ORF's “Kafka” series crowned Best Historical Film in German Festival

David Schalko, the director of the hit series “Kafka”, distributed by ORF Enterprise, has been awarded the Clio at the “Moving History – Festival of Historical Films” for his outstanding historical depiction of Franz Kafka’s character and life. The festival is Germany’s only festival dedicated to showcasing both documentary and fictional films with historical themes from current and past cinema and television.

“I'm very pleased because it was the first time I'd shot a historical film. Kafka’s world is not naturalistic, hence it's a mixture of accuracy and interpretation. The dawn of a mobile modernity was an important focus, but also the change in working and living environments. The love and joy of detail brings old times back to life - never as they were, but the way we fantasize about them. Historical reality was the basis for our dreams”, says David Schalko, director of “Kafka”.

HONORING FRANZ KAFKA’S LIFE
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Franz Kafka, the author whose influence remains as profound and enigmatic as his works. Writer/director David Schalko and the internationally renowned author Daniel Kehlmann collaborated to create “Kafka”, a mini-series that debuted in March of this year. Guided by Kafka expert Reiner Stach, the series commemorates the life and legacy of the one of the most important writers of the 20th century.

“Kafka” is a co-production by ORF, NDR & Superfilm, funded by FISA +, Austrian Television Fund & Vienna Film Fund in Association with ORF-Enterprise.

WORLDWIDE SUCCESS
The series has garnered significant interest worldwide. Since its premiere in March, ORF-Enterprise’s Content Sales International team has successfully licensed the series to several markets, including the Czech Republic (Ceska Televize), Slovenia (RTV Slovenija), Switzerland (SRF), Sweden (SVT), Poland (TVP), the United Kingdom (Channel 4 and Walter Presents), and Finland (YLE). Additionally, “Kafka” has reached audiences in Brazil (Arte 1) and Mexico (TV Unam) as well as the USA (Chaiflicks) and Australia (Jewish International Film Festival). In Germany, Polyband released a Limited Mediabook Edition DVD of the event-series.

Through partnerships with Austrian Airlines (AUA), which feature the series in their in-flight entertainment on long-haul flights, and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), which include it in their onboard portal “ÖBB railnet”, ORF-Enterprise has expanded the reach of “Kafka”.

“As the proud distributors of the landmark series 'Kafka', we congratulate David Schalko and the entire team on this remarkable achievement. This series not only honors the legacy of Franz Kafka, but also sets a new standard for historical storytelling. David Schalko’s creative vision and dedication have truly brought Kafka’s world to life in a way that resonates with audiences globally”, adds Armin Luttenberger, Head of Content Sales International, ORF-Enterprise.