Press Statements 2021

a diverse and lively Viennale came to an end with this year's closing film VERDENS VERSTE MENNEKE (THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD) by Joachim Trier in the presence of the leading actress Renate Reinsve.

The final press kit, in which we present the highlights of this year's festival, the number of visitors and the winners of the Vienna Film Prize, the FIPRESCI Prize, the Prize of the Standard Readers' Jury and the Erste Bank ExtraVALUE Film Prize, is now available for download HERE.

The Viennale is happy to announce that the American actor and director Matt Dillon will come to the festival in Vienna as a guest of honor.

Becoming a teen idol in the 1980s in films such as RUMBLE FISH and THE OUTSIDERS (both directed by Francis Ford Coppola), Dillon later effortlessly carried on his early successes in independent film. Impressive acting performances in films like DRUGSTORE COWBOY and TO DIE FOR earned him praise from critics such as the journalist legend Roger Ebert, who considered Dillon the best actor of his generation, along with Sean Penn. Dillon played a leading role in THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT by Lars von Trier, which also screened at the Viennale 2018.

The great music lover, who delivered a wonderful declaration of love for Cuban music with his own documentary directorial work EL GRAN FELLOVE in 2020, will come to the Viennale for the first time to present his new film, LAND OF DREAMS, at the festival with director Shirin Neshat. In this political satire set in the future, Matt Dillon plays the bodyguard Alan, who accompanies the representative of an all-controlling government agency.

He is an extraordinary film director and actor in his own right, who has managed to reinvent himself again and again throughout his decades-long career, choosing even challenging roles – from comedy to genre – with outstanding directors,” says Viennale director Eva Sangiorgi. “His constant curiosity and openness as a person made this possible, and that’s something I particularly appreciate about Matt Dillon.”

We’re very pleased that Matt Dillon and Shirin Neshat will be present at both screenings of the film.

we are pleased to inform you about the program of the 59th edition of the Viennale, Austria’s largest film festival (October 21 to 31, 2021). Besides general festival information we present this year's main program, Monographies, Cinematographies, Historiographies and the Restrospective.

HERE you can download the complete press information including the list of film guests.

The Viennale is pleased to announce this year's opening as well as closing film two weeks before the festival begins.

The festival will open on Thursday, 21 October with the French film L' ÉVÉNEMENT (THE EVENT) by Audrey Diwan. It was one of the big surprises at the Venice Film Festival and a highly deserved winner of the Golden Lion. A film with a strong aesthetic impact that is also formally intelligent and refined, it also takes an important stance on the issue of freedom of choice, both in relation to one's own body and the way one lives one's life. A film that subtly attacks moralism, a film about freedom; with an extraordinary ensemble of actors from different generations who are themselves a tribute to auteur cinema.

Director Audrey Diwan will be present at the opening gala. L' ÉVÉNEMENT will be shown in all five Viennale cinemas on the opening night.

The traditional closing gala of the Festival, which takes place on 31 October, will feature the film VERDENS VERSTE MENNESKE (THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD) by Joachim Trier.
Few films succeed in combining cinematic grace with refreshing humour. VERDENS VERSTE MENNESKE achieves this through a truly extraordinary main character played magnificently by Renate Reinsve. A film in constant change, a journey through human emotions, passion, doubt and the surprises that life has in store. Subtle, profound, touching, but also funny, one of the great films of the year.

The closing gala will be attended by the leading actress Renate Reinsve.

Viennale-Director Eva Sangiorgi gave a first preview and presented the trailer and some of the highlights of this year’s festival. 

HERE you can download the presskit.

At the end of November 2021, an era will come to an end at the Viennale. The long-time managing director of the festival, Eva Rotter, will hand over her responsibilities to Paolo Calamita as of 1 December.

Further press releases

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