18/19 Sept 2026 | Avantgarde Now! and Then! – sixpackfilm from Vienna

Avantgarde Now! and Then! sixpackfilm from Vienna



In previous editions, we have selected film initiatives or associations whose work we showcase through curated film programmes. These included evenings featuring experimental 16mm works self-developed and produced by Distruktur and Labor Berlin (2022), an evening dedicated to the pioneering work of Kino Armata in Pristina, Kosovo (2023), and a screening of feminist 16mm films from Asta Nielsen Film Archive in Frankfurt am Main (2024).

We are continuing this thread with sixpackfilm from Vienna, a distributor of artist films. Together with managing director Dietmar Schwärzler, we have curated four programmes to showcase their work as a film distributor and archive. In doing so, we are shining a spotlight on an aspect of international film and festival work that is usually behind the scenes and therefore not visible or accessible to the general public. sixpackfilm was founded in 1990 as a non-profit organisation. The primary aim of their work is to raise public awareness of Austrian artistic film and video production. This is achieved through distribution, rental, and the conception and organisation of events both in Austria and abroad. Following their festival run, all works enter the distribution catalogue, which now comprises more than 2,400 titles. The catalogue features historical classics of the Austrian avantgarde – such as Valie Export, Mara Mattuschka, Peter Weibel, Maria Lassnig, Ashley Hans Sheirl, Ursula Pürrer or Kurt Kren – alongside more recent names such as Johann Lurf, Martha Mechow, Kurdwin Ayub, Jan Soldat, Selma Doborac or Lukas Marxt.

The full programme comprises four parts, which will be presented in the presence of Dietmar Schwärzler and additional filmmakers: on 17 September, a loop of short films exploring the tension between public and private spheres, screened at Milieu Kino located in Rabet park, on 18 September, two short film programmes – one historical, focusing on the Austrian avant-garde, and one featuring contemporary works – at Luru Kino; and finally, on 19 September, also at Luru Kino, a programme of films by Viktoria Schmid in her presence.

Thu 17 September 2026 Milieukino at the Rabet
5 PM	Outside in the cinema: short films from sixpackfilm TAPP UND TASTKINO AT 1968, D: VALIE EXPORT , 2’, File EIN SCHLAUCHBOOT UND AUSTERN AT 1985, D: Ashley Hans Scheirl, Ursula Pürrer, 5’, File ASTOR PLACE US 1997, D: Eve Heller, 10’, File CROSSROAD US 2005, D: Phil Solomon, 5’, File SCHWERELOS AT 2016, D: Jannis Lenz, 9’, File
Fri 18 September 2026 Luru Kino
6 PM	Structure, Bodies, Rebellion ARNULF RAINER AT 1960, D: Peter Kubelka, 7’, 16mm START AT 1973, D: Ernst Schmidt jr., 11 sec, DCP HALLO AT 1964, D: Ernst Schmidt jr., 12 sec, DCP DIE KLEINE MASCHINE AT 1977, D: Ernst Schmidt jr., 38 sec, DCP DAS HAPPENING AT 1969-1979, D: Ernst Schmidt jr., 11 sec, DCP 10/65 SELBSTVERSTÜMMELUNG AT 1965, D: Kurt Kren, 5’, DCP DIE GEBURT DER VENUS AT 1970-1972, D: Moucle Blackout, 5’, DCP COUPLES AT/US 1972, D: Maria Lassnig, 9’, DCP REMOTE…REMOTE… AT 1973, D: VALIE EXPORT, 10’, DCP KUGELKOPF AT 1985, D: Mara Mattuschka, 6’, DCP ROUGE ET NOIR AT 1993, D: Linda Christanell, 10’, File SEX AND CRIME AT 1984, D: Ursula Pürrer, Ashley Hans Scheirl, 3’, File GEZACKTES RINNSAL SCHLEICHT SICH SCHAMLOS SCHENKELNÄSSEND AN AT 1985, D: Ursula Pürrer, Ashley Hans Scheirl, 4’, File TV-AQUARIUM AT 1970, D: Peter Weibel, 2’, File ABBILDUNG IST EIN VERBRECHEN AT 1970, D: Peter Weibel, 2’, File ZEITBILD (CLUB 2) AT 1979, D: Peter Weibel, 3’, File GLEICHZEITIG NACKT AT 2024, D: Ursula Pürrer, Ashley Hans Scheirl, 3’, DCP In presence of Ursula Pürrer and Dietmar Schwärzler
8 PM	Found Footage, Cakes and Sex EVERYONE DESERVES A SLICE OF THE PIE AT 2025, D: Sasha Pirker, 17’, OV with english subtitles, DCP DER ANGRIFF DES ALFRED EDEL AUF SICH SELBST AT/DE 2025, D: Jan Soldat, 15’, OV with english subtitles, DCP FOLLOW BACK AT/DE 2025, D: Rom Sheratzky, 23’, OV with english subtitles, DCP BLEIFREI 95 DE/AT 2025, D: Emma Hütt, Tina Muffler, 24’, OV with english subtitles, DCP In presence of Ursula Pürrer and Dietmar Schwärzler
Sat 19 September 2026 Luru Kino
6 PM	Light, colour, time – the films of Viktoria Schmid ROJO ZALJA BLAU AT 2025, 10′, DCP NYC RGB AT/US 2023, 7′, DCP KATHARINAVIKTORIA 2(021) AT 2021, 1′, DCP A PROPOSAL TO PROJECT IN SCOPE AT/LT 2020, 8′, DCP W O W (KODAK) AT 2018, 3′, DCP A TAMA FOR EKTACHROME AT 2016, 1’, DCP A PROPOSAL TO PROJECT IN 4:3 AT 2016, 2′, DCP IT’S A DANCE AT 2014, 2′, DCP KATHARINAVIKTORIA AT 2011, 1′, DCP ACHTUNG / HALLO 35 AT 2010, 2′, 35mm GOLAN AT 2012, 2’, 16mm FOODFILMS AT 2010, 8′, 16mm In presence of Viktoria Schmid and Dietmar Schwärzler