Backstage Vienna State Opera

AT 2019, 94 min, Stephanus Domanig

Accompanied by Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila,” workers rise from the understage to set up the world that is a stage. These men and women toil in shifts from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the Vienna State Opera, sometimes making a thundering racket in the empty theater and then working as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing rehearsals or performances. They’re vital to the operation of one of the largest opera houses in the world.

Stephanus Domanig’s film BACKSTAGE VIENNA STATE OPERA takes a look behind the scenes at this cultural institution, portraying the variety of work done there, most of it invisible, that enables the world-renowned singers, conductors and musicians to delight their audience. The film focuses on the employees behind, next to and underneath the stage who keep the huge, complex operation going. And there’s a considerable number of them. They provide an in-depth survey of their work, giving the film’s viewers an idea of everything that’s necessary for productions to be successful and run smoothly. The opera house not only enjoys an excellent reputation, performances take place every day of the year except for two (“Christmas and Good Friday”) and an impressive 99% of its seats are sold.

festivals

Beirut Art Film Festival 2019, LB | German Film Festival 2021, AU | Foça International Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Documentary Film Days 2022, TR

awards

Best Cinematography (Romy 2020)

pictures

DIRECT ORDER DVD

WATCH ON VOD

QUEERFILMNACHT

Demnächst im Kino

NOVEMBER 2025

SAUNA

ein Film von Mathias Broe

DK 2025, 105 Minuten, OmdU, FSK 16

Mi 12.11. 20:40 KIZ Royal Kino
Mo 17.11., 20:00 Votivkino, Wien
Mi 19.11., 20:10 Volkskino Klagenfurt
Do 20.11., 20:30 Cinema Paradiso Baden
Mo 24.11. 20.30 Cinematograph

JETZT IM KINO:

BLUM - Gospodari svoje buducnosti

Ein Film von Jasmila Žbanic
BOSNISCHER OSCAR-BEITRAG 2026 "Best Feature Film"

JETZT AUCH IN DEUTSCHLAND IM KINO

Berlin: City Kino Wedding, Kino Krokodil
München: Neues Maxim Kino
Hamburg: Studio Kino
weitere Kino folgen

ORT OHNE ERINNERUNG. KAISERSTEINBRUCH, die verschwundene Geschichte

Ein Film von Reinhard Tötschinger

Ab 20. November im KINO!

Wien-Premiere am 20.11., 20.00 Metro Kinokulturhaus TICKETS
In Anwesenheit des Regisseurs, des Teams und Protagonisten

Sonderveranstaltung in Wien: Fr 21.11., 20.00 und Mo 1.12., 20.00

Innsbruck-Premiere am Fr 28.11., 20.00 Leokino
In Anwesenheit des Regisseurs und Protagonistin

Graz-Premiere am Mi 3.12., 18.00 KIZ Royal Kino
In Anwesenheit des Regisseurs

Linz-Premiere am Fr 5.12. Moviemento
In Anwesenheit des Regisseurs

GemeindeKINOs schaffen KINOgemeinden

Erlebt echte Kinomomente bei euch im Ort!
Eine Vielzahl ausgewählter Filme findet Ihr auf

www.gemeindekino.at oder
www.facebook.com/GemeindeKINO

ALARM jetzt STREAMEN

Kino Vod Club, Watch AUT

BLUM Masters of their own destiny

BiH´s entry for the 98th ACADEMY AWARDS
in the category: BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

BLUE - A Black European Tale (Austroschwarz)

Kasseler Dok Fest, GER, 19 Nov

A film by Mwita Mataro and Helmut Karner

RENATE

Österreich Premiere:

KITZBÜHEL FILM FESTIVAL
28.11., 17.00
In Anwesenheit von Martin Nguyen und Renate Welsh

THIS HUMAN WORLD
5.12., 19.00 Topkino, Wien

WHERE YOU MEET US IN PERSON

14-18 November: IDFA

Our films at DOCS for SALE:

BLUM - Masters of their own destiny
directed by Jasmila Zbanic
Bosnian OSCAR entry "Best Int. Feature Film" 2026

OPEN
directed by Diana Fabianova
One World Film Festival 2025, SK I Ji.hlava Film Festival 2025 (Opus Bonus Competition), CZ