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Zurich International Film Festival 2012

Posted on Friday September 21, 2012, 22:22 by Simon Braund in Under The Radar

Zurich rolled out the green carpet last night - literally, it was green; they have to be different, the Swiss - for the opening ceremony of the 8th Zurich International Film Festival.

Following speeches from festival co-directors Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht, both welcoming the event’s honoree John Travolta and highlighting the festival’s burgeoning reputation (it’s not Cannes or Venice yet, but it’s getting there), the crowd was treated to a rip-roaring showreel of Travolta’s career highlights. It was a reminder, if one was needed, of just how many great films Travolta has made, and how many indelible characters he’s played, from Saturday Night Fever’s Tony Manero, Grease’s Danny Zucko and Hairspray’s Edna Turbland, to Primary Colors’ Governor Jack Stanton, Get Shorty’s ubercool Chili Palmer, Face/Off’s Sean Archer and the iconic, immortal Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction (sadly, there was no footage from The Boy In The Plastic Bubble, but you cant have everything.)

Travolta was presented with the Golden Eye Award award for Lifetime Achievement by festival director Karl Spoerri. Entering stage left with a little Saturday Night Fever shimmy, Travolta accepted the accolade with a brief but gracious speech - half of it in fluent German. He then exited to tumultuous applause from a packed house.

A screening of Oliver Stone thriller Savages, featuring another terrific performance from Travolta as a corrupt DEA agent, followed.

Highlight of the event (apart from Travolta busting a move): Oliver Stone describing Zurich mayor Corine Mauch, who also took the podium, as a hot babe who should run for President.