jewelry—both pieces felt like they belonged in a film themselves. The dinner brought together guests from various sponsors, and the dress code was strictly glamorous: long gowns for the ladies, smoking for the gentlemen.

Doris Fiala, the newly appointed President of the Zurich Film Festival, moderated the evening. A former member of the Swiss National Council and a prominent figure in Zurich’s cultural and political scene, she now leads the festival’s board and represents it publicly. Her presence added a sense of gravitas and continuity to the night.

After dinner, we walked over to the opera house, which was breathtaking. The building’s neoclassical façade glowed under the city lights, and inside, the grand staircase and ornate chandeliers created a cinematic atmosphere that felt perfectly suited to the occasion. The Zurich Opera House, with its velvet seats and gilded balconies, is one of the most beautiful venues in Europe—and last night, it was the beating heart of Swiss cinema.

Kiki Maeder, Swiss TV presenter and actress, took over as host for the award presentations. She guided us through the Audience Award, the Kids Jury selections, and other highlights with charm and precision. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for: the arrival of James McAvoy.

McAvoy was the star guest of the evening, presenting his directorial debut California Schemin’. He shared that while he had performed in operas and attended many, he had never shown a film—let alone his own—inside an opera house. “Let’s see how it goes,” he said with a grin, “and I’ll tell you better in two hours.”He must have been  a bit nervous because he handled his microphone as a jugglerm making it turn in the air and catching it again without even realising. I thought being nervous that way doesn’t get any cooler.

The film was a crowd-pleaser with bite. Based on the true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, California Schemin’ follows two friends from Dundee who reinvent themselves as Californian hip-hop artists to break into the UK music scene. It’s a wild ride of ambition, deception, and identity, with moments of sharp humor and emotional depth. McAvoy also plays a supporting role as a ruthless music producer, adding a layer of grit to the story. The film’s energy was infectious, and the audience responded with laughter, gasps, and applause.

After the screening, the foyer filled quickly. The after party spilled into four different spaces around the opera building, which had been transformed into a glowing disco wonderland. A giant disco ball spun above the crowd, casting light across the marble floors. Food trucks lined the perimeter, offering everything from caviar to vegan dumplings, while DJs kept the energy high well into the night.

I left early—deliberately—and loved being the first one out. There’s something delicious about slipping away from a glittering party while it’s still in full swing, heels in hand, mint green watch catching the moonlight.