Sabine Hiebler and Gerhard Ertl Biography

Ever since they were students at the University of Art and Industrial Design in Linz, Sabine Hiebler and Gerhard Ertl have worked together.In the early stages of their artistic cooperation they produced and staged prize-winning experimental films which were shown around the world (e.g. the New York Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival, MOMA Museum of Modern Art, New York).

Their artistic endeavours in the realms of photography, visual arts and video have been presented in numerous exhibitions (Ars Electronica, Neuen Galerie Graz, Vienna Museum of Art History, Biennale de l´image Paris).

Sabine Hiebler and Gerhard Ertl’s first feature film was NOGO – an episode film with Jürgen Vogel, Michael Ostrowski in his first film role, Jasmin Tabatabai, Meret Becker, Oliver Korittke and Mavie Hörbiger.The film had its international premiere in Rotterdam and at the Max Ophüls Festival in Saarbrücken, was invited to festivals around the world and received numerous awards including the Variety Critics’ Choice and the Diagonale Award for Innovative Production.

This was followed by another feature film which won numerous awards, Anfang 80, with Christine Ostermayer and Karl Merkatz in the leading roles. Both the film and the actors were awarded in Austria and around the world (including the Best Foreign Film Santa Barbara, Best Actor and Audience Prize World Film Festival Montreal, Best Narrative Film Wisconsin).

 F i l m o g r a p h y

EXPERIMENTAL Films:

Schönberg, Crossover, Crossover 2, Position Simultan  1990 /

LIVINGROOM 1991 /  Definitely Sanctus 1992 / General Motors 1993 /

SPOT-CHECK 1994 /  PROST 1995 /  KOMAKINO 1996 / 

TRANSCODER (Understanding Lydia) 1998

FEATURE FILMS:

CHUCKS  2014 / 2015

ANFANG 80  2011 (with Karl Merkatz and Christine Ostermayer, Erni Mangold )

NOGO 2002  (with Michael Ostrowski, Mavie Hörbiger, Jürgen Vogel)

PRIZES / AWARDS: (selected)

         1993:  Film Prize from the Ministry of Education and Art

         1995:  Media Prize from the Sate of Lower Austria

         2000:  Upper Austria State Prize for Film

         2001:  Thomas Pluch Screenplay Prize for NOGO

         2002:  Diagonale Prize for Innovative Production for NOGO

                    Variety Critics´ Choice for NOGO

         2012:  Diagonale Graz – Best Actress Award for Christine Ostermayer in Anfang 80

           World Film Festival Montreal:

           Most Popular Film of the Festival – Audience Prize for Anfang 80

                    Best Actor for Karl Merkatz in Anfang 80

           Hof Film Festival – Millbrook Screenplay Prize for Anfang 80

           Zürich Film Festival – German Language Contest: Special Mention for

          Anfang 80

         2013:  Austrian Film Prize, Best actor for Karl Merkatz in Anfang 80

                    Santa Barbara Int. Film Festival – Best International Feature Film Anfang 80

                    Wisconsin Int. Film Festival – Best Narrative Film for Anfang 80

Film Festivals: (selected)

         New York Film Festival 1991, 92, 94 and 97   / USA

     International BERLIN Film Festival 1991, 96 /  G

     San Francisco Int. Film Festival  1993  /  USA

     London Film Festival 1991, 92, 93 / GB

     Sydney Film Festival 1993, 95  /  AUS

     Sao Paolo Int. Film Festival  1995, 2002, 2012 /  BRA

     Melbourne Intern. Film Festival  1992, 95, 96, 98, 02  /  AUS

     Worldfilm Festival Montreal 2012 / CAN

     Philadelphia International  Film Festival 1992  /  USA

     Austrian Avant-Garde Cinema Tour USA 1994/95 ( MOMA  New  York)

     ARCO Arte contemporàneo Madrid 1993, 94 and 97  /  S

     Bombay Int. Film Festival 1996  /  IND

     Rotterdam Int. Film Festival 1997, 2002  /  NL

     Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival 1997  /  CAN

     Los Angeles AFI Int. Film Festival 2002 / USA

     Chicago Int. Film Festival 2002 /  2012 USA

     Fort Lauderdale Int. Film Festival 2002 / USA

EXHIBITIONS (VISUAL ARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY)

Ars electronica 1993

Theseustempel (Vienna Museum of Art History) 1993

Neue Galerie Graz 1994

Biennale de l´image Paris 1998