Category: Fiction Films

  • The Inner Circle

    The Inner Circle

    After the end of World War III, a new legal system has been established. When Elsa, who lives in exile, finds out about the murder of her son, she must return to Vienna to decide on the sentence of the convicted perpetrator and is forced to confront her painful past.

    IN DEVELOPEMENT

    Credits

    WritER & DirECTOR Sebastian Schmidl
    DRAMATURGYKlara von Veegh

    Funding

    Film Scholarship from the City of Vienna

  • the satin cage

    the satin cage

    HILDE (75) and her husband OTTO (79) have been happily married for 50 years. But old age has created different circumstances for the two of them. While Hilde feels young and active and still has many expectations of life, Otto suffers from dementia. When Otto’s illness takes a drastic turn one day, Hilde finds herself facing an ever-growing dilemma between her own needs and the necessary care for her husband.

    in Development

    Credits

    WRITER & DIRECTOR Jürgen Karasek
    DRAMATURGY Wolfgang Widerhofer

    Funding

    Scriptlab Drehbuchforum

  • Red Drops

    Red Drops

    JULIA (30) works as a conscientious lifeguard at an outdoor swimming pool in Poland. Nevertheless, as a conservative woman, she is searching for her place in society, which she hopes to finally find by marrying her boyfriend MAREK (32). However, when Marek suddenly breaks up with her, her world falls apart. Julia finds the chance for revenge and a new purpose in life in a patriotic militia that Marek is also a member of. There, she quickly rises to a leadership position. In the process, the gap between the group and her fundamental moral values grows ever wider …

    AT/DE/PL – financing

    Credits

    director & writerFilip Antoni Malinowski
    Co-author Jürgen Karasek

    Awards / Festivals

    Nomination Best Script Sehsüchte Film Festival 2021
    Pitched dokFest München, New Horizons Studio+ Wrocław
    Developedat EKRAN+ Andrzej Wajda School Warszawa

    Funding

    Creative Europe, Austrian Ministry of Culture and Arts, ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel / ARTE, German-Polish Co-Development Fund, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, Drehbuchforum Vienna – Scriptlab scolarship

  • The Camping Trip

    The Camping Trip

    14-year-old MAX goes with his father WOLFGANG (45) and his friends on a camping trip in the woods. The two haven´t seen each other since the separation of the parents a few months ago and experience a weekend of rapprochement with beer, men´s talk and masculinity rites. Soon, however, the actual idyll of the trip becomes more and more frightening and the renewed bond between Max and Wolfgang is put to the test.

    AT, 2018, 39 MIN

    Credits

    Cast Enzo Gaier, David Oberkogler, Max Meyr, Peter Karolyi, Christian Spatzek, Simone Fuith, Anna Rot
    Idea & DirectorJürgen Karasek
    Screenplay Timothy Bidwell
    script advisor / artistic advisorAndrina Mračnikar
    DoP Roman Chalupnik (aac)
    Editing Claudia Linzer
    Sound Benedikt Palier, Ines Vorreiter
    Set Design Marie Wildmann
    Producers Jürgen Karasek, Stephan Podest, Filip Antoni Malinowski
    Shooting format ARRI Alexa

    Awards / Festivals

    Winner Thomas Pluch-Screenplay-Award for best short or medium-length film, Diagonale 2018
    Nomination Nomination for: Grand Off World Independent Short Film Awards, Beste Picture: Roman Chalupnik
    Nomination The Big Shorts – the best 10 medium-length-films of 2018 in the german-speaking countries

    Diagonale Filmestival, Graz 2018
    Hofer Filmtage, Hof (D) 2018
    Trujillo Ind. Filmfestival, Trujillo (PER) 2018
    FilmZ Festival des deutschen Films, Mainz (D) 2018
    Sierra Int. Filmweekend, Santa Cruz de la Sierra (BOL) 2018
    Blue Danube Filmfestival, Wien 2018
    Grand Off World Independent Film Awards, Warschau (POL) 2018
    Chhatrapati Shivaji Internat. Filmfestival, Pune (IND) 2018
    Int. Filmfestival of Sriganganagar, Sriganganagar (IND) 2019
    Rapidlon – The South African Filmfestival, Johannisburg (SA) 2019
    Austrian Filmfestival, Wien 2019
    Swindon Independent Filmfestival, Swindon (GB) 2019
    Global India Int. Filmfestival, Pune (IND) 2019
    Festival Cinema du Monde Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke (KAN) 2019

    Funding

    Funded by: Stadt Wien Kultur, Kulturamt Stadt Graz

  • I see a Darkness

    I see a Darkness

    What happens if you really need to decide once in life? If this decision changes everything forever? The clock is ticking in her stomach. Nobody knows about it. Maybe it’s better like that, because we don´t want to remember mistakes. Carmen is pregnant. Carmen is afraid. Carmen would like to abort. Her subconscious responds – and gives her the chance to question everything.

