Film recommendations for September

The timelessness of Billy Wilder’s *Sunset Boulevard* (1950) is also evident in the fact that, 76 years after its release, the film continues to resonate in more recent films such as *I Want Your Sex* (2026) or *Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma* (2026). Wilder’s bitterly scathing film noir about the ageing silent-film diva Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) is both a declaration of love and a reckoning with Hollywood. The film skilfully interweaves reality and performance – for instance by featuring former stars of the early Hollywood era – and in doing so dissects the mechanisms of the dream factory. In September, the Filmpodium is screening *Sunset Boulevard* in a 35-mm print from the Cinémathèque Suisse collection.

17 September | Filmpodium

Since 2008, the Tibet Film Festival has provided an international platform for independent Tibetan filmmaking. The festival was founded out of solidarity with the Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen, who was arrested after filming ‘Leaving Fear Behind’ (2008) and later sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. Since then, the festival has been showcasing films by Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile, whilst also serving as a forum for discussion on contemporary Tibetan cinema. The 17th Zurich edition will take place from 18 to 20 September at the Riffraff cinema, before the festival moves on to London, Paris, Dharamsala and the USA.

from 18 September | Riffraff Cinema

For three decades, LunchKino has been attracting Zurich residents to the cinema at lunchtime – often leading to stimulating discussions with international filmmakers or themed readings. To mark its anniversary, highlights from 30 years of programming will be screened until 19 September. The series concludes with Paola Cortellesi’s black-and-white tragicomedy *C’è ancora domani* (2023). This directorial debut tells the story of a wife and mother of three in post-war Rome, skilfully blending social commentary with humour and melodrama. 

19 September | Arthouse Le Paris

100 years ago, Lotte Reiniger created a milestone in film history with her paper-cut film *The Adventures of Prince Achmed* (1926). For three years, the German film pioneer cut and arranged delicate silhouettes, from which a poetic visual world gradually emerged. The story of Prince Achmed takes the viewer into the fairy-tale realm of *One Thousand and One Nights*. The world’s oldest surviving feature-length animated film can be seen at the Garage Wetzikon to mark the start of the season – accompanied by a specially composed live score for violin and harp.

26 September | Garage Wetzikon