Film culture in Amstetten: Dialogue days inspire with top -class guests!

Film culture in Amstetten: Dialogue days inspire with top -class guests!

On July 16, 2025, the Dialogue Days in Amstetten took place as part of the Mostviertel quarterfestival, which devoted themselves entirely to the film culture and the voluntary commitment of the film associations. The initiator of the event was the Kulturverein perspective cinema, which presented a wide range of topics related to the social importance of the film in the town hall hall. Mayor Christian Haberhauer (ÖVP) opened the event with a look at the upcoming cultural year 2026, which will be shaped by the Lower Austrian state exhibition. City Councilor Stefan Jandl and Martin Lammerhuber, Managing Director of Kultur.Region.REISTRISCHE, were also among the guests and underlined the importance of film and cinema culture as a meeting place.

A special highlight of the first dialogue day was the five keynote lectures that encouraged intensive discussion. Antje Nikola Mönning emphasized the film as an "empathy machine" and drawn attention to the need for rooms in which cinematic clashes can take place. Martin Vogg highlighted the historical and current role of cinemas in the communities and the essential function of film clubs. Michael Stejskal from the film shop Film rental also emphasized the importance of these clubs as a valuable partner in the film industry. In addition, the short film "Halleluja" was shown by the directors Christian and Theresa Kitzwögerer, which highlighted film associations as a platform for high -quality but smaller productions.

from film production to the audience binding

The discussions on the first day were also enriched by the exchange with young filmmakers. Students of the Vienna Film Academy, Saskia Arth and Matteo Sanders, had their say and discussed how they can effectively reach their audience as a young filmmaker. This commitment makes it clear how important it is to promote cinematographic education and the spread of films, especially at a time when artistic forms of expression are often pushed into the background. Voices from the region confirmed the importance of the conservation of old cinemas that cannot be replaced as a cultural infrastructure.

The second dialogue day began with an entertaining film breakfast in which the films "Am Grat" and "Lena*" were presented. Discussion formats on the "DNA of the film associations" and for future challenges initiated the further course of the day. Representatives from various cultural departments and film institutes were also on site and contributed to the discussion. Perspective cinema chairwoman Helga Steinacher praised the team's commitment and the resulting organization of the event, which promoted the exchange of ideas and visions.

A look into the future of film culture

The dialogue days closed with a view of the upcoming perspective summer cinema on August 6, in which actress Ursula Strauss is expected for a film discussion. Such events are very trendy and underline the importance of film culture and municipal cinemas, which actively deal with more than just performing films. The programs of these cinemas are characterized by high quality and promote the dialogue between the audience and filmmakers, which is all the more important in a time of digital flooding. As the numerous keynote lectures and discussions of the dialogue days show, the need to strengthen local film work and the demands on cultural policy will continue to exist.

There is also a lot of movement in the international film scene. For example, a total of 36 films were chosen by a selection committee for the 2025 competition. Among them are works from countries such as Myanmar, Pakistan, Haiti and even Austrian filmmakers. Such initiatives show the comprehensive offer that goes beyond local borders and promotes the exchange of cultures. The wide range of films shows that the film culture not only focuses on locally, but also internationally and creates space for diversity and various perspectives.

The combination of local film culture, the exchange with young talents and international attention shows that the film associations and cultural institutions in Austria have an excellent sense of what moves society and what will be in demand in the future. Whether in a small scale or in international competition - the film culture has a permanent place in Amstetten and beyond.