Overview

• Christian Petzold, acclaimed German filmmaker, has officially been appointed as the new president of the Viennale, Austria's leading international film festival.
• Petzold succeeds Eric Pleskow, the Austrian-American producer who passed away in 2019, leaving the presidency unfilled for six years.
• The Viennale, which drew 76,000 attendees last year, is known for its focus on contemporary cinema beyond the Western mainstream and avoidance of red-carpet fanfare.
• Festival artistic director Eva Sangiorgi highlighted Petzold's ability to bring 'inspiring energy and perspective' to the event during a complex cultural moment.
• Petzold recently premiered his latest film, 'Miroirs No. 3,' starring Paula Beer, at the Cannes Film Festival, underscoring his prominence in global cinema.