There is a misconception regarding the Linz film festival “Crossing Europe”: that it is subject to the weather philosophy of regular cinemas and that only rain and cold drive people inside in front of the screens.
This is not the case with “Crossing Europe” due to its vibrant, connecting festival character – even in sunshine and heat, guests seek the warmth of the cultural event.
The opening of the 21st edition of the festival (until Sunday, May 5th) on the summer Tuesday evening once once more confirmed this exception to the aforementioned cinema rule. The directors start in a full ballroom in Linz’s “Open Culture House”. Sabine Prayerroither and Katharina Riedler under the charming and amusing moderation of Neil Young (not the singer, but the British festival companion from the first hours) the round dance, which will include 160 cinema performances.
It is a good idea not to “forget your handkerchiefs” when visiting the festival films, said co-director Riedler, referring to the many moving gems that are in the program this year. But this year they are also needed “for tears of joy”, because a positive spirit, a shimmer of hope also characterizes the works from 41 countries. In addition, Riedler said, emblematic of the challenges the world is facing: “We are doing this together. And let’s not look away when things get difficult.”
Prayersroither took the opportunity to thank the “beautiful, passionate, hard-working, charming” festival team “from the bottom of his heart” in front of jurors, sponsors and cooperation partners from business, media, politics and culture.
Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) placed the festival among the state’s major cultural events: Salzkammergut 2024, KulturEXPO for the Bruckner anniversary year and art university professor Anna Jermolaewa’s Biennale work in Venice.
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Image: Christoph Leeb/subtext.at/XE
More were Antonia Rahofer (Film department in the Federal Ministry of Art, Public Service and Sport, representing State Secretary for Culture Andrea Mayer, Green Party), Margot Nazzal (ÖVVP), head of the cultural directorate of the state of Upper Austria, the Linz local councilors Theresa Ganhor (representing City Councilor for Culture Doris Lang-Mayerhofer, ÖVP) and Anna Weghuber (representing Mayor Klaus Luger, SPÖ) and Julius Stieber (Cultural Director of the City of Linz) and the Linz City Councilor Eva Schobesberger (Greens) among the guests.
Since “Crossing Europe” is always a matter for the Upper Austrian “cinema family”, “Festival Father” supported Wolfgang Steininger as well as Stefan Messner and Benedict Steininger (Festival cinema Moviemento) and Paul Wilfing (Kino Freistadt) directors and team at the opening.
The opening and reception became a melting pot of various disciplines and their representatives. There were directors from Upper Austria like Andreas Gruber, Natalie Halla and Anatol Bogendorferthe Viennese film distributor Gerald Knell (Polyfilm), the Linz artist and this year’s jury member Elisa AndessnerAuthor Otto Tremetzberger (“Festival of the Regions”), Martin Sturm (former artistic director of the Upper Austrian Cultural Quarter) and many more.
