Austrian filmmakers will have an unprecedented presence at this year's Viennale (Vienna International Film Festival).

The festival opens today (October 17) with the Golden Palm winner The Class (Entre Les Murs).

More than 20 local feature-length and short films have been programmed by festival director Hans Hurch including the world premieres of Erwin Wagenhofer's new documentary Let's Make Money and Tina Leisch's Gangster Girls.

Other world premieres at the Viennale include Filipino director Khavn's Manila In The Fangs Of Darkness, Aysun Bademsoy's In The Game (Ich Gehe Jetzt Rein), and Agnes Rossa's Egyptian-German co-production Mona.

This year's tributes and special programmes are dedicated to filmmakers Werner Schroeter, Portuguese director Miguel Gomes and US filmmaker John Gianvito.

Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir will close the Viennale on October 29.

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