    AT, 2015, 20 MIN

    Credits

    Writer & Director Jasmin Baumgartner
    Producers Jürgen Karasek, Filip Antoni Malinowski, Jasmin Baumgartner, Anna Hawliczek, Emanuel Schreiner
    Cinematography Anna Hawliczek
    Editing Georg Vogler
    Co-production Evil Frog (AT) & One Delta Ten Tango (AT)
    Cast Jasna Fritzi Bauer (best young actress Max Ophüls 2013), Johanna Orsini-Rosenberg (best actress Diagonale 2013), Gerald Hoffmann (Gerard), Daniel Sträßer, Wilhelm Mang, Karin Lischka, Simone Fuith, Haymon Maria Buttinger, Nychos the Weird

    Awards / Festivals

    WINNER Best Student FilmNoida International Film Festival (India), 2016
    NOMINATION Energa Camerimage Student Etudes Competition 2016

    Akbank Short Film Festival (Turkey), 2016
    Independent Days International Filmfestival, Karlsruhe, 2016
    Fresh – Student Media Festival of Wales, 2016
    Near NazaretH Festival (Israel), 2016

    Funding

    City of Vienna Culture, Land Lower Austria Culture, City of Salzburg Culture, VAM, Vienna Filmacademy, CineArt Styria, Landesjugendreferat Styria, Cash for Culture, City of Graz Cultural Department

  • The Dam

    The Dam

    Catherine and Chris are a couple for years. To escape the city and the routines of everyday life, they make a trip to a dam surrounded by the landscape of the Alps.

    Soon tensions between the two are noticeable. But all discrepancies are forgotten when the two meet during the hike on an abandoned, 7-year old girl. When asked where her parents are, she does not answer. The events of the next few hours will show Catherine her true feelings about Chris.

    AT, 2015, 30 MIN

    Credits

    writer & DirectorNikolaus Müller
    CastSami Loris, Julia Schranz
    DoPRoman Chalupnik (aac)
    Production ManagerDaniela Scheidbach
    Co-production Wütherich Film
    ProducersNikolaus Müller, Filip Antoni Malinowski, Jürgen Karasek
    Distribution Aug & Ohr

    Awards / Festivals

    winner President’s Award – Shortini Film Festival (Competition, Italy) 2015
    winner Platinum Remi Award – International Festival “Sarajevo Winter 2016” (Official Selection, Bosnia & Herzegovina) 2016

    Diagonale Film Festival (Competition, Graz, Austria) 2015
    Festival Du Cinéma De Brive (Competition Medium-Length Film, France) 2015
    Vienna Independent Shorts (Competition, Austria) 2015
    Int. Filmfestival Of Valencia Cinema Jove (Competition, Spain) 2015
    North Carolina Film Awards (Official Selection, Raleigh, USA) 2016
    Tetova International Film Festival Oda (Competition, Macedonia) 2015
    Filmfestival Münster 2015 (Competition, Germany) 2015
    Meetings Of Young European Cinema (Competition, Bulgaria) 2015
    Film Fest Gent (Official Selection, Belgium) 2015
    Izmir Short Film Festival (Off-Competition, Turkey) 2015
    Madurai Film Festival (Official Selection, India) 2016
    Mumbai Shorts Int’L Film Festival (Official Selection, India) 2015
    Istanbul Int’L Short Film Festival (Official Selection, Turkey) 2016
    Annual Worldfest Houston (Nominated For Remi Award (No Screening), Texas, USA) 2016
    High Desert International Film Festival (Official Selection, Nevada, USA) 2016
    Sotto Le Stelle Dell’Austria (Official Selection, Rome, Italy) 2016
    Portobello Fim Festival (Official Selection, London, Uk) 2016

