16/01/2003

Two documentaries produced by the Austrian state broadcaster ORF have attracted international interest and been invited to a number of international film festivals. Written and directed by Beate Thalberg in 2001, The Joel Files is the story of the family of singer-songwriter Billy Joel, and their escape from Nazi Germany and Austria. An English-language version narrated by British actor John Hurt will be screened on 20 and 21 January at the forthcoming 12th New York Jewish Film Festival, and also at the Sundance Film Festival.
Afghanistan – Die blauen Steine der Pharaonen by Wolfgang Knoepfler and Paul Reddish and produced with funding from the MEDIa Programme, is about the travels of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo. The film won an important award at the 32nd Rochid International Film Festival in Teheran.