Crossing Europe Film Festival Linz

24.-29.4.2007

The 4th Crossing Europe Premieres April 24
Though the Capital of Culture year program is still in its formative phase, the CROSSING EUROPE Film Festival has already established itself as a starter in the Linz09 lineup. This cinematic showcase directed by Christine Dollhofer and dedicated to fresh young European auteur filmmaking has been, since its very inception in 2004, an international cultural ambassador of Austria's designated Capital of Culture. Now, as part of a large-scale collaborative arrangement, Linz09 is sponsoring the festival’s Grand Prize and making possible the production of a new CROSSING EUROPE trailer. The fourth edition of CROSSING EUROPE will be screened April 24-29, 2007.

Each year, the festival’s hand-picked lineup of features and documentaries has gotten rave reviews from audiences that have included a host of accredited journalists and film industry people from all over the world. And this is precisely what has enabled CROSSING EUROPE to quickly carve out a place for itself in the Austrian festival landscape and to make quite a name for itself abroad as well. Each year since 2004, Festival Director Christine Dollhofer presents approximately 150 films from about 30 European countries and thus creates a platform for innovative filmmakers who have a tough time getting their foot in the door of mainstream cinemas. CROSSING EUROPE also showcases current films and videos by outstanding Upper Austrian artists.

New Festival Trailer by Karo Szmit
Photographer, animated film maker and video artist Karo Szmit was recently awarded the commission to create CROSSING EUROPE’s new official festival trailer, a production made possible by the festival’s cooperation with Linz09. This work by Szmit, who was born in 1978 and lives in Upper Austria, thus becomes the successor of a 2004 effort by Upper Austrian experimental filmmaker Siegfried A. Fruhauf. Not only will the new trailer open every festival screening; 50 copies are also being sent to movie theaters throughout Austria to promote the festival.

Grand Prize Endowed by Linz 2009
The future European Capital of Culture organization has also made a major commitment to the 2007 CROSSING EUROPE Awards. Linz09 is lead sponsor of the CROSSING EUROPE Award bestowed on the prizewinning film in the European competition. It includes a cash award of 10,000 euros.

The Crossing Europe 2007 programme
Freeline 0800-66 40 60 (daily 10 a.m. - 10.45 p.m.)