Austrian Cinema at the CMIFF
From 17 to 20 September 2026, Uzhhorod hosted the 7th Carpathian Mountain International Film Festival (CMIFF) — four days of screenings, encounters and discussions exploring mountains, the environment, tourism and life in mountain regions.
This year, the festival presented 32 films from 16 countries, with competition entries evaluated by an international jury including representatives of partner organisations from Central Europe. According to the organisers, the seventh edition also attracted the largest audience in the festival’s history.
Contemporary Austrian filmmaking was an important part of this year’s programme.
The feature documentary competition included “The Melt” by Austrian filmmaker Nikolaus Geyrhalter. Created between 2021 and 2025, the documentary can be seen as an archive of the future — a portrait of a world being transformed by the disappearance of snow and ice.
Rather than focusing on the catastrophe itself, Geyrhalter turns his attention to the people whose lives are intertwined with snow and ice, who depend on them and who are witnessing their gradual disappearance. Through their experiences, the global phenomenon of climate change acquires a deeply human dimension.
“Shori Gza – The Far Way” was another film with Austrian participation in the programme, screened in the Sport category. Following the screening, the audience had the opportunity to meet and talk with director Philipp Marquardt and his assistant Tornike Matsaberidze.
The festival also brought an Austrian success: “One Way Ticket: Tbilisi” by Paul Ploberger received the international jury’s award for Best Short Fiction Film.
For the OeAD Cooperation Office Lviv, supporting the presentation of contemporary Austrian cinema in Ukraine and initiatives that create space for Austrian-Ukrainian cultural dialogue is particularly important. Film provides a powerful way to explore issues shared by our societies — from climate change and the protection of mountain environments to personal stories, identity and mutual understanding.
Our sincere thanks go to the Carpathian Mountain International Film Festival team, filmmakers, guests and audiences for the inspiring programme and for creating opportunities to meet through cinema in the heart of the Carpathians!
Pictures were provided by the organisers.
