At the top of her game: Jessica Chastain is an exceptional Hollywood actress who can look back on a profusion of standout roles throughout her remarkable career, working with such doyen directors as Christopher Nolan, Terrence Malick, Kathryn Bigelow, Aaron Sorkin and Guillermo del Toro. "Jessica Chastain is one of the most eminent actresses of her generation. Known for her smart choice of roles, she's also a virtuoso when it comes to imbuing her characters with profound depth," explains Christian Jungen, Artistic Director of the ZFF. "She never fails to captivate with her charisma and grace, yet her characters are invariably down to earth. Jessica is a true icon of American cinema."

Golden Icon Award at Zurich Film Festival
Jessica Chastain will receive the Golden Icon Award in Zurich on October 1. The coveted accolade is presented to personalities whose acting achievements have left a lasting mark on the world of cinema, propelling them to icons of the seventh art. The ZFF has previously shown several films led by the actress about whom Mexican writer, director, producer Michel Franco (ZFF Jury President 2020) has said “Jessica is possibly the best actress in the states right now, it’s not an exaggeration to say she’s the best actress in the world.”

Alongside her director Michel Franco and co-star Peter Sarsgaard, Jessica Chastain will present their new film MEMORY, in which she plays Sylvia a New York social worker who leads a simple and structured life: her daughter, her job, her AA meetings. This is blown open when a former classmate, Saul (Peter Sarsgaard, in a performance that won him Best Actor at Venice) follows her home from their high school reunion – a fateful encounter that has far-reaching consequences for both of them. MEMORY is profound and masterfully staged romantic drama. 

Previous recipients of the Golden Icon Award
The list of previous recipients of the Golden Icon Award includes Glenn Close, Hugh Grant, Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Penn, Sharon Stone and, since last year, Sir Ben Kingsley. The award ceremony is one of most glamorous highlights of the ZFF.