Richard Linklater to Be Honored at Zurich Film Festival

Richard Linklater will be honored at this year’s Zurich Film Festival with the Career Achievement Award for his life’s work, receiving the Golden Eye.

The American filmmaker will accept the award in person on Sept. 28 at the Filmpodium Zürich.

The festival paid tribute to Linklater as “one of the most influential auteur filmmakers of American independent cinema – a director whose works, including the ‘Before’ trilogy and ‘Boyhood,’ have redefined cinema and shaped an entire generation.”

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The festival is presenting an extensive retrospective of Linklater’s work in collaboration with the Filmpodium Zürich and the Cinémathèque Suisse. Linklater will also offer insights into his work during a public masterclass.

“Richard Linklater is one of the most visionary and formative directors of American independent cinema,” Christian Jungen, CEO of the ZFF, said. “Through naturalistic dialogue and scenes that feel plucked straight from life, he holds up a mirror to our times and regularly brings out the very best in his actors. He is also the director of my absolute favorite film, ‘Before Sunrise,’ thanks to which I met my wife. I am therefore especially delighted to welcome him to Zurich and to share with our audiences the films that have moved me for so many years.”

Linklater’s films include “Slacker” (1991), “Dazed and Confused” (1993), the Silver Bear-winning “Before Sunrise” (1995), and its sequels “Before Sunset” (2004) and “Before Midnight” (2013).

His epic “Boyhood” (2014), filmed over 12 years with the same cast, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film. His further outstanding works include “School of Rock” (2003) with Jack Black, “Waking Life” (2001), “A Scanner Darkly” (2006), and most recently “Hit Man” (2023) and “Nouvelle Vague” (2025).

Linklater said: “I am truly honored to receive the Career Achievement Award from the Zurich Film Festival. When Christian and I met at the Golden Globes, I mentioned I’ve always wanted to attend one day and now seemed like the right time. I’m delighted that this award is the occasion that brings me there, and I very much look forward to celebrating with the European audience that has meant so much to me throughout my career.”