03/02/2009

The 30th edition of the Max Ophüls Film Festival (January 26-February 1) – which is held annually in Saarbrucken and is a place of discovery for German-speaking talent – awarded its main prize (worth €18,000) to Universalove, by Klagenfurt-born Austrian director Thomas Woschitz.

Woschitz (40) trained at the National Film School in Rome, where he continues to work from time to time, when he is not in Vienna. He has an interesting filmography, both as a director (in particular The Josef Trilogy: triptych of three medium-length films that were presented, together or separately, at prestigious festivals including the Diagonale, Cannes Critics’ Week, Venice, Locarno and Karlovy Vary), and as an editor (for example the recent Austrian/Luxembourg title Little Secrets, see news).

Universalove – Woschitz’s first true directorial feature – screened at Toronto last October. The film is divided into different sections (invented or based on real events) on the universal theme of love, with its disappointments and thrills.

The action is set in Marseilles, Belgrade, Tokyo, New York, Brazil and Luxembourg, for in each place and at every moment, the same beautiful story unfolds.

The Max Ophüls Festival jury praised this "lively Odyssey" and commented that the music by the group Naked Lunch – who were in attendance at Saarbrucken where they gave a concert – plays a "major role" in the film.

The title was produced by Vienna’s KGP Kranzelbinder Gabriele Production in co-production with Luxembourg’s Red Lion.

(Translated from French)