The festival has received 2108 film submissions from 112 countries again this year. Of these, 79 fiction films, animations and documentaries will run in the main competition. Most of these successful films will celebrate their Austrian premiere at the Linz ISFF 2023. 50 international filmmakers will be at Linz ISFF in person this year. In daily Panel Discussions, the festival offers the opportunity for direct exchange in peer-to-peer conversations with present filmmakers. In addition, other valuable industry events will take place, such as a pitch session for the Co-Production Fund, an acting masterclass, and much more. Refreshing drinks and delicious finger food await you at the Festival Café.
OPENING FILM
I’m trying to remember
Pegah Ahangarani Iran-Czech Republic 15’ Documentary
Pegah, the film’s director, talks about Gholam, a man who’s not her father nor uncle though he’s always present at family gatherings. It is as if Pegah is reading from a children’s book, as if we are looking over her shoulder at Gholam’s films of the family and the old photos. But suddenly the plot changes and the film shows the darkness of the time Pegah is growing up in. As if Pegah is trying to glimpse through this darkness so we will never forget….
Director & narrator: Pegah Ahangarani, Script Writer: Pegah Ahangarani – Ehsan Abdipour
Editor: Farahnaz Sharifi, Music Composer: Atena Eshtiaghi, Sound Designer: Mehrshad Malakouti
Producer: Kaveh Farnam, Production company: Europe Media Nest s.r.o
OPENING LIVE ACT
VAZISTA
Vazista is a young Iranian singer and self-taught artist who moved to Linz at the end of 2022. She has been widely recognised as an upcoming talented singer on Social media in Europe and elsewhere ever since. Due to the ban of singing for women in Iran by the islamic regime, Vazista was fired from music school in her homeland. She is now expressing herself freely via Instagram and Youtube in Austria, and has gained millions of impressions and followers in only 3 months.
MASTERCLASS
with MARTINA PETROVIC
MEDIA INFO DAY – what is there for me?
Martina Petrovic, Head of CED – MEDIA Office Croatia, will held an info day focusing on Creative Europe MEDIA with an emphasis on guidelines (tips & tricks) including the right moment to prepare and submit your own film project based on the MEDIA Sub-programme calls, clarifications regarding important aspects of filling out application forms as well as highlighting the most important segments of examples of good practices. In addition, we are going to tackle the importance of financing short films within the Creative Europe MEDIA through mini-slate and slate funding calls as an incentive for new talents.
Between 2021 and 2027, 2.44 billion EUR are being allocated in support of European projects with the aim to reach new audiences, promote the exchange of skills and knowledge and strengthen the capacity of audiovisual, cultural and creative organizations. The Creative Europe MEDIA is the only EU funding that supports the AV sector, and 58% of a total Creative Europe budget is reserved for the development of the EU AV industry.
WORKSHOP
with GIULIA GRANDINETTTI
Acting
How do you create a credible body and voice? In a film, believing in the acting is fundamental.
The workshop will address the theme of truth through a revisitation of Gerzy Grotowski’s creative process: theatrical method, which Giulia Grandinetti has revisited in her own way as a method for cinema.
NIGHTLINE & PARTIES
Festival Lounge
WEDNESDAY- 11.10.23 – 22:30
Opening Cocktails
KAPU BAR
THURSDAY- 12.10.23 – 22:30
Linz ISFF Nightline mit DJane Steffi
Schubidudes Cookie Queen with the Sweetest Hippie Dippie Collection and Satan‘s Finest Record Selection “With a record box so hot, it must come out of hell!” Psychedelic, Disco, Rock united with Heavy Funk, 70s PopRock and Smoke-Metal. Sounds like Curtis Mayfield smokin a jazz cigarette with Ozzy Osbourne at the Tea Party in Wonderland.
KAPU BAR
FRIDAY- 13.10.23 – 22:00
Linz ISFF Nightline mit DJane Steffi
The Schubidudes Andy Candy und Cookie Queen. 2 Vinyl-Verliebte Mostheadz mit „Schubidu“ im Gepäck. So frei das Wort auszulegen ist, so vielfältig ist unsere Plattensammlung. Rock & Roll, Funk, Psychedelic, Disco… Däncen und Bängen garantiert.
En The Schubidudes Andy Candy and Cookie Queen. 2 vinyl-loving Mostheadz with “Schubidu” in their luggage. As free as the word is to be interpreted, as diverse is our record collection. Rock & Roll, Funk, Psychedelic, Disco… Dancing and Banging guaranteed.
Stadtwerkstatt
SATURDAY 14.10.23 – 22:00, ab 18:00
BestOFF Kunstuni Nightline