CALL Festival 2026 - CALL Magazine

Stars at the CALL Film Festival: Experience inspiring personalities live

Reinhold Messner: Four days, 10 films and fascinating talks (masterclasses) about his adventures

Experience Reinhold Messner live at the CALL Film Festival for four days, with ten of his greatest films, personal introductions to every screening and in captivating conversations and storytelling (masterclasses). The most significant mountaineer and adventurer of our time — closer than ever before.

Reinhold Messner: The major talk „The Final Expedition", the story of his life — May 31, 1:30 pm

A highlight of the CALL Film Festival: in a major talk, Reinhold Messner tells the story of his life — „The Final Expedition”. The boundary-crosser and adventurer speaks about mountains and extreme experiences, success and failure, values, responsibility and freedom.

Kim Cattrall: Hollywood in Bad Hofgastein with the film „Meet Monica Velour" and masterclass (talk) — May 29, 6:15 pm

We are screening Kim Cattrall’s favorite film „Meet Monica Velour”. Afterwards she will speak in a masterclass (talk) about her roles, Hollywood and the insights of a dazzling life. Kim Cattrall will also be present at the festival opening, the grand gala and the festival finale. Secure your ticket now.

Scorpions: The 2026 Jane Award laureates at the grand evening gala with Kim Cattrall, Reinhold Messner and more — May 30, 7:00 pm

The biggest stars of the festival live at the inaugural Jane Awards ceremony: not only Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker of the Scorpions will be honored, but also Kim Cattrall, Reinhold Messner, Parov Stelar and others. A glamorous evening and a highlight of the CALL Film Festival.

Lars Amend: The SPIEGEL bestselling author with the film „Dieses bescheuerte Herz" and masterclass (talk) — May 29, 12:00 pm

He has written 14 SPIEGEL bestsellers, including „Rock Your Life” with Rudolf Schenker, and sold two million books. We are screening the box-office hit „Dieses bescheuerte Herz” starring Elyas M’Barek, based on his bestseller of the same name. Afterwards Lars Amend talks about what really matters in life.

Parov Stelar: The world premiere of his concept film „Artifact" with masterclass (talk) featuring Philipp Hochmair — May 30, 4:00 pm

He is Austria’s most internationally renowned pop artist, the inventor of electro swing, who performs concerts from the USA (e.g. Coachella) to Australia. At our festival he premieres his concept film „Artifact” and, in conversation with actor Philipp Hochmair, talks about music, film, design, the love for the audience and what success really means.

Vera Brandes: „Köln 75" immortalized her on screen; in a masterclass she talks about her life and Keith Jarrett — May 29, 3:00 pm

Keith Jarrett’s Köln Concert is legendary to this day — organized by Vera Brandes, who was only 18 at the time. The film „Köln 75″, which we are screening, immortalized her story and became an international success, reaching number one at the Japanese box office. At the festival, Vera Brandes talks about her life, her achievements and the healing power of music.

Oliver Hirschbiegel: We screen his film „Five Minutes of Heaven" starring Liam Neeson; in a masterclass he talks about Hollywood — May 30, 10:00 am

Oliver Hirschbiegel is one of the most internationally acclaimed German directors. His film „Downfall” („Der Untergang”) was nominated for an Academy Award; he has worked with Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and many others. We are screening his masterpiece „Five Minutes of Heaven”, followed by a conversation about the craft of filmmaking and Hollywood.

Philipp Hochmair: In conversation (masterclass) with Parov Stelar about music, film and the love for the audience — May 30, 4:00 pm

As „Jedermann” at the Salzburg Festival he captivates audiences. As a musician with Elektrohand Gottes and Kurt Razelli he sets classical works to music and creates progressive soundscapes. With Parov Stelar he discusses what music, film and art have in common. Tickets only available in combination with „Artifact” / Parov Stelar masterclass.

Programme

Artifact

Director: Marcus Füreder aka Parov Stelar | Music Film

Nuremberg

Director: James Vanderbilt | Cast: Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Richard E. Grant | CALL for Peace Selection

Four Minus Three

Director: Adrian Goiginger | Cast: Valerie Pachner, Robert Stadlober, Hanno Koffler, Stefanie Reinsperger, Ronald Zehrfeld | CALL for (Inner) Peace Selection

Köln 75

Director: Ido Fluk | Cast: Mala Emde, John Magaro, Alexander Scheer, Ulrich Tukur, Jördis Triebel, Susanne Wolff

Palestine 36

Director: Annemarie Jacir | Cast: Jeremy Irons, Hiam Abbass, Kamel El Basha, Robert Aramayo, Saleh Bakri | CALL for Peace Selection

1_YANUNI_Juma_Xipaia_Amazonby-RICHARD-LADKANI_1

Yanuni – The Amazon is a Woman

Director: Richard Ladkani | Cast: Juma Xipaia, Hugo Xipaia (Documentary) | CALL for Nature Selection

Videos

Oscar winner Stefan Ruzowitzky: What I would like to recommend to you

The member of the CALL Film Festival Committee on the new fixed point in the Austrian film landscape.

What Oscar winner Stefan Ruzowitzky, Diane & Reinhold Messner, CALL Film Festival President Oliver Hirschbiegel and many other distinguished personalities have to say about the first CALL Film Festival, May 28–31, 2026 in Bad Hofgastein.

News

Free admission: the Jackson biopic “Michael” on 30 May at the CALL Open Air Cinema in the Alpenarena Bad Hofgastein

The whole world is talking about him, and we’re showing him – with free admission. On 29 and 30 May, the CALL Open-Air Cinema will be taking place at the…

The CALL Film Festival presents: The world’s first cinematic retrospective of Reinhold Messner

How can one push beyond one’s own limits? Hardly anyone knows a better answer to this question than the most renowned trailblazer, mountaineer and adventurer of our time: Reinhold Messner…

‘Sex and the City’ star Kim Cattrall is coming to Bad Hofgastein

It’s a real surprise: Hollywood star Kim Cattrall is to receive the ‘Jane Award’ and will be in attendance for all four days of the CALL Film Festival.

The Founders

Die CALL Film Festival-Gründerinnen und -Direktorinnen Elisabeth Sereda (l.) und Christina Zappella-Kindel (r.), CALL-Herausgeberin, mit CALL Film Festival-Präsident Oliver Hirschbiegel (Foto: CALL/Roland Unger)

Film Festival 2026

A festival founded by two women with a shared vision.

Christina Zappella-Kindel and Elisabeth Sereda aim to create a film festival characterised by integrity, independence and substance.

Jane Awards

Der Jane Award, der im Rahmen des CALL Film Festivals von nun an jährlich verliehen wird, designt von JOSKA Bodenmais