Austria, Italy 2020Language:German, ItalianSubtitles:GermanDirector:Evi RomenWriter:Evi RomenCinematographer:Martin Gschlacht, Jerzy PalaczEditor:Karina ResslerMusic:Florian HorwathSound:David Hilgers, Fabrice Osinski, Valérie Le DocteWith:Thomas Prenn, Noah Saavedra, Josef Mohamed, Ursula Scribano-Ofner, Elisabeth Kanettis, Katja Lechthaler, Helmuth Häusler, Hannes PerkmannProducer:Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu, Bady Minck, Gregory Zalcman, Alon KnollProduction Company:AMOUR FOU Vienna GmbHDistributor:Salzgeber & Co. Medien GmbH107 min, Colour

Mario and Lenz are best friends with big dreams: Mario wants to become a dancer, Lenz an actor. But what happens to a village structure in South Tyrol when only one of two friends survives a hate crime attack in a gay disco in Rome and the survivor can no longer fit into the village because he thinks his life would have been less valuable? A village as microcosm and echo of an inconceivable event. The director calls HOCHWALD a modern “Heimatfilm” that plays with archaic structures. Mario must find his way between tradition and the urban zeitgeist, between the unknown and the familiar, in order not to lose his bearings.

Thomas Prenn is nominated for the Braunschweig Film Award for her portrayal of Mario.

Recommended for ages 16+

Director's Biography:Born 1967 in Bolzano, Italy. Studied camera and editing at the Vienna Film Academy. Active as a film editor and screenwriter and has won several awards. HOCHWALD is her feature film debut, GOLDEN EYE Competition Zurich Festival for HOCHWALD.