The Diagonale film festival was founded in 1993 by the Austrian Film Commission, an organization dedicated to promoting Austrian cinema at the international level. The festival was held in Salzburg from 1993 to 1995 and then went on a short hiatus before moving to Graz in 1998 where it has been held ever since. The festival is held at the Festivalzentrum (festival center) in the Graz Art Museum and in several cinemas throughout the city.
The main goal of the festival is to serve as a forum for the presentation and discussion of Austria’s film industry. The festival has a tailored program selection which strives to introduce the viewers and industry professional to the best of Austrian cinema in all its diversity, to present the latest trends in the film industry, and to draw the industry into public discourse. The Diagonale attracts around 1,300 accredited film industry professionals and 25,000 viewers every year, which makes it one of the largest film festivals in Austria.
The program of the festival features films of all genres, lengths and formats. All of them are Austrian or world premieres. Additionally, there are special features catering to Austrian filmmakers as well as screenings of selected works by international filmmakers. The Diagonale’s competition program features over 100 films by both up-and-coming filmmakers and established film directors. Other sections include Spotlight On, In Reference, and Austria: Forget It. The Diagonale also hosts the Austria Film Meeting, an open forum for filmmakers and other industry professionals.
The Diagonale Film Festival presents a number of prestigious awards. The festival’s main award is Grand Diagonale Prize. It is awarded to the best feature film and best documentary film. The juries also award prizes for short films, acting, cinematography, editing, sound design, production and costume design, and innovative cinema. Other awards include the Youth Jury Prize, the Audience Prize, and Script Prizes.
Photo: Diagonale/Klaus Pressberger
