Bengaluru: The 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) presented a distinctive and thoughtfully curated selection of Austrian cinema, made possible with the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum New Delhi. The Austrian showcase at this year’s festival offered Bengaluru audiences a rich engagement with films that reflect Austria’s long-standing tradition of cinematic excellence, intellectual depth, and artistic courage.
Renowned for its ability to address complex themes with emotional precision and stylistic innovation, Austrian cinema found a receptive and engaged audience at BIFFes 17. The films presented explored history, politics, memory, literature, and the power of individual voices, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to meaningful global cinema and cross-cultural dialogue.
A major highlight of the Austrian selection was Perla, a riveting Cold War drama that examines personal lives shaped by the tensions and uncertainties of a divided world. Through its layered storytelling and compelling performances, the film offered a poignant reflection on identity, loyalty, and survival against a turbulent historical backdrop.
Another standout was The Letzte Botschafterin / The Last Ambassador, a powerful documentary that deeply moved audiences with its sensitive portrayal of diplomacy, resilience, and moral conviction. Marked by emotional restraint and cinematic clarity, the film underscored the strength and international relevance of Austrian documentary filmmaking.
The Dreamed Ones / Die Geträumten offered festival audiences a unique and intimate cinematic experience. The film delves into the intense and complex relationship between two major post-war German-language poets through their nearly two-decade-long correspondence from 1948 to 1967. Set in a Vienna studio, a young woman and a young man read aloud from the poets’ letters, allowing their words to resonate vividly on screen. The result is a moving meditation on love, language, art, and creative connection.
The Austrian showcase also featured Elfriede Jelinek – Die Sprache von der Leine lassen, a compelling documentary on Austria’s Nobel Prize–winning writer Elfriede Jelinek. The film provides rare insight into her provocative use of language, her literary philosophy, and her enduring influence on contemporary thought and culture, offering audiences a deeper understanding of one of Austria’s most significant literary voices.
Reflecting on the collaboration with the Bengaluru International Film Festival, Michael Pal, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum New Delhi, said, “In the vibrant city of technology, it is always a deep experience to interact with the audience and present meaningful Austrian films such as Perla, The Letzte Botschafterin / The Last Ambassador, The Dreamed Ones / Die Geträumten, and Elfriede Jelinek – Die Sprache von der Leine lassen.”
The Austrian participation at BIFFes 17 was warmly received by audiences and critics alike, sparking lively discussions and reaffirming Bengaluru’s position as an important platform for international cinema and cultural exchange.