Digna Sinke
The 63rd Viennale will spotlight revered Dutch filmmaker Digna Sinke with a special retrospective, including the premiere of her latest work, Hemelsleutel (Key to Heaven). Film enthusiasts are invited to explore her cinematic world from October 16 to 28.
In collaboration with Verde Films and curated by Gerwin Tamsma—formerly of the International Film Festival Rotterdam—the Viennale will celebrate Sinke’s singular voice in Dutch cinema. The festival also welcomes German director Christian Petzold as its new president.
“With a cinematic oeuvre characterized by quiet observations, poetic depth, and a special sense of change and landscape, Sinke has been one of the most distinctive voices in Dutch cinema since the 1970s,” reads the official Viennale statement.
The retrospective will present a comprehensive selection of her works, totaling 13 films. Among them: her early short Groeten uit Zonnemaire (1972), the acclaimed feature Boven de Bergen (Above the Mountains, 1992), the historical drama Belle van Zuylen (1993), and documentaries such as Weemoed en Wildernis (Wistful Wilderness, 2010) and Bewaren of Hoe te Leven (Keeping & Saving or How to Live, 2018).
The centerpiece of the tribute is Hemelsleutel (Key to Heaven)—a hybrid of documentary and fiction. The film follows Lea, a young photographer documenting the renewable energy transition in Amsterdam’s harbor, while interwoven scenes dive into Sinke’s own introspective journey, blending memory and meditation.
Premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival, Hemelsleutel is set for Dutch cinema release on June 19 and has already stirred significant critical anticipation.
Eva Sangiorgi, Viennale’s director, expressed her admiration for Sinke’s approach: “It is a great pleasure for us to present Digna Sinke’s multifaceted work as part of a monographic program. Her films are characterized by an extraordinary creative freedom—she combines diverse cinematic techniques with a fine sense of flair and explores both landscapes and the depths of human experience with an almost painterly sensitivity.”
Festivalgoers will also have the rare opportunity to engage directly with Sinke during special Q&A sessions, adding a personal dimension to the retrospective’s deep dive into her creative legacy.
The 63rd Viennale promises to be a landmark moment for Sinke’s admirers and an essential cinematic journey for all.
