A single location dominates Ruth Mader’s new film SERVIAM – I WILL SERVE: a Catholic girls’ boarding school for the daughters of wealthy families. The film is set in the 1980s, and money seems to count more than faith in this atmosphere, where girls-only schools were as natural a part of life as landline phones. One of the sisters takes her mission seriously and attempts to guide her pupils on a spiritual path – not necessarily to the benefit of their mental state. Ruth Mader filmed her thriller in association with epo-film during the 2021 summer vacation and has now begun postproduction work.

It is primarily the prestige of this elite establishment that prompts well-heeled parents to send their daughters to the 1980s Catholic boarding school which is the setting of Ruth Mader's thriller SERVIAM – I WILL SERVE. A deeper bond with God appears to be lacking among the parents and many members of the religious order as well. Except for one young nun. In her religious verve she sends a particularly sensitive girl on a dangerous path to God; they both become lost in the labyrinthine search for healing – but ultimately salvation from outside is their only hope.

Two strong Austrian voices are to present their highly anticipated new films:
MATTER OUT OF PLACE by Nikolaus Geyrhalter who provides stunning observations on waste on a global scale
SERVIAM – I WILL SERVE by Ruth Mader who tackles the question of faith in her thriller set in an all-girl Catholic boarding school
 
Both films are contenders of the Pardo d’oro International Competition

The first Pardo Verde WWF, a newly launched initiative by the Locarno IFF and the WWF for outstanding films tackling environmental issues, went to Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s stunning essay on our growing amounts of garbage.
 
Ruth Mader’s SERVIAM – I WILL SERVE, also a contender of the Locarno 75 International Competition, took one of the Junior Jury Awards.

Marie Kreutzer’s CORSAGE and Ruth Mader’s SERVIAM – I WILL SERVE, both released at top festivals this spring and summer, will also be vying for the Heart of Sarajevo. Thomas Fürhapter’s LIVING TOGETHER is a contender in the Documentary competion. Ulrich Seid’s Golden Bear entry RIMINI will be presented In Focus.

The 14^th International Film Festival LES ARCS (December 10 to 17) dedicates this year’s focus to Austrian filmmaking with

• feature and short films from Austria in the Competition and the other festival sections
• new projects from Austria in the Industry Village
• with a strong presence of filmmakers from Austria in a compact and targeted European network meeting for production and exploitation