Zurich Film Festival: A24’s DREAM SCENARIO is the Opening Film

European Premiere of Kristoffer Borgli's Dark Comedy Marks a Historic Moment for ZFF

The upcoming 19th Zurich Film Festival is set to kick off with a bang as it presents the European premiere of A24‘s much-anticipated dark comedy, DREAM SCENARIO, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, featuring the renowned Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage. This marks a significant milestone as A24, the well-known entertainment company based in New York, leads the opening of the festival for the very first time. The European debut at the Zurich Film Festival is scheduled for Thursday, September 28, 2023, at the Zurich Convention Center. It will be attended by 1200 distinguished guests from the spheres of culture, commerce, politics, and society. The film will also be screened publicly at the Corso cinema.

A Spotlight on DREAM SCENARIO

Nicolas Cage in a Scene of Dream Scenario, the film that will open the 18th Zurich FIlm Festival

Kristoffer Borgli‘s DREAM SCENARIO promises to be a highlight of the autumn season at the Zurich Film Festival. The film takes a humorous yet thought-provoking look at the interplay between fame and the phenomenon of cancel culture, striking a chord with the present times.

DREAM SCENARIO introduces us to Paul Matthews (played by Nicolas Cage), an ordinary family man whose life takes an extraordinary twist when he becomes an unexpected presence in the dreams of countless strangers. As these dream encounters take a darker turn, Paul must navigate the surreal world of stardom, creating a captivating narrative within this uproarious comedy.

Kristoffer Borgli, known for his impactful debut with the film SICK OF MYSELF (2022) just last year, is set to grace the European premiere of DREAM SCENARIO in Zurich. The film boasts Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen of Square Peg, Jacob Jaffke, Tyler Campellone, and A24 production. This marks the fourth collaboration between Square Peg and A24, following their successful ventures with HEREDITARY (2018), MIDSOMMAR (2019), and BEAU IS AFRAID (2023), which featured Joaquin Phoenix.

About Nicolas Cage

Actor Nicolas Cage at the 66th Venice FIlm Festival

Nicolas Cage has demonstrated exceptional versatility throughout his extensive career spanning over four decades. Recent roles have continued to captivate audiences across various genres.

Notably, Cage portrayed Dracula in Universal’s RENFIELD (2023) and delivered strong performances in THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT (2022) and the award-winning drama PIG (2021).

During his early career, Cage made his mark with roles in cinematic classics such as BIRDY (1984), PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED (1986), RAISING ARIZONA (1987), MOONSTRUCK (1987), and WILD AT HEART (1990).

Cage’s talents earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for portraying a suicidal alcoholic in LEAVING LAS VEGAS (1995). He solidified his status among global audiences with blockbuster hits like THE ROCK (1996), FACE/OFF (1997), CON AIR (1997), and CITY OF ANGELS (1998). His portrayal of Charlie and Donald Kaufman in ADAPTATION (2002) earned him a second Academy Award nomination.

Cage also ventured into directing, overseeing the film SONNY (2002), which earned him a nomination for the Grand Special Prize at The Deauville Film Festival. As a prolific producer, he contributed to projects such as SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE (2000), THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE (2003), LORD OF WAR (2005), PIG (2021), and THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT (2022).

About the Zurich Film Festival

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is the second-largest event in the German-speaking region. Spanning 11 days during the autumn season, the festival showcases notable film discoveries and highly anticipated releases of the year. The ZFF facilitates dialogue among emerging directors, established filmmakers, the film industry, and the wider public. In the previous year, the ZFF garnered an audience of more than 137,000 attendees and drew numerous accredited professionals from the global film and media sectors.

The 19th edition of the festival is set to occur from September 28 to October 8, 2023

The comprehensive program for the 19th Zurich Film Festival will be available on the official website on Thursday, September 14, starting from 12 noon local time. Ticket sales will commence on Monday, September 18, at 12 noon local time.

Officially partnering with the Opening Night is Generali Switzerland.