Austria’s Viennale movie pageant has named German filmmaker Christian Petzold as its new president. The function was vacant for 4 years, following the dying in 2019 of Eric Pleskow, who had been president from 1998.

As president of the Viennale, Petzold holds its highest place.

Petzold has been “intently linked to the pageant for a few years as a director and good friend,” the pageant mentioned. A lot of his movies had their Austrian premieres there.

Eva Sangiorgi, Viennale’s director, mentioned: “The Viennale has had a long-standing relationship with Christian Petzold and his filmmaking, and I personally really feel a profound connection to his cinema. Because of this, it’s an awesome honor that he’s taking up the presidency of the pageant. He’s such a coherent and constant director that I’m satisfied that he’ll convey inspiring power and perspective with him throughout a time wherein dialog about cinema and tradition is so advanced.”

Petzold mentioned: “The Viennale is at all times probably the most stunning narrative of a film yr. And maybe it’s the best-curated pageant – however I’m not presupposed to say that. It’s mentioned that Billy Wilder referred to as Barbara Stanwyck the ‘finest actress,’ and when he later despatched a script to Joan Crawford, he obtained it again unopened with the observe saying, ‘Ship it to the perfect actress…’ So, I’m very completely happy to be a part of the Viennale. I’m actually wanting ahead to it.”

He talked about the pageant’s retrospectives on John Ford, the essayistic movie “Der Weg der Termiten” and “Los Angeles: A Metropolis on Movie” as highlights of its work.

Petzold’s new movie “Miroirs No. 3” premiered this week on the Cannes Movie Competition in Administrators’ Fortnight. He gained the 2012 Silver Berlin Bear for finest director for “Barbara,” and the 2023 Berlin Grand Jury Prize for “Afire.” In 2020, he gained the FIPRESCI Prize in Berlin for competitors movie “Undine,” and actor Paula Beer gained the Berlin Silver Bear for her efficiency within the movie.

In different information, the Viennale has introduced that Sangiorgi’s contract has been prolonged for an additional three years. The choice was made by the Viennale board of trustees. Sangiorgi has been given inventive duty for the pageant till March 2029. Sangiorgi has been director of the Viennale since March 2018.

“I’m really grateful for this vote of confidence – it brings renewed power to the pageant,” Sangiorgi mentioned. “The Viennale is deeply rooted within the social and cultural cloth of town, as confirmed by the extraordinary viewers numbers we’ve seen in recent times, regardless of the various challenges we’ve confronted. Additionally it is internationally famend for its excellent movie program, consistency, and clear curatorial focus. I’m happy that my imaginative and prescient has been each understood and appreciated. Trying forward, new initiatives will likely be launched that reply to the instances – at all times in step with the Viennale’s nice and longstanding custom.”