Vienna’s annual Jewish Film Festival pays tribute to the rich variety of movies tackling aspects of Jewish life from around the world.
- Wide mix of international Jewish cinema
- Accompanying programme may include Q&As, talks, and other events
- Most films in English or with English subtitles
- 2022 dates: TBA (was Oct 3 – Oct 17 in 2021)
- See also: English-language cinemas | Film festivals
Jewish cinema in Vienna
The annual Jewish Film Festival is a truly international event, selecting its films from far beyond the borders of Austria or Israel.
And it’s more than just a series of films.
After a showing, you may get to put questions to the director. Or a movie tracing the fate of holocaust survivors might be introduced by an antisemitism specialist. Or a dance film might be followed by a chance to put into practice what you’ve just seen on the silver screen.
For the full programme, including any talks and other events around the film showings, take a peek at the festival website.
N.B. Many (most) of the films are either in English or have English subtitles.
2022 dates and tickets
The festival shifted from the usual spring slot to autumn for 2021, but I have no dates at the time of writing for the 2022 edition.
Check the official website for ticket details; you can normally buy them, for example, online from just before the festival opens or direct from the participating cinemas.
If you’d like to explore more Jewish culture while in Vienna, then take a peek at the Jewish Vienna page. You may even find a film-related exhibition on at the wonderful Jewish Museum, such as the 2020 one on Hedy Lamarr.
How to get to the cinemas
I’ll update as necessary for 2022 when details emerge but participating cinemas in 2021 were:
Village Cinema Wien Mitte
This one could not be more convenient, since Wien Mitte is a large station on the U3 and U4 subway lines. Trams 1 and O also go there. Most showings were here.
Address: Landstraßer Hauptstraße 2a, 1030 Vienna | Website
Stadtkino im Kunstlerhaus
Shares a building with the Albertina Modern and sits opposite Karlsplatz station on the U1, U2 and U4 lines. Also just a short walk from the Oper/Karlsplatz stop (trams 1, 2, D, 71 and 62).
Address: Akademiestraße 13, 1010 Vienna | Website
Metro Kinokulturhaus
This is the main home of the Austrian Film Archive, right in the centre of town. It’s about halfway between the Karlsplatz (U1, U2 and U4 subway lines) and Stephansplatz (U1 and U3 subway lines) stations.
Address: Johannesgasse 4, 1010 Vienna | Website