Zürich, August 7, 2024

The Zurich Film Festival (October 3 – 13) honors the British Academy Award-winner for her successful career and versatility. On October 7, Winslet will accept the award and present her new film LEE directed by Ellen Kuras, in which she stars as the war photographer Lee Miller, and acts as a co-producer.

A household name: Kate Winslet is one of the most important actors of our time and has delivered brilliant performances as the leading actress in some of the most successful films in history: from TITANIC to ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, THE READER and SENSE AND SENSIBILITY to AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. She has worked with legendary directors such as James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Sam Mendes, Jane Campion, Michel Gondry, Marc Forster, Todd Haynes and Danny Boyle. Winslet is the star guest at the 20th Zurich Film Festival and will be honoured with the Golden Icon Award for her outstanding acting achievement and her impressive career. “Kate Winslet is a true icon of cinema and shines through her versatility in big studio blockbusters as well as small indie productions. Her multifaceted choice of roles and her long Hollywood career make her a favourite with audiences of multiple generations,” explains Christian Jungen, Artistic Director of the ZFF. “We are therefore delighted to welcome her in the year of our 20th anniversary and to honour her with the Golden Icon Award for her achievements. We have attempted several times to welcome her as a guest at the ZFF, and now it has finally worked out - a great gift for our anniversary edition!”

Kate Winslet states: “Thank you to the Zurich Film Festival for this wonderful honor and for recognizing LEE, a film that has truly been a labour of love for me, and of which I am immensely proud. I am so grateful to the Zurich Film Festival for creating this moment to celebrate our film and to everyone who has been a part of this epic journey. LEE has been and remains, a pride and joy for me, I am looking forward immensely to visiting Zurich in October, alongside my producing partner, Kate Solomon, as well as Lee Miller’s only son, the endlessly supportive Antony Penrose, and to share our film with you all in person. “

Golden Icon Award at the Zurich Film Festival and Gala Premiere of LEE

On October 7, Kate Winslet will accept the Golden Icon Award in person and present her new Film LEE in the presence of Lee Miller’s son, Antony Penrose, and co-producer Kate Solomon. On the one hand, Winslet impresses in the title role of the feature film, on the other hand she is also co-producing the film.

The film tells the story of photographer Lee Miller (1907–1977), who made a name for herself as a correspondent for British Vogue during the Second World War. Winslet embodies the fearless Lee–one of the most important female war photographers of the 20th century–on her mission to reveal the hidden truths of the Third Reich. LEE was directed by Oscar-nominated director Ellen Kuras, reuniting Winslet and Kuras for the first time since ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND. In LEE, Winslet plays alongside Andy Samberg, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgård, Josh O'Connor, and Marion Cotillard.

Previous winners of the Golden Icon Award include Jessica Chastain, Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett and Hugh Grant. The award ceremony is one of the glamorous highlights of the ZFF.

Outstanding actress of her generation

Born in England in 1975, Kate Winslet is one of Hollywood's most successful actors. She is part of a family with an acting tradition. Her acting career began in 1994, at the tender age of eleven, with her impressive role in HEAVENLY CREATURES by director Peter Jackson. In 1995, she went on to play Marianne Dashwood in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, for which she received her first Oscar nomination. Winslet had her breakthrough at the age of 22 when she was nominated for the Academy Award for the second time for her moving performance as “Rose” in James Cameron's TITANIC (1997). She was later nominated another three times and won her first Oscar for her brilliant portrayal of “Hannah Schmitz” in Stephen Daldry's THE READER (2008). Winslet proved her versatility in other films and series such as IRIS (2001), ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004), LITTLE CHILDREN (2006), REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (2008), MILDRED PIERCE (2011), STEVE JOBS (2015), WONDER WHEEL (2017), AMMONITE (2020) and AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. With each role, she has solidified her reputation as one of the most outstanding actresses of her generation.

Kate Winslet will accept the Golden Eye on October 7 before presenting her new film, LEE.

Media contact:

Zurich Film Festival
Simon Keller, Manager PR
[email protected], + 41 78 745 13 71