20th CROSSING EUROPE: Save the Date!

 
16.12.2022 // For 19 years now, the vibrant film event that is CROSSING EUROPE has been providing insights into a continent with a complex history, conflict-laden present and yet hopeful future. Likewise, the festival program of the 20th edition will be dedicated to this approach under the motto “Europe, we need to talk!”.  Even though there are plans for special highlights on the occasion of the anniversary, cinematic experience and direct exchange in a relaxed atmosphere will, as always, be paramount. The adequate framework will once again be provided by the well-tried festival district revolving around the OÖ Kulturquartier and the festival cinemas Moviemento, City-Kino, and Central.
 
Hundreds of films from all over Europe have already been submitted for the upcoming edition of CROSSING EUROPE. As in the years before, the programming focus in 2023 will, among other things, be on diversity in all its varieties (e.g. geographically, artistically, genre-specifically), a balanced gender programming and, thematically, on pressing European topics. Regard will also be given to films from countries with an economically underdeveloped film industry or productions that, despite international success at festivals, can find no place in the regular programs of Austrian cinemas. This much can already be revealed: The audience can look forward to an utterly rich cinephile selection of around 140 fiction, documentary, and short films, including quite a few world premieres as well as the first Austrian presentations of internationally acclaimed films. Part of the festival DNA, along with the works of filmmakers from all over Europe, has always been the representation of local filmmaking, and it will also be in 2023 again, within the Local
Artists competition section. The YAAAS! Youth Program continues the effort to fill youths with enthusiasm for cinema and the film medium through a holistic offering of film education, acquisition of media literacy, and DIY video production.

The YAAAS! Competition, one of four CROSSING EUROPE competition sections, features six recent European feature film productions selected by the YAAAS! Young Programmers 2023 (Anna Maria Ahamer, Katrin Dobetsberger, Charlotte Fiedermutz, Laura Marceta, Lilia Obermüller, and Raphael Trimmel). The six HBLA für künstlerische Gestaltung Linz students were given an introduction to film curating this autumn and are currently already tasked with viewing and selecting the six competition entries.

The first film and festival highlights from the 2023 anniversary program will be announced in January.