Draft:Gernot Stadler

• Comment: "International filming locations and cinematography are among the recurring features of his productions." This line doesn't make sense--all films have cinematography. SomeoneDreaming (talk) 00:13, 6 September 2026 (UTC)

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Template:QS-Antrag Gernot Stadler (born November 9, 1967, in Klagenfurt, Austria) is an Austrian film producer, director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. He is the founder of GS FILM, aproduction company based in Klagenfurt, which has produced a range of documentary films and docudramas covering cultural history, natural history, and contemporary history. Since its establishment in 2006, the company has been credited with over 70 television productions for various Austrian and international television networks.

Life

Stadler completed high school in Klagenfurt and Vienna. During the early 1980s, he directed his first two feature films, My First Friend (1981) and The Hunt (1983). He studied history and communication studies at the University of Vienna, graduating with degrees in both fields in 1993. From 1995 to 1996, he attended the New York Film Academy, graduating in 1996 with a Filmmaker’s Diploma.

His early career began in the late 1980s as a journalist in the culture department of Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), where he produced over 2,000 radio and television programs until 2005. Following his training at the New York Film Academy, he began working as a screenwriter and director of television documentaries.

In 2006, Stadler founded the film and television production company GS FILM. The company has since produced documentary films, documentary series, and docudramas, along with commercial and promotional content. Many productions have been developed in collaboration with broadcasters such as ORF, 3sat, ServusTV, Arte, SBS Australia, and Channel 4.

Gernot Stadler lives in Klagenfurt and Vienna. He has three children.

Works

Stadler often assumes multiple roles in his productions, including producer, director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. His work often combines documentary storytelling with staged dramatizations in the style of a docudrama. Filming locations frequently include international sites, with a focus on European regions.

His thematic focus encompasses cultural-historical, historical, and natural history topics. Key areas include European history, the Habsburg Monarchy, cultural landscapes, as well as nature and travel themes in Austria, Italy, and Central and Eastern Europe. He also directed and produced films about indigenous peoples and cultures, such as the Aborigines in Australia (The Talking Rocks of the Aborigines, 2012) , the Tuvans in western Mongolia (A Fire within, 2012), and the Mangyan on the island of Mindoro (Behind the Sea – Return to the Mangyan, 2007). Among his notable productions are the multi-part television series On the Rails of the Doubleheaded Eagle (2019) and Power & Glory of the Habsburgs (2025), which explore the history and cultural significance of the Habsburg Monarchy in Europe. Other productions focus on historical figures, cultural landscapes, and topics related to nature and travel. These include the documentary Water for Afghanistan (2005), the docudrama Wilhelm von Habsburg – The King of Ukraine (2018), and the film Tagliamento – King of the Alpine Rivers (2018).

His work also explores the lives and works of contemporary artists, capturing them in cinematic portraits. Including the films You’ve Thwarted My Simple Ways, (2003) about the writer Christine Lavant;The Literary Journeys of Mr. Pollack (2017) about the writer Martin Pollack; and the film portrait So that Something remains (2023) about artist Manfred Bockelmann.

File:Dreharbeiten in Sanssouci.jpg

Behind the Scenes in Sanssouci (2025)

In 2025, Stadler served as producer, director, and screenwriter for the six-part international series Royal Gardens, produced in collaboration with Big Media, New York, and the broadcasters ORF/3Sat and SBS Broadcasting Group Australia. The series was filmed inhistoric gardens in Austria (Schönbrunn Palace, Schloss Hof Estate), Germany (Sanssouci), England (Hampton Court Palace, Audley End House), and Spain (Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid), exploring their history and development as well as their significance for botanical research.

Literature

In 2012, Stadler, together with the photographer Gernot Gleiss, published the book A Fire within – Galsan Tschinag and the Tuvan Nomads of Mongolia. The book includes photographs by Gernot Gleiss, and texts by Tuvan author Galsan Tschinag, accompanying the related documentary film.

Other Works

Gernot Stadler has composed and recorded film scores for his films, On lonely Paths – The Kreuzeck Mountains (2007) and Behind the Sea – Return to the Mangyan (2007).

Filmography

Documentaries and television productions

• 1999: From the Darkness of the Past – The Ancient City on Magdalensberg – Screenplay, Director
• 1999: The Abbey in Paradise – St. Paul’s Benedictine Abbey – Screenplay, Director
• 2000: Against Death and the Devil – Screenplay, Director, Producer
• 2002: Sing, Baby, Sing! – Director
• 2002: Moon World – Director
• 2002: Ice Age in Carinthia – Screenplay, Director
• 2003: You’ve Thwarted My Simple Ways – Christine Lavant on the 30th Anniversary of Her Death – Screenplay, Director
• 2003: 150 Years of Shipping on Lake Wörthersee – Screenplay, Director
• 2004: The Karawanken – Border in the South – Screenplay, Director
• 2005: Water for Afghanistan – Screenplay, Director, Cinematography
• 2006: When Winter Comes – Screenplay, Director
• 2006: Earth Movements – Screenplay, Director
• 2007: Earth Movements - The Gravedigger from Ottmanach – Screenplay, Director
• 2007: On Lonely Paths – The Kreuzeck Mountains– Screenplay, Director, Cinematography, Editing, Music, Producer
• 2007: Behind the Sea – Return to the Mangyan – Screenplay, Director, Cinematography, Editing, Music, Producer
• 2008: Balkan Express: Kosovo – Cutting the Lifeline - From the ten-part Documentary series "Balkan Express" – Director
• 2008: Children of the Street – Screenplay, Director
• 2009: Water Life – Around Lake Millstatt – Written and Directed
• 2009: Napoleon in Carinthia – Written, Directed, and Produced
• 2009: Pioneering Spirit – Written and Directed
• 2009: Europe’s Primeval Forests – Poland – Written, Directed, and Cinematography
• 2010: Where Borders Were Drawn in Blood – Writer, Director
• 2010: Großglockner, King of the High Alps – Writer, Director[1]
• 2011: Wild Waters, Rugged Ridges – Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Producer
• 2011: Credible – The Protestant Church in Carinthia – Writer, Director
• 2011: Ice from God’s Throne – Screenplay and Direction in collaboration with Therese Engels, Cinematography, Production
• 2012: Under a False Name – The Panama Hat – Screenplay and Direction in collaboration with Therese Engels, Cinematography, Production
• 2012: A Fire within -Galsan Tschinag and the Tuvan Nomads of Mongolia - Direction, Cinematography, Production, Editing
• 2012: The Cradle of Alpinism – Direction, Cinematography, Production, Editing
• 2013: The talking Rocks of the Aborigines – Director, Cinematographer, Producer, Editor
• 2013: Isonzo – The War in the Mountains – Director, Cinematographer, Producer, Editor
• 2014: On the Rails of the Doubleheaded Eagle I and II – Screenplay and Direction in collaboration with Björn Kölz, Cinematographer, Producer, Editor
• 2014: Galicia – In Search of Ukraine´s Identity – Director (co-directed with Björn Kölz), Screenplay, Cinematography, Production, Editing
• 2014: Full Steam Ahead to the Austro-Hungarian Riviera – Director (co-directed with Björn Kölz), Screenplay, Cinematography, Production, Editing
• 2015: On the Rails of the Doubleheaded Eagle III – The Road West – Screenplay and direction in collaboration with Björn Kölz, cinematography, production, editing
• 2016: Salzburg, