Viennale - Vienna International Film Festival

[morgenhund]

The Viennale - Vienna International Film Festival has taken place annually since 1960, and is traditionally held in late October to early November. Rather than focussing on blockbuster films in multiplexes it holds screenings at Vienna's smaller non-chain cinemas, such as the Gartenbaukino, Urania-Kino, Metro-Kino, Filmmuseum, the Künstlerhaus and Stadtkino. It culminates with the Vienna Film Prize being awarded. The festival features a collection of new films from all over the world, some of which premiere at the festival. In addition there are also a number of documentaries, short features as well as the historical retrospective that is organised in conjunction with the Austrian Film Museum - as well as other special programs, tributes and homages to international institutions and individuals. As with other film festivals there are a number of gala events, celebrations and the presence of luminaries of cinema.Rather than showing films for the entire duration of the festival, frequently they are only shown once or twice - leading, particularly in the case of premières prior to Austrian general release, to congestion for tickets online and at the ticket points as soon as the programme for the Viennale is announced. Not all tickets are available through the Internet, with fans queueing to get remaining seats for screenings on the street - this has become part of the essence of the festival for diehard fans. Tickets to screenings are usually around standard price, although longer features command surcharges. In addition there are also various festival merchandising items, with the most widely seen being Viennale messenger bags and posters.The 2011 Viennale runs from 20 October until 2 November and information on the programme can be found on the Viennale's English language website.