About

ETHNOCINECA

International Documentary Film Festival Vienna

Ethnocineca is the largest Austrian festival dedicated exclusively to documentary and ethnographic film. Currently located in the Votiv Cinema and the Kino de France, the 8-day festival has been an integral part of the domestic and international film festival calendar since 2007. The program showcases 50 recent long- and shortfilm productions and its five competition sections highlight trends and excellence of contemporary documentary filmmaking: the International Documentary Award (IDA) honors the best international documentary feature film, while its counterpart, the Austrian Documentary Award (ADA), awards a price to the best Austrian feature length documentary. The Excellence in Visual Anthropology Award (EVA) promotes distinguished ethnographic films and thus the segment of the festival that has been in focus since its foundation. The audience award International Shorts Award (ISA) gives the diverse and lively genre of short film the recognition it deserves. Last but not least, the ethnocineca as an association for the promotion of audio-visual culture promotes young talents not only with the annual 10-day film workshop in the run-up to the festival but also with the audience award ethnocineca Student Shorts Award (ESSA).

Every year, Numerous international guests, filmmakers and academics attend the festival, and participate in  film talks, master classes and panel discussions and make the ethnocineca a platform for dialogue and engagement with the pressing issues of our time. In addition, year-round initiatives such as film cooperations with other festivals, requested special screenings, film clubs and film series, the 10-days ethnocineca film workshop and the traditional keynote lecture are part of the festival’s extended communication program.

During the festival, a rich side-programme rounds off the festival experience: Discussions, in-depth film talks and guest lectures, an opening ceremony and the award ceremony as well as a closing party are ethnocineca’s festive highlights and create the right festival feeling. They make the festival week a unique experience in a relaxed and open atmosphere that invites you to linger and communicate.

Marie-Christine Hartig, Martin Lintner, Katja Seidel
Artistic Directors