Rungano Nyoni’s ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ Wins Zurich Film Festival

Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl has won top honors at the 20th Zurich Film Festival, winning the Golden Eye for best film.

Zurich’s competition jury, led by Lee Daniels, praised the film for its spectacular cinematography, exquisite sound design and breathtaking performances. Nyoni’s follow-up to her breakout debut I Am Not A Witch is a surreal and seriocomic family drama about sexual abuse, set in Zambia’s capital city of Lusaka. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section this year, winning best director for the Welsh-Zambian filmmaker.

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Shiori Itō’s Black Box Diaries won Zurich’s audience award and took best documentary honors. The astounding investigative film follows the five years Itō spent trying to bring to justice the older, more powerful man who sexually assaulted her. The film, which premiered at Sundance, earned accolades from the documentary jury for its brave and personal approach to addressing misogyny.

Jasmin Gordon’s Swiss family drama Les Courageux (The Courageous) took the Zurich Film Festival’s critics award. In the film, Ophélia Kolb stars as Jule, a single mother of three struggling to keep up appearances who forms an unlikely, profound friendship with a Muslim woman.

The awards for the 20th Zurich Film Festival were handed out at a gala ceremony at the Zurich Opera House Saturday night. Honorary Golden Eye awards were handed out earlier to Jude Law and Pamela Anderson for their contributions to cinema. Kate Winslet and Swiss comedy legend Emil Steinberger received lifetime achievement awards. The film industry Game Changer Awards went to Roeg Sutherland, Co-Head of Media Finance at CAA.

See the full winners list below.

Feature Film Competition Golden Eye

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Documentary Competition Golden Eye

Black Box Diaries

ZFF Critics’ Award

Les Courageux

ZFF for Kids Jury Award

Leeuwin

ZFF for Kids Audience Award

Die Heinzels – Neue Mützen, Neue Mission

Audience Award

Black Box Diaries

Film Prize of the Churches of Zurich

Les Courageux

Best International Film Music

Ahmed Soroko

Golden Icon Award

Kate Winslet

Golden Eye Award

Jude Law

Golden Eye Award

Pamela Anderson

Golden Eye Award

Alicia Vikander

A Tribute To… Award

Edward Berger

Lifetime Achievement Award

Emil Steinberger

Career Achievement Award

Howard Shore

Game Changer Award

Roeg Sutherland

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