Savages ZFF Opener FINAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLIVER STONE’S “SAVAGES” SELECTED AS ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL’S OPENING NIGHT FILM

Zurich, Switzerland – August 6, 2012 – The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) announced today that it will open the 8th edition of the Festival (running Sept 20 -30, 2012) with Oliver Stone’s “Savages” on the evening of Thursday, September 20th. The announcement was made today by ZFF Directors Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht.

A Universal Pictures release, “Savages” is a ferocious thriller featuring an all-star ensemble cast that includes Taylor Kitsch (“Battleship”), Blake Lively (“The Town”), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Kick-Ass”), Academy Award® nominee John Travolta (“Pulp Fiction”), Academy Award® winner Benicio Del Toro (“Traffic”), Academy Award® nominee Salma Hayek (“Frida”), Emile Hirsch (“Into the Wild”) and Academy Award® nominee Demián Bichir (“A Better Life”).

Directed by three-time Academy Award® winner Oliver Stone from a screenplay he wrote with Shane Salerno and Don Winslow (based on Winslow’s best-selling novel), “Savages” follows entrepreneurs Ben (Taylor-Johnson), a peaceful and charitable Buddhist, and friend Chon (Kitsch), a former Navy SEAL, running a lucrative, homegrown industry – raising some of the best weed ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with Ophelia (Lively). Life is idyllic in their Southern California town until the Mexican Baja Cartel decides to move in and demand that the trio partners with them. When the merciless head of the cartel, Elena (Hayek), and her enforcer, Lado (Del Toro), underestimate the unbreakable bond of the three friends, Ben and Chon – with the reluctant assistance of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta) – wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel. And so begins a series of increasingly vicious ploys and maneuvers in a high stakes, savage battle of wills.

The film was produced by Moritz Borman and Eric Kopeloff.

Said ZFF Director Karl Spoerri, “We’re honored to welcome Oliver Stone back to Zurich and excited to host the German speaking premiere of his latest film ‘Savages.’ This will make for an extraordinary opening to the festival.”

Oliver Stone is no stranger to the Zurich Film Festival. This will be his third trip to the festival, where he has been the recipient of the Golden Icon Award and screened several of his films.

It was previously announced that legendary producer and entertainment industry icon Jerry Weintraub (“Ocean’s Eleven” series, “Karate Kid” series) will be in Zurich to receive a special career achievement award on Wednesday, September 26th.

Further information about the 8th Zurich Film Festival can be found at: www.zurichfilmfestival.org.

Pacific Design Center 640 Fifth Avenue 5th Floor, Cardinal Place 8687 Melrose Avenue, 7th Floor 5th Floor 80 Victoria Street Los Angeles, CA 90069 New York, NY 10019 London, SW1E 5JL U.K. T 310 854 8100 T 212 445 8400 T 044 20 3048 0480 F 310 854 8101 F 212 445 8290 F 0441 20 3048 0401

About the Zurich Film Festival

Entering its eighth year, the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) has established itself as one of the world’s top Films Festivals, discovering and promoting independent voices and talent from around the world, showcasing a diverse array of international films and serving as the setting for many World and European premieres.

The aim of the Zurich Film Festival is to offer audiences an insight into the work of young, upcoming filmmakers from around the globe and to promote the exchange of ideas between established film workers, young talent and the public.

ZFF is organized by Spoundation Motion Picture GmbH, based in Zurich, in cooperation with local institutions and sponsors. The Zurich Film Festival cooperates with numerous distributors and producers from Switzerland and abroad. The idea to found a festival in Zurich came from Karl Spoerri. Today, the festival directors are Karl Spoerri (artistic director) and Nadja Schildknecht (public relations, marketing and sponsoring).

The Zurich Film Festival is generously supported by its main sponsors: Credit Suisse, upc cablecom, Die Schweizerische Post and Audi.

For more information please visit www.zurichfilmfestival.org

# # #