The 19th edition of #ethnocineca – International Documentary Film Festival Vienna will take place from May 8 to 14, 2025, presenting a rich and politically charged program under the thematic focus HAUNTINGS. Held at Vienna’s Votiv Kino and Kino De France, the festival will feature 53 documentaries from 33 countries, encompassing two world premieres, one international premiere, and over 30 Austrian and Viennese premieres.

The festival opens with a keynote by cultural anthropologist #Jacqueline Nsiah#, addressing the ongoing impact of #colonialism on African societies and diasporas. The keynote precedes the Austrian premiere of Home Game by Lidija Zelovic, an intimate family portrait chronicling the lingering effects of displacement, #nationalism, and social fragmentation in post-war Europe.

The HAUNTINGS section interrogates colonial afterlives through works such as You Hide Me, The Story of Ne Kuko, and The Empty Grave. Meanwhile, the SONIC FRICTIONS program challenges linear historiography through experimental sound-driven narratives, featuring films like The Last Angel of History.

An extensive supporting program complements the screenings, including a masterclass by LA Rebellion filmmaker #Billy Woodberry#, a panel discussion on cinematic approaches to ghosts, and in-depth film talks exploring displacement and belonging. Five awards across international, Austrian, emerging, and ethnographic categories will be presented during the closing ceremony on 14 May.

Further information, including the complete program, is accessible via the festival’s official website at www.ethnocineca.at.