Colin Farrell will receive the Zurich Film Festival’s Golden Icon Award next month, with organizers set to honor the Irish actor during a September 27 gala that will also host the premiere of Edward Berger’s Ballad of a Small Player. The festival runs September 25 to October 5, and Farrell is scheduled to return the following day for a public ZFF Masters conversation.
The award, introduced in 2008, recognizes an actor’s body of work and public stature. Past recipients include Kate Winslet, Jessica Chastain, Hugh Grant and Ben Kingsley, underscoring Zurich’s habit of pairing its highest tribute with marquee screenings and in-person talks.
Festival leadership framed the choice as a celebration of range, from studio hits to character-driven dramas. In Ballad of a Small Player, adapted from Lawrence Osborne’s novel, Farrell plays a gambler in Macau; Berger, who won an Academy Award for All Quiet on the Western Front, will accompany him to Zurich. The film’s European festival run arrives ahead of a planned autumn release.
The festival says Farrell will accept the honor at Zurich’s Opera House before presenting the film to local audiences, with the masterclass set for September 28. The appearance marks his first visit to the event and aligns with a period of renewed awards momentum following his Golden Globe win this year for The Penguin.
Zurich has increasingly used its Golden Icon platform to spotlight new work by major actors while highlighting their career arcs. Farrell’s recent projects range from television to auteur collaborations, positioning him as a high-profile draw for the festival’s 2025 edition and its green-carpet showcase along Lake Zurich.
