Slovak director Tereza Nvotova’s drama Father has won the Golden Eye for Best Film at the 21st Zurich Film Festival, as reported by Variety. The Slovak-Czech-Polish film was part of the Feature Film Competition, which highlights early works by emerging filmmakers.
The jury, which included filmmakers and artists from around the world, praised Father for its emotional depth and powerful storytelling. “We were deeply moved by the craft and humanity of this film,” the jury said. They called the main character “a flawed human being caught in a single, devastating mistake,” noting the film’s themes of compassion and hope.
Festival director Christian Jungen described Father as “a captivating thriller” and praised its ability to inspire empathy. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is Slovakia’s Oscar entry for 2026.
In the Documentary Film Competition, Swiss filmmaker Moris Freiburghaus won for I Love You, I Leave You, a personal film about mental illness and friendship. It also won the Critics’ Award and Audience Award.
Special mentions went to Love Letters by Alice Douard and Left-Handed Girl by Shih-Ching Tsou. The festival also honored stars like Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, and Dakota Johnson with special awards.