Vienna, April 15, 2026
The drama "Perla" emerged as the frontrunner for the Austrian Film Award 2026, securing 13 nominations as the Akademie des Österreichischen Films unveiled this year's contenders on Wednesday at the Wiener Ringturm.
Dominant Contenders
"Perla," directed by Olga Kosanović, dominates the nominations, competing in categories including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and multiple acting honors. Close behind is "Vier minus drei" with eight nominations, positioning it as the second-most recognized film of the year. The Best Feature Film category also includes "Mother's Baby" and "White Snail," rounding out a competitive field.
The documentary category features two films tied with two nominations each: "Girls & Gods" and "Noch lange keine Lipizzaner." They will compete against "Austroschwarz" and "Die letzte Botschafterin," though the latter two received fewer overall nods.
Awards Ceremony Details
The 2026 Austrian Film Awards ceremony is scheduled for June 18 at the Wiener hq7-Studios, with actors Julia Edtmeier and Alexander Pschill set to host. The event will spotlight Austria’s top cinematic achievements amid growing industry challenges.
Katharina Albrecht, managing director of the Akademie des Österreichischen Films, voiced concerns about the future of Austrian filmmaking in an era dominated by streaming platforms and artificial intelligence.