Ambassador of Austria to China Wolf Dietrich Heim (3rd from left) poses for a group picture with delegates from the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in China and China Film Group Corporation in Beijing, on September 15, 2025. Photo: Dong Feng/GT

The Embassy of the Republic of Austria and China Film Group Corporation jointly launched the 2025 Austrian Film Festival in Beijing on September 15, opening a new chapter in bilateral cultural exchange. The film festival will feature seven films in seven cities till the end of September.

Ambassador of Austria to China Wolf Dietrich Heim said in his welcoming remarks that in the nearly 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, many cultural exchange activities have been held. This film festival is a new attempt at and new beginning in cooperation in the field of film.

Liu Chun, deputy general manager of China Film Group Corporation said in his remarks that China and Austria enjoy a profound cultural affinity. From the timeless classic Sissi to diverse and innovative works by Austria's younger generation of film makers, Austrian cinema has continuously contributed distinguished perspectives and creative voices to the global film landscape.

"It is expected that through this film festival, more Chinese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the enduring charm and fresh style of European films," Liu said. 

For the inauguration ceremony, the film Club Zero, which employed absurd and tense audio-visual language and profound psychological portrayal, was put on show to the audience. The movie tells the story of the growth problems of a group of teenagers trapped in the myth of a healthy lifestyle in the name of environmental protection, seeking a scholarship and fitness. 

After the screening, Club Zero director Jessica Hausner, and music composer Markus Binder held a discussion session with the audience. Hausner said that she intended to explain how people produce many deformed and exaggerated behaviors under the influence of "mind control" or manipulation.

This film festival extends its perspective to the cultural heartland of Europe, showcasing the unique artistic atmosphere and cultural depth of the Danube River to Chinese audiences through seven selected Austrian films.

From The White Ribbon, winner of the Palme d'Or in the main competition section of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, to the realistic masterpiece Gipsy Queen, which garnered numerous international awards upon its release in 2019, and to the thriller Club Zero, which opened the festival and made its Chinese big screen debut, along with films - Ingeborg Bachmann - Journey into the Desert, Chasing the Line, A Whole Life, and Light (or Mademoiselle Paradis) - with their diverse narratives spanning different genres and time periods, offer a more comprehensive and authentic portrayal of Austria's social transformation and the richness of artistic expression.

Professor Zhang Long, dean of the Department of International Journalism and Communication at the Communication University of China, also shared that the various global problems today are universal and shared. Therefore, to some extent, they have strengthened the world's confidence in "seeking common ground while reserving differences."

The 2025 Austrian Film Festival will last until September 30, while its tour is planned in seven cities covering Beijing, Shanghai, Jiaxing, Taiyuan, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and Xiamen.