Elfi Mikesch, born 1940 in Judenburg, Styria, but living in Berlin for many years, is one of the most multi-faceted artist personalities of today. Starting off as a painter and photographer, she slowly expanded her artistic profile by making a name for herself as an internationally sought after director and cinematographer. Already her first documentary Ich denke oft an Hawaii (I Often Think of Hawaii) was awarded the Silver Filmband in 1978. Beyond that, her cinematography unambiguously informed many works of her companions such as Monika Treut, Rosa von Praunheim and Werner Schroeter. Elfi Mikesch recently received the renowned Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Film Award. Diagonale 2011 shows a cross-section of her oeuvre, of which many works will be shown in the theatre for the first time in years. Her new documentary Judenburg findet Stadt will premiere in Graz. By interviewing artists and residents, she sets a sensitive monument to her birthplace to which she had returned for this film. The film will be shown as an exclusive ORF premiere. In the course of the tribute, Elfi Mikesch will attend the Diagonale and participate in the public discussion following the projections.