Alpine Film Festival Gastein

Patron Sunnyi Melles was missing at the opening

The opening ceremony took place on Thursday at the Grand Hotel in Straubing.(Bild: Roland Hölzl)

The Alpine Film Festival at the Grand Hotel in Straubing opened on Thursday without patron Sunnyi Melles. The program kicked off with "Rickerl" by director Adrian Goiginger.

Three degrees Celsius outside temperature and snowfall - unusual weather for mid-September awaited visitors to the Alpenfilmfest in Bad Gastein on Thursday evening. Despite the freezing cold, festival curator Frank Krause was overcome by hot flushes.

The reason: star guest Sunnyi Melles simply didn't show up. "Yesterday she was still in Toronto and presented her new film there. I haven't heard from her since then," said curator Krause in surprise.

Curator Frank Krause (right) welcomed the festival visitors. However, he waited in vain for his star guest.(Bild: Hölzl Roland)

Melles actually has a leading role at the film festival, which is taking place in Pongau for the second time this year: "We want to establish the festival in Bad Gastein in the long term. That's why an identification figure was important to us. We are very grateful that Ms. Melles has agreed to take on the role of patron," says Frank Krause, who took over the opening moderation himself on Thursday evening without further ado.

The audience decides which film wins the "Gastein Waterfall". The film award was created in an inclusive workshop for people with disabilities.(Bild: Hölzl Roland)

Despite the lack of a patron, there is still plenty for festival visitors to see. In addition to productions from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, this year's festival program also includes entries from Italy and France.

The audience has until Sunday to vote for the winner of the festival. The winner will be awarded the "Gastein Waterfall".