The Same Every Year ...
or Albert Einstein sends his regards

At the Festival of Nations in Lenzing I saw many good films but few Austrian filmmakers. It is similar with the Golden Diana and the Walser Film Festival. As an excuse I hear "foreign language competence", "annoying subtitles" or even "this is no amateur film" and the like.
Unfortunately, this behaviour also applies to longstanding VÖFA judges.

• You must have heard that you can greatly expand your own horizons by viewing foreign films.
  
• That from the jury’s arguments your own future works can benefit.
  
• That a poor showing is not always the fault of the jury (nor of the technicians or the running-order.)
  

But between knowledge and action, there is a component, which I will not go into. A maxim quoted by Einstein: 

"There are two things that are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. I'm not quite sure about the universe."

See our list of festivals - here

An international festival especially is more than just looking at your own film on the big screen. Become familiar with foreign cultures, have a reunion with friends, exchange ideas, learn to understand film makers better. 

Hence my appeal for more tolerance, more festival tourism, more visits to international festivals. 

- Erich Riess

See the festivals under UNICA patronage here

This article first appeared in 'Freizeit Info' magazine (Ausgabe 2015-02)