Washington [US]: Acclaimed German filmmaker Christian Petzold has been appointed as the new president of the Viennale, Austria’s premier international film festival. The position had remained unfilled since the passing of Eric Pleskow in 2019, who had served as president from 1998.
As reported by Variety, the Viennale highlighted Petzold’s deep connection to the festival, stating that many of his acclaimed films had their Austrian premieres there and that he has long been a “director and friend” of the event.
Festival director Eva Sangiorgi praised the appointment, saying:
“The Viennale has had a long-standing relationship with Christian Petzold and his filmmaking, and I personally feel a profound connection to his cinema. He is such a coherent and consistent director that I’m convinced he will bring inspiring energy and perspective during a time in which conversation about cinema and culture is so complex.”
In response, Petzold said:
“The Viennale is always the most beautiful narrative of a movie year. And perhaps it’s the best-curated festival — but I’m not supposed to say that… I’m very happy to be part of the Viennale. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Petzold’s latest work, ‘Miroirs No. 3’, premiered this week in Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. His decorated career includes winning the Silver Berlin Bear in 2012 for Barbara, the Grand Jury Prize at Berlin in 2023 for Afire, and the FIPRESCI Prize in 2020 for Undine, which also earned Paula Beer a Silver Bear for Best Actress.
In related news, the Viennale Board of Trustees has extended Eva Sangiorgi’s contract by three years, ensuring her artistic leadership of the festival until March 2029. Sangiorgi, who has led the festival since 2018, expressed gratitude:
“I am truly grateful for this vote of confidence—it brings renewed energy to the festival… I am pleased that my vision has been both understood and appreciated. Looking ahead, new initiatives will be launched that respond to the times—always in keeping with the Viennale’s great and longstanding tradition.”