Diagonale extends festival directors through 2029

Dominik Kamalzadeh and Claudia Slanar will continue to jointly lead the Diagonale, Austria’s film festival, through 2029, ORF reported on Wednesday.

Their contract had been due to expire in 2027 and was extended by two years at a general meeting of the Forum Österreichischer Film association. The Diagonale’s 30th edition will take place in Graz from April 7 to 12, 2027.

Kamalzadeh and Slanar have served as the festival’s artistic directors since 2023. They will now oversee at least six editions in total.

The association cited the festival’s stability and distinctive profile, growing audience interest, its strengthened position as an attractive platform for Austria’s film industry, and positive coverage in the Austrian and international press as reasons for the unanimous decision.

Paul Schwind was unanimously elected as the association’s new co-chairman, replacing Dagmar Streicher, who has withdrawn from the organisation. Schwind and co-chairman Johannes Rosenberger said they would work with the festival directors to develop the Diagonale as a home for Austria’s film industry despite tighter budgets and cost-cutting measures.

Kamalzadeh and Slanar said the extension was particularly encouraging at a challenging time for Austrian culture and film. They said they viewed it as both support and a mandate to strengthen the Diagonale as a place connecting audiences and the industry, Austria and the world, and the festival in Graz with the regions.