Dollhofer: “Recovering the confidence of moviegoers”

The 17th edition of the Linz Crossing Europe film festival is reported to have started on April 21.

In view of the crown pandemic and ban on events, festival director Christine Dollhofer had to cancel this year’s edition, but has found some alternatives with her team.

VOLKSBLATT: How disappointed are you when you have the full Crossing Europe 20202 program in front of you?

DOLLHOFER: Of course, after months of hard work, it’s very bitter to have to make an emergency stop below your target and now try to keep the idea alive with a few building blocks. But you cannot replace a festival that lives on the exchange between the filmmakers and the public. But considering the dramatic situation around the world, a festival is, of course, the least important. On the other hand, we naturally want to keep film culture alive.

What has happened since the first restrictions?

Somehow it was suppressed until the beginning of March and it was thought that by April all that would be ready. But the perspective changed every day and on March 18 we canceled the festival. Then there was a great panic, what does that mean for our team, for our finances, cancellations? The diagonal has shown that it can provide some transmission. For us, however, this is more problematic because we present Austrian premieres with international sales worldwide. It is not so easy to make movies available for streaming for free.

What festival alternatives are there now?

Ten films are offered on vodclub.online and flimmit, a cross section of the program. On the planned opening day, April 21, we will do a replacement opening with dorftv featuring Michael Pfeifenberger’s wonderful movie “The Linzer Candyboy” about Linz-born filmmaker Micha Shagrir and music videos. In any case, we want to show several cooperative movies in the fall, when theaters can unlock them again. We want to have a “Local Artits Weekend” with the cultural district of Upper Austria and present our “Homage to VALIE EXPORT” at Ars in Moviemento with Ars Electronica, the VALIE EXPORT Center, Los Lentos and the State Museum. Starting in the fall, we’ll also be showing one or two Crossing Europe movies every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Cinema. Very current movies will be shown next year. We are just trying to keep the spirit of Crossing Europe alive.

Much will happen in the fall …

In autumn we should prepare for 2021 again, but we will succeed. You realize what the strength of Upper Austria has always been: that they all help together and you see that they are doing something together. I must say that I am very relieved that there are really positive signs of politics and especially of cultural politics, that people are trapped and are not left out in the rain. We are not companies that hold reserves or make profits that we can draw on.

How does it look financially now?

We are trying to make ends meet with alternative projects by the end of the year. Once we have completely closed the entire structure and produced the lowest possible cost, we hope this will be more or less. A big thanks to the sponsors who are very supportive. As the signs of the economy are generally, I am now more afraid of what the future of cultural budgets will be like.

But isn’t there fear for the continued existence of the festival?

We are very comprehensive in financing. If so, it affects the entire film industry. Remember that many movies cannot be finished. Of course, there will be movies next year, but probably not as many as in recent years. I’m not afraid of existence when it comes to the festival. Either way, you can always hold a festival. A big question is whether the trips will be possible again next year.

How will this stop affect the film and cinema industry?

The biggest problem will be how to regain the confidence of moviegoers. When will be the time when you meet in a room and watch movies? If the theaters can be unlocked again, but no one is coming, it would be even more dramatically financial. The entire film industry is a big economic factor with lots of jobs. You can still intercept that, but if it takes too long, it will be very dramatic. Aid packages are necessary as in all other economic fields. All Hollywood blockbusters have been postponed. If it happens again in the fall, there will be a mega battle for playgrounds in theaters. You will have to coordinate well so as not to overwhelm the audience with cultural events.

Are you watching more movies now?

I always watch movies and thank God I’m in the office. But all social interaction is missing, even on the cultural scene. Just like in Upper Austria, in Linz, everyone knows everyone, you meet, all important information is given free of charge when you meet people. All silent publishing no longer works.

Mariella Moshammer spoke to CHRISTINE DOLLHOFER