Industry professionals, history experts and filmlovers
Our team consists of two groups of people that overlap one another and have a common ground: we love historical films. May it be our technicians, social media admins, interview moderators, our consulting experts or our jury team, all here share the enthusiasm to create a platform for you as a filmmaker and an international audience.
Independent and Specialized: Our Jury
Professionals from areas corresponding to the awards evaluate the films in each category throughout the submission process based on objective criteria from an internally discussed criteria catalog. The weighting of each Juror’s assessment in that area, corresponds to the average rating of all other jury members. This results in a regulatory evaluation system that allows for the most objective ranking of films that ultimately fall into the “award winning” category.
Franz Pieler:
Juror for Historical Worldbuilding
As the scientific director of MAMUZ, overseeing a collection spanning 40,000 years of human history, and responsible for a comprehensive exhibition, collection, and historical outdoor area, Franz is one of the key figures in the modern interpretation of pre- and early history in Austria. His extensive study of people’s lives through history and his constant contact with other experts make him an ideal evaluator of the historical integrity of our submissions.
Roman Schett:
Juror for Original Soundtrack
As a longtime film enthusiast, the musician and co-founder of this festival considers the portrayal of atmospheric scenes, in an interplay of image and sound, to be particularly important. The emotional attunement to the scenery as well as the use of instruments that convey the spirit of the moment extraordinarily well allow Roman’s love for films of all sizes to truly flourish. His work on soundtracks and as a producer for documentaries from different eras allows him a good insight into the current film industry.
Gagan Singh:
Juror for Populistic Appeal
In a time when mainstream audiences are becoming increasingly interested in both historical films and their discussion especially platforms like YouTube, it’s important to have the growing array curated and evaluated for its merits. On his YouTube channel, HistorySpark, Gagan reviews and recommends current historical movies, TV shows, and all-time classics for a wide audience. His insight into the potential appeal of submissions for an audience beyond the scholarly treatment of the material ensures a regulatory role in the evaluation process.
Martin Zillner:
Juror for Cinematography
Cinematography in historical films is an art form that blends visual storytelling with attention to detail. It’s more than just capturing scenes; it’s about transporting audiences to a different time, immersing them in the era’s essence through the lens. One of the most compelling aspects of cinematography in historical films is the recreation of the past. Details, from the color palette and lighting techniques to the composition of shots that mirror the aesthetic sensibilities of the time. This dedication is crucial for creating a believable and immersive experience.
Erik Kohlbauer:
Juror for Screenplay
Of course not all films actually try to tell a story, build on a screenplay or follow a narrative. And yet the audience will unknowingly always try to find one in the given medium, or loose attention. So a film might as well. Is a depiction of history – be it through actors or interviews – captivating, engaging and understandable through the concepts, characters and conflicts, it chooses to convey its information? With a passion for history, storytelling and cinema, I am happy to contribute what expertise as a film maker and ambition I can to our festival.
Helga Rösel-Mautendorfer:
Juror for Production Design
When I watch historical films, my focus is always, often unintentionally, on costume design. In particular in film scenes in historical documentaries, I think it’s important that the costumes are depicted authentically and historically correctly, and that stereotypes and clichés aren’t just picked up.
My main research interests are textiles of prehistory and antiquity, textile techniques in particular dyeing, experimental archaeology and reconstructions.
Katharina Bigus:
Juror for Acting
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Experienced and Insightful: Our Expert Advisors
As the viewing of our submitted Films, communication with Film Makers and personal attendance to our Festival can entail countless days of unpaid work, who not everyone has the time contribute and be a Festival Juror, we are happy to be able to consult with our Expert Adivisors. They help to judging process in their areas of expertise and provide their invaluable perspective on depictions of history.
Géza Frank:
Expert Advisor for Production Design
In Central Europe, reenactment has become an integral part of film and television. Geza has not only played an essential role in bolstering industry appreciation for these specialists but also actively advocates for the professionalization of the sector within the film industry. His involvement in various film projects as a historical performer and consultant significantly contributes to the rising quality standards of specialized productions.
Renate Miglbauer:
Expert Advisor for Historical Worldbuilding
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Specialized and Dedicated: Our Team Members
Organizing, hosting and promoting our Festival would not be possible without the commitment of our team members. They set up projectors, manage social media accounts and help with international networking.
Magdalena Dorfner:
Social Media and Event Photography
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Daniel Stimmeder:
Technician and Projector Manager
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Our partners
We are glad to have a network of institutions like museums and festival technicians that help us create our festival. Experts from outside our team help us with input in regards of historical events and technical aspects of film productions. But in a broader sense, our community is part of our team, as they are invited to take part in interviews with filmmakers and the production teams, by sending us their (your) questions. If you want to become part of our festival’s partner network, just write or call us.
