The novel Josefine Mutzenbacher[i], ostensibly a female perspective but in fact most probably a male fantasy from a less radiant fin de siècle Vienna, was first published anonymously in 1906 and banned until the 1960s. Today it has lost none of its ambivalent nature. In her film essay MUTZENBACHER Ruth Beckermann takes the opportunity to invite men of various ages to perch on a pink casting couch and engage in an exchange of ideas on sexuality and taboo, inspired by passages in the outlawed classic dating back over a century.

Golden Bear Competition: RIMINI by Ulrich Seidl, Feb 11 | 22:00 | Berlinale Palast
Encounters:
A LITTLE LOVE PACKAGE by Gastón Solnicki, Feb 14 | 18:00 | CinemaxX 7
MUTZENBACHER by Ruth Beckermann, 
Feb 13 | 18:00 | CinemaxX 7
SONNE by Kurdwin Ayub,  Feb 12 | 21:30 | CinemaxX 7
Forum: FOR THE MANY – THE VIENNA CHAMBER OF LABOUR by Constantin Wulff Feb 11| 17:30 | Delphi

The two Austrian documentary entries at the 72nd Berlinale – MUTZENBACHER by Ruth Beckermann (Encounters) and FOR THE MANY – THE VIENNA CHAMBER OF LABOUR by Constantin Wulff (Forum) are among the 18 documentaries selected across all sections for the prestigious documentary award. With her prior documentary WALDHEIM’S WALTZ Ruth Beckermann won the Berlinale Documentary Award already in 2018.

Five Austrian Films celebrated their worldpremiere, respectively in the Golden Bear competition, the Encounters competition and the Forum: RIMINI by Ulrich Seidl, SONNE by Kurdwin Ayub, MUTZENBACHER by Ruth Beckermann, A LITTLE LOVE PACKAGE by Gastón Solnicki, FOR THE MANY by Constantin Wulff.

Directors and teams met the audience in cinemas and earned remarkable reviews by the international press. We've got an overview on this website

Renowned Austrian documentarian Ruth Beckermann digs out one of the more scandalous literary works from her native country (or indeed any country) from the last century and checks it off against contemporary moral(ism)s, writes Cineuropa-critic Jan Lumholdt in his review on Ruth Beckermanns Berlinale Encounters-entry MUTZENBACHER.

We’re full of pride and joy: Kurdwin Ayub’s directorial debut SONNE wins the GFF Best First Feature Award. This films stands out among 18 first features selected throughout the different Berlinale sections, the prize is endowed with € 50,000.
Ruth Beckermann is once again a Berlinale laureate. The winner of the Berlinale Documentary Award 2018,  takes the Best Film Award at the Encounters competition for her new documentary MUTZENBACHER.

Discover the fabulous Austrian presence at the 56th KARLOVY VARY IFF (July 1 to 9, 2022) kviff, with no less than seven feature length and one short film on the screens. A line-up including Leni Lauritsch’ Sci-Fi directorial debut RUBIKON that will make its first festival appearance between two major releases in the US and UK.

The San Sebastián IFF is hosting the world premiere of Ulrich Seidl's SPARTA in its Golden Shell competition, the second part of Seidl's brother diptych (together with RIMINI). Also invited – two of our highly performing festival faves 2022 – CORSAGE by Marie Kreutzer and MUTZENBACHER by Ruth Beckermann who will also be holding a masterclass.