Austrian Cinema

<p> Austria the multicultural crossroad of the European continent has been the genesis of many artistic concepts. Just as late 19th and early 20th century Austria gave influential modernism to the world in the fields of medicine urban planning architecture design literature music and theater so its film industry created a significant national cinema that seeded talents and concepts internationally. Nevertheless the value of Austrian cinema to international film has been long obscured. Austria's important bond with American film is also underappreciated because of the lack of accessible English language scholarship on the early careers of Austro-Hollywood artists and on influential developments in Austrian film history.</p><p> This first comprehensive English survey of Austrian film introduces more than a century of cinema following the development of the industry chronologically through the nation's various transformations since 1895. Important industry movements genres and films are highlighted with sociopolitical cultural and aesthetic details. An analysis of the economic trends that have influenced Austrian film is also provided. The survey considers the directors actors producers writers cinematographers editors composers and other film artists who have been essential to the development and influence of Austrian cinema. The closing chapter anticipates new faces of the Austrian film industry in the 21st century.</p>