AFC_07-8Cover_6 25.10.2007 10:45 Uhr Seite 1 AUSTRIAN AUSTRIAN FILMS FILMS 2008 2007 2007/ 2008 AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 1 AUSTRIAN FILMS 2007 2008 Published by the Austrian Film Commission AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 2 Austrian Films 2007/8 – Catalogue Owned by: Austrian Film Commission A-1070 Vienna, Stiftgasse 6 tel: +43 1 526 33 23 fax: +43 1 526 68 01 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.AustrianFilm.Com, www.afc.at © 2007 Austrian Film Commission, Vienna Publisher: Martin Schweighofer Editors: Charlotte Rühm, Karin Schiefer Translations: Steve Wilder Graphic design: Catherine F. Rollier Printed by: REMAprint Printed in: Vienna AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 3 CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................ 4 Feature Films ....................................................... 7 Documentary Films .............................................. 29 Video Features .................................................... 49 Coproductions .....................................................61 Short Films ........................................................ 73 TV Features ....................................................... 81 Coming Soon ..................................................... 107 List of Directors ................................................. 143 List of Films ...................................................... 147 Production Companies ........................................ 151 World Sales ...................................................... 157 3 AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 4 It doesn’t happen every day that the New York Times dedicates a substantial article to Austrian filmmaking. So, clearly excitement was in the air when the news arrived that the unusual honor had been bestowed upon us, unfortunately though the pleasure of anticipation was somehow dampened when reading the headline: Greetings from the Land of Feel-Bad Cinema. Mind you: the editorial was, after all, a very positive account of what is happen- ing in Austrian films, praising many of the filmmakers who are responsible for the international attention we have so generously received in the last couple of years. Some feel that this critical or even pessimistic view of the Austrian world that so many filmmakers seem to share has become a trap. As different as the films of Michael Haneke, Ulrich Seidl, Barbara Albert or Nikolaus Geyrhalter are, what they have in common is that their films are clearly not trying to put you to sweet dreams, but will rather haunt you for a day or two. They want to be challenging, confrontational and even uncomfortable. There has been a heated discussion in the Austrian film world for some time now (and long before the NYT’s headline), about whether a shift towards the more lighthearted in Austrian films wouldn’t be welcome. There is no question that a balanced production slate is in everybody’s interest. The only point one can not compromise on after all is that it is the quality that counts, whether a film targets those looking for a feel-good experience or those who can stomach a bit more. Diversity is the key word, of course. And this catalogue of Austrian films you are holding is proof that Austrian filmmaking does in fact come in all forms, shapes and sizes: from art house to mainstream to experimental; as features, documen- taries or next generation shorts; as dramas and thrillers, as comedies and family entertainment. Austrian filmmaking enjoyed its fair share of headlines in 2007. Ulrich Seidl’s Im- port Export was called brilliant and breathtaking by many critics from around the world when it premiered at Cannes (in competition) and has been in strong demand ever since; Stefan Ruzowitzky’s WW2-thriller The Counterfeiters be- came a hot-selling item after its Berlin competition presentation and has since received many standing ovations on the festivals circuit. The Counterfeiters is also Austria’s entry for the Foreign Language Awards 2008. The international visibility of Austrian films was once again more then impres- sive: Sharing the spotlight with Seidl and Ruzowitzky were Antonin Svoboda (with his very black comedy Forever Never Anywhere); Peter Payer (the guilt ridden drama Free to Leave, based on a play by Ödön von Horváth); Christian Frosch (the psychological thriller Silent Resident), Sabine Derflinger (42plus), Anja Salomonowitz (It Happened Just Before), Elisabeth Scharang (My Dear Republic) and Jakob M. Erwa, whose energetic Teenage-angst drama All the Invisible Things received the Grand Prix at Austria’s Diagonale Festival. High profile coproductions like Hans Weingartner’s mercurial media satire Reclaim Your Brain or Jan Schütte’s bitter-sweet Love Comes Lately, based on short stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer, are just two examples that show that Aus- tria keeps active on the European level. 