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What to know about this year’s Viennale film festival

It's that time of year when the Viennale takes over Vienna's cinemas. Here's what you need to know about the film festival.

The Viennale runs until October 31st
The Viennale runs until October 31st. Photo: Alexi Pelekanos

What is the Viennale?

The Viennale is Vienna’s annual international film festival. It takes place every year in October and attracts around 92,000 visitors.

The first ever event was held in 1959, although it was simply known as a celebration of the most interesting films from that year. It was organised by Austrian film journalists who were tired of the domestic film scene at the time, described as a “cinematic wasteland” on the Viennale website.

In the years that followed, the event became known as the Festival of Cheerfulness with a focus on comedies, before it moved towards the format that we see today.

The Viennale is now Austria’s largest international film festival and awards several prizes at the gala closing ceremony every year.

In 2023, the event runs from Thursday, October 19th to Tuesday, October 31st.

READ ALSO: Caffeine, war and Freud: A history of Vienna’s iconic coffee houses

What are the highlights of this year’s festival?

The annual international film festival will include feature films from all over the world including Austria, Chile, Argentina, France, Belgium and the USA – to name but a few.

Venues include Gartenbaukino on Parkring, Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus on Akademiestrasse, and the Österreichische Filmmuseum on Augustinerstrasse. Kunsthalle will also be used in the festivities. 

“It’s a festival for the city,” Viennale’s artistic director Eva Sangiorgi said when announcing this year’s line-up.

The Viennale

Photo: Viennale/Heidrun Henke

The 61st edition of the festival has a range of showings featuring old favourites and newcomers. The focus this year is on Chilean cinema, with the retrospective dedicated to late Chilean filmmaker Raúl Ruiz, whose work – much of which was experimental – is still relatively unknown. 

Ruiz was born in Chile in 1941 but went into exile in France after the 1973 military coup by Augusto Pinochet.

The festival’s cinematography section will show films by renowned Chilean directors as well as less well-known filmmakers. 

Meanwhile, the histography part of the festival will focus on James Baldwin. 

Additionally, several English language films will be screened at the festival, including Priscilla by Sofia Coppola, She Came to Me by Rebecca Miller, Blackberry by Matt Johnson, All of Us Strangers by Andrew Haigh, the Holdovers by Alexander Payne as well as the Joan Baez documentary ‘I am Noise’.

However, many films are shown with English subtitles so check the programme. 

A host of special guests are set to visit the festival for talks, including French actress Catherine Deneuve on October 26th. 

The Vienna Film Prize, an award sponsored by the City of Vienna, is given to a current Austrian feature film that has been screened in the past year.  In addition to the prize for the best Austrian film, there’s also a Special Jury Prize. 

These awards take place during the closing gala of the Viennale on the evening of October 31st.

When and where can I buy tickets?

Tickets are already on sale and can be bought online, by phone or at the Gartenbaukino box office on Parkring.

Tickets can also be purchased at the festival cinemas. A wait list will be in place for sold out screenings.

For online ticket sales, you have to register in advance at the festival website, viennale.at.

A single ticket costs €10.50 and there is a special rate of €7.50 for daytime tickets for some members of the public including pensioners and students.

You can download the pocket guide here

With reporting by Hayley Maguire

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VIENNA

8 exciting events taking place in Vienna in July 2024

July is a lively month in Vienna, and you can enjoy a great variety of different events. From Vienna's film festival at Rathausplatz to international music and a climate festival, here's what you can visit this month.

8 exciting events taking place in Vienna in July 2024

July is one of Vienna’s liveliest months, with different events taking place all over the city.

Here, we list eight interesting happenings you should not miss out on.

Filmfestival Rathausplatz

This film and cultural festival will be held at Vienna’s town hall (Rathausplatz) from June 29th to September 1st.

Here, you can enjoy outdoor screenings that offer something for everyone. The program includes classic movies, recent blockbusters, documentaries, and opera and ballet performances.

In addition to the screenings, the festival also offers live bands, performances, DJs, and food and drink stalls.

The festival is free of charge, and you can check out the program here

 
 
 
 
 
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Vienna Popfest

This annual four-day-long pop music festival takes place at Karlsplatz, this year from July 25th to 28th.

The event celebrates contemporary pop music with performances by upcoming and established artists from Austria and beyond. 

You can enjoy a diverse range of musical styles, including indie pop, electronic, and experimental music. 

The festival is free of charge, and you can find out more about it here.

ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival

ImPulsTanz is one of the largest contemporary dance festivals in the world. It takes place in Vienna every year, and this summer, you can enjoy it from July 11th to August 11th.

One of the highlights of ImPulsTanz is its extensive workshop program, which gives dancers of all levels the opportunity to train and learn from world-class instructors.

In addition to the workshops, the festival also offers dance performances, lectures, exhibitions, and discussion panels with famous dancers and choreographers.

Secure your ticket and read more on their website.

 
 
 
 
 
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Brazilian music with Djavan

On July 16th, Djavan, a Brazilian four-time Latin Grammy winner, singer-songwriter, and composer, will perform at Vienna Konzerthaus.

Djavan’s performances are inspired by Brazilian music traditions, and he mixes elements of Samba, Bossa Nova, and MPB (popular Brazilian Music).

Djavan is known as an icon in the Brazilian music scene. He is famous for his distinctive voice, unique style, and energetic live performances.

You can buy your tickets here

READ MORE: Train travel in Austria: The best day trips from Vienna

Theater im Park

From June 25th until September 20th, you can enjoy the cultural festival Theater im Park.

You can experience various cultural performances, including cabarets, theatre plays, music performances, and concerts.

The festival takes place in the Belvedere Gardens in Vienna, where you can enjoy the historical Belvedere Castle and its large, beautiful gardens.

You can check out the different performances and buy your tickets here.

 
 
 
 
 
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Exhibition: Proud to be pride

The exhibition ‘Proud to be Pride’ highlights LGBTQIA+ rights and takes place at the Museum of Applied Arts until September 1st.

Here, you can experience a wide collection of LGBTQIA+ posters with bold designs that support diverse expressions of identity.

The exhibition aims to send a visible signal of acceptance, tolerance, and openness. 

Find out more and buy your tickets here.

Kultur Sommer Wien

This is an open-air cultural festival with free admission in Vienna.

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra opens the festival on June 27th and 28th in Prater, and the events take place until August 11th.

During the festival, nine pop-up stages across the city will host various performances, including cabaret, literature, music, dance, theatre, and contemporary circus.

Find out more here.

 
 
 
 
 
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Klima Biennale Wien

Enjoy the last weeks of this climate festival which goes on until July 14th at various locations all over Vienna.

The festival explores how art, design, architecture, and science can contribute to creating a sustainable and liveable future while also considering the impacts of climate change.

The festival offers a wide range of performances, exhibitions, talks, concerts, and workshops.

If you want to participate, you can buy a festival pass at various locations, for which you pay as much as you like. You can, for example, buy it at the Museum Hundertwasser.

READ ALSO: 8 Austrian festivals you need to go to this summer

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