The German director will succeed Eric Pleskow
The Viennale is happy to announce our new president. The German filmmaker Christian Petzold will assume this role, effective immediately, and will thus, after a good four-year vacancy, take over from Eric Pleskow, who was president of the Viennale from 1998 until his death in 2019.
Christian Petzold has been closely connected to the festival for many years as a director and friend. Many of his films have had their Austrian premiere in the Gartenbaukino as part of the Viennale. As president of the Viennale, which is an association, Petzold thus holds the highest position in it.
“The Viennale has had a long-standing relationship with Christian Petzold and his filmmaking, and I personally feel a profound connection to his cinema. For this reason, it’s a great honor that he is taking over the presidency of the festival. He is such a coherent and consistent director that I’m convinced that he will bring inspiring energy and perspective with him during a time in which conversation about cinema and culture is so complex.”
Eva Sangiorgi, Viennale Director
“The John Ford Retrospective. Then the one about the essayistic film ‘Der Weg der Termiten.’ Or ‘Los Angeles: A City on Film.’ All the great retrospectives. Furthermore, the Viennale is also 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. It’s said that Billy Wilder called Barbara Stanwyck the ‘best actress’, and when he later sent a script to Joan Crawford, he received it back unopened with the note saying, ‘Send it to the best actress…’
So, I’m very happy to be part of the Viennale. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Christian Petzold, Viennale President
CHRISTIAN PETZOLD SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Christian Petzold, born on September 14, 1960, in Hilden, North Rhine-Westphalia, is one of the most renowned German directors of today. After graduating from high school and completing his military civilian service at a local cinema club in Hilden, he studied German and theater at the Free University of Berlin and also film at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin. Early on in his career, he worked with Harun Farocki, among others.
He celebrated his breakthrough with DIE INNERE SICHERHEIT (2000). With films like YELLA (2007), BARBARA (2012), TRANSIT (2018), and ROTER HIMMEL (2023) he has shaped and continues to shape contemporary German auteur cinema to this day.
He was represented with his new film MIROIRS NO. 3 at the 78th international Cannes Film Festival in 2025. Petzold lives with his wife, the documentary filmmaker, Aysun Bademsoy, and their two children in Berlin-Kreuzberg.
VIENNALE DIRECTOR EVA SANGIORGI’S CONTRACT EXTENDED
In other news, the Viennale is happy to announce that director Eva Sangiorgi’s contract has been extended for another three years. The decision was made by the Viennale board of trustees in accordance with the City Councilor for Cultural Affairs and Science, Veronica Kaup-Hasler.
Eva Sangiorgi has been given artistic responsibility for the festival until March 2029. Sangiorgi has been director of the Viennale since March 2018.
“I am truly grateful for this vote of confidence – it brings renewed energy to the festival”, says Eva Sangiorgi. “The Viennale is deeply rooted in the social and cultural fabric of the city, as proven by the extraordinary audience numbers we’ve seen in recent years, despite the many challenges we’ve faced. It is also internationally renowned for its outstanding film program, consistency, and clear curatorial focus. 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.”