4 AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 5 INTRODUCTION While international feedback was once again strong, admission numbers at home are disappointing. Looking at what is happening of the international film market, the trends send a clear message. As in many European countries, a few main- stream films (mostly American) take most of the box office, making it more than doubtful to expect any growth in theatrical distribution of art-house movies in the near future. To deal with this predicament will be a global challenge and will keep us all very busy. This Austrian Films 2007/2008 catalogue lists all feature films, documentaries and coproductions that premiered theatrically and/or at this year’s big festivals, it also presents a selection of shorts by young filmmakers and of video-features and of made-for-TV productions. As rich as the 2007 harvest was, the next year looks even more promising. To get an idea of what is in the pipeline please browse this catalogue’s very big Coming Soon section: Among the high-potential films to be expected are Für einen Augen- blick, Freiheit by Arash T. Riahi; Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s Von Paris nach Dakar; Götz Spielmann’s Revanche; Michael Glawogger’s Vaterspiel; Darum by Harald Sicheritz; Thomas Roth’s Falco – Verdammt wir leben noch! and Erwin Wagen- hofer’s Money. Many others are getting ready to shoot in 2008: Michael Haneke (after the US remake of Funny Games with Naomi Watts) will be returning to Europe with the German language project Das Weiße Band; Wolfgang Murnberger is preparing a new Wolf Haas thriller, Andreas Prohaska will do a Dead in 3 Days sequel, much is also to be expected of new films by Andrea Dusl, Jessica Hausner and Ruth Mader, three of Austria’s much applauded women directors. These of course are only some of the films that promise to help keep up the mo- mentum. And some might even make you feel good at the cinema. Rotterdam, Berlin, Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Locarno, Toronto, San Sebastian and Pusan are some of the major festivals and markets where we had the honor of presenting Austrian films, and where hopefully in 2008 you will again have the opportunity to see the achievements of Austrian filmmaking. Regardless of where you pick up this Austrian Films catalogue, I sincerely hope you use it frequently and put it to good use. Martin Schweighofer The Austrian Film Commission is proud to be powered by Austrian Film Institute, Vienna Film Fund, BMUKK, ORF, VAM, FAF, Fernsehfonds Austria, Land Niederösterreich, Cine Styria, Cine Tirol 5 AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 6 AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 7 FEATURE FILMS AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 8 42plus When the beautiful, efficient and successful Christine, 42, arrives at their summer beach home with her hus- band and teenage daughter, a young hitchhiker cat- ches her eye. What follows is the story of a woman who frees herself, tears her life into pieces and puts it back together in a different order. www.42plus-derfilm.at Directed by SABINE DERFLINGER Key cast: Claudia Michelsen, Ulrich Tukur,Tobias Moretti, Petra Morzé,Vanessa Krüger, Jakob Matschenz Screenplay: Sabine Derflinger, Mogens Rukov Cinematography: Bernhard Pötscher Editing: Karina Ressler Production design: Nikolai Ritter Producers: Danny Krausz & Kurt Stocker Production company: Dor Film Supported by: Austrian Film Institute, ORF,Vienna Film Fund, Land Oberösterreich Theatrical release: April 13, 2007/Vienna World sales: SOLA MEDIA D-70599 Stuttgart, Filderhauptstraße 49 tel: +49 711 479 36 66 · fax: +49 711 479 26 58 [email protected] · www.sola-media.net 8 AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 9 35 mm 1:1.85 Dolby Digital SRD 95 min FICTION German Feeling alive is all that matters. SABINE DERFLINGER Filmography (selection): 2004 Kleine Schwester (TV) 2004 Schnelles Geld (doc.), 2001 Vollgas (fiction) 1998 The Rounder Girls (doc.) 9 AFC-Katend_CP_MaB_c 17.10.2007 22:21 Uhr Seite 10 Die Fälscher · The Counterfeiters The true story of Salomon Sorowitsch, counterfeiter extraordinaire and bohemian. After getting arrested in a German concentration camp in 1944, he agrees to help the Nazis in an organized counterfeit operation set up to help finance the war effort. Directed by STEFAN RUZOWITZKY Key cast: Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Marie Bäumer, Dolores Chaplin Screenplay: Stefan Ruzowitzky Cinematography: Benedict Neuenfels (AAC/BVK) Editing: Britta Nahler Production design: Isidor Wimmer Producers: Josef Aichholzer, Nina Bohlmann, Babette Schröder Production companies: Aichholzer Filmproduktion, magnolia Filmproduktion (D) in coproduction