    Funding

    Austrian Ministry for Culture and Arts, City of Vienna Culture, Land Vorarlberg Culture

  • Darling

    Darling

    “Darling” is the story of a couple facing the ruins of what used to be a happy relationship. Tamara is intending on finally breaking up with Hans. Spending a last weekend together they clash with each other once again; letting them clearly know why their relationship failed. But at the same time they have to realize that going separate ways is harder than they had ever thought…

    AT, 2015, 40 MIN

    Credits

    writer & directorSebastian Schmidl
    CastAndreas Kiendl, Anna Rot, Johannes Thanheiser, Andreas Patton, Melanie Mezzina
    DoPGeorg Weiss
    EditingLisa Geretschläger
    Production ManagerAlexandra Makarová
    Set ManagerTina Tiefnig
    ProducersAlexandra Makarová, Georg Weiss, Sebastian Schmidl, Lisa Geretschläger
    Co-ProducersJürgen Karasek, Filip Antoni Malinowski

    Awards / Festivals

    nominationFirst Steps Award – Best Medium-Length Film
    Grand Prix Best Film & Audience AwardKyoto International Student Filmfestival
    Best Film PrizeFilmz – Festival of German Cinema – Mainz
    Prize for Best Script La Cabina Festival Internacional de Mediometrajes – Valencia

    Diagonale – Austrian Premiere
    Max Ophüls Filmfestival – International Premiere
    Sehsüchte Filmfestival Berlin
    Philadelphia Independent Filmfestival
    Lucania Filmfestival Matera

    Funding

    Austrian Ministry of Culture and Arts, City of Vienna Culture, Land Lower Austria Culture

  • Sola

    Sola

    Sola is the last survivor in Vienna – the city is hers. Without electricity or running water she lives a dreary routine. She strays around through abandoned homes – always in search of food and possible survivors. Yet there is no lack of necessities, but solitude drives her in an increasingly critical state. The only saving grace in their empty world is music. Every day she goes for one hour in a church to play the organ – even though she never had practice before. One day Sola makes a long-awaited discovery and hope lights for her again…

    AT, 2013, 20 Min

    Credits

    CastMelanie Mezzina, Larissa Sabitzer
    Written & DirectedAlexandra Makarová
    CinematographyGeorg Weiss
    EditingLisa Geretschläger
    Sound designKaroline T. Heflin
    Script SupervisionRobert Buchschwenter
    ComposingWerner Weitschacher
    ProducersJürgen Karasek, Filip Antoni Malinowski, Sebastian Schmidl, Alexandra Makarová, Georg Weiss, Lisa Geretschläger
    CO-PRODUCTION Geretschläger / Makarova / Weiss / Schmidl (AT)

    Awards / Festivals

    Winner Best Actress Melanie Mezzina La Pedrera Short Film Festival, 2014
    Winner Honorable MentionDiagonale Filmfestival Graz, 2014
    Winner Special Mention FIC International Film Festival, Buenos Aires
    NOMINationFilmplus Award (Filmschnitt & Schnittkunst) für Lisa Geretschläger

    Edinburgh Film Festival, 2013 – World Premiere
    Créteil Int’l Women’s Film Festival, 2014
    Versi di Luce FF, 2014
    Vienna Independent Shorts, 2014
    Österreichisches Kulturforum Prag

    Funding

    City of Vienna, Culture

  • Novemberlights

    Novemberlights

    Manuel is nine years old. His parents are divorced, living with their new partners and Manuel fears that he belongs nowhere. One night he finds trust in a dangerous stranger. A film about the power of the parents and the consequences of disregarding their roles.

    AT, 2012, 30 Min

    Credits

    Director Jürgen Karasek
    Camera Roman Chalupnik (aac)
    Editing Antonia Adelsberger, Julia Pontiller
    Sound design Norbert Bichler
    Music Oliver Hödl
    Script Consulting Andrina Mračnikar
    Cast Markus Urban, Stefan Matousch, Karin Lischka, Erol Nowak, Barbara Horvath, Martin Oberhauser uvm.
    Producers Jürgen Karasek, Filip Antoni Malinowski

    Awards / Festivals

    Thomas Pluch Scriptwriting Appreciation AwardBest Script – Diagonale 2013
    Junior Performance Award for Markus UrbanInternational Film Awards Berlin 2013
    Best International Short FilmFestival Internacional de Cinema e Saúde Mental 2013
    Honorable Mention Best PictureFlathead Lake International Cinemafest, Polson (USA) 2014
    Best Short FilmFestival Internacional de Ciné Rengo, Rengo (CHI) 2014
    Nomination Best International Short FilmBester Internationaler Kurzfilm, Pielagos en Corto (ESP) 2015

    World Premiere Max Ophüls Filmfestival, Saarbrücken (GER) 2013
    Life Fest Filmfestival, Los Angeles (USA) 2013
    Colortape International Filmfestival, Brisbane (AUS) 2013
    FEST New Films / New Directors, Espinho (POR) 2013
    CGIFF Angaelica, Washougal (USA) 2013
    International Filmfestival for Peace, Inspiration and Equality, Jakarta (IDN) 2013
    Cinncinati Filmfestival, Cinncinati (USA) 2013
    International Film Awards Berlin, Berlin (GER) 2013
    Prifilm Festival, Pristina (KOS) 2013
    Tashkinofest, Tashkent (UZB) 2013
    Festival Internacional de Cinema e Saúde Mental, Faro (POR) 2013
    Tirana International Filmfestival, Tirana (ALB) 2013
    Festival de Cortometrajes de Talca, Talca (CHI) 2014
    Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, Polson (USA) 2014
    The John Hopkins Filmfestival, Baltimore (USA) 2014
    Richmond International Filmfestival, Richmond (USA) 2014
    Geneva Filmfestival, Geneva (USA) 2014
    Black Hills Filmfestival, Hill City (USA) 2014
    Derby Film Festival, Derby (UK) 2014
    Festival Cortometrajes Rodinia (ESP) 2014
    Madrid International Filmfestival, Madrid (ESP) 2014
    Cine Curtas Bodega Cultural, Florianopolis (BRA) 2014
    Festival Internacional de Ciné Rengo, Rengo (CHI) 2014
    CineMart Pineda de Mar, Barcelona (ESP) 2014
    Lighthouse International Filmfestival, Long Island (USA) 2014
    Southside Filmfestival, Betlehem (USA) 2014
    Baghdad International Filmfestival, Baghdad (IRQ) 2014
    Lake Champlain International Filmfestival, Plattsburgh (USA) 2014
    Internacional Pielagos en Corto (ESP) 2015

    Funding

    Stadt Wien Kultur

  • Waiting for the moon

    Waiting for the moon

    “Again and again I have this dream. After all those years I know every single detail. And maybe it is the most important story of my life.”

    This is the dream of an old man, the memories of a forbidden love 1000 years ago, long before our time. He tells this last secret to his granddaughter, the story of Aiana and Janas who had to escape from the king’s knights and the tragic consequences of their love. 1000 years later, in our present, a young couple is in a car on the journey to nowhere. Anna and Julian, both in their 20s are enjoying the ride and their freedom. It seems as if they were escaping the monotony of daily life in the city, to start somewhere else completely new. Anna starts reading a book, and soon it is obvious that she is the granddaughter who heard the old mans dream long ago. After many years she found the book, where he had written down this story. Slowly the two stories, the escape from everyday life and the escape from the tragic consequences of a forbidden love, develop, but soon they even start to merge. Dream and reality become one and in the end find the meaning and the common essence.

    AT, 2008, 72 Min

    Credits

    Written & Directed Jürgen Karasek
    Camera Filip Antoni Malinowski
    editor Antonia Adelsberger
    Cast Nina Blum, Valentin Schreyer, Christopher Schärf, Ernst Stankovski, Mira Miljkovic, Jutta Fastian
    Producers Jürgen Karasek, Filip Antoni Malinowski

    Producer’s Note

    “Waiting for the moon” was produced with a total budget of € 55,000.

    Awards / Festivals

    Nomination UNDINE 2008 – Valentin Schreyer for Best Young Actor

    Diagonale Graz, 2008
    Santa Cruz Filmfestival, 2007
    Metaphysical Filmfest Santa Fe, 2008
    Filmriss Salzburg, 2008

    Funding

    Austrian Ministry for Culture and Arts (Innovative Film), City of Vienna Culture, Land Lower Austria Culture