Screenwriter, Directress; Born 1987 in Vienna, Austria.

Contact
clara.h.stern(at)gmail.com 

Biography
To look at movies only from a theoretical point of view (Theatre, Film and Media Studies in Vienna and Utrecht, Netherlands) was at some point not enough, not anymore. In order to learn how to tell stories on my own I studied at the Film Academy Vienna, first Screenwriting (with Professor Götz Spielmann), then after two years applied again, this time for Directing (with professors Wolfgang Murnberger and Michael Haneke). Finished both.
After several short films, BREAKING THE ICE is my first feature film.
I want to make movies that entertain and move emotionally, shake you up and leave you yearning. I focus on feminist topics as well as on socio-critical and -political topics.
 
Awards (Selection)
2020: “IF SHE CAN SEE IT SHE CAN BE IT Screenplay Competition” Award, held by the Austrian Screenwriters Guild and the Austrian Film Institute with Money or Life (Exposé for a feature film; co-authorship with Johannes Hoss)

2018: Austrian Academy Award for MATHIAS (30 minutes, fiction, co-writer and director)
Main award “Carl-Mayer-Screenplay Award” of the city of Graz, Austria, for Working Ghosts (treatment for a feature film, co-authorship with Johannes Hoss, awarded 14500 Euros)

2017: "Diagonale Award Best Short Fiction Film 2017” for MATHIAS, Diagonale – Festival of Austrian Films 2017, Graz, Austria 
“Young Talent Grant for Film” 2017 by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Arts for Breaking The Ice

2016: Main award “Carl-Mayer-Screenplay Award” of the city of Graz, Austria, for Breaking The Ice (treatment for a feature film, awarded 14500 Euros)
“IF SHE CAN SEE IT SHE CAN BE IT Screenplay Competition” Award held by the Austrian Screenwriters Guild and the Austrian Film Institute, 2016 with You won’t need that to be happy (Exposé for a feature film; co-authorship with Johannes Hoss)
 
Filmography (as screen writer and director, selection)
2022: BREAKING THE ICE – Fiction, 102 min, NGF Geyrhalter Film 
2017: MATHIAS – Fiction, 30 min, more than 50 international festival screenings
2016: Waiting Time – Fiction, 11 min, more than 40 international festival screenings, screened at ARTE 
2015: Luminance – Doc, 4 min
2013: The snows of yesteryear – Doc, 7 min
2012: Sun down – Fiction, 8 min
2011: The islands that we are. – Fiction, 11 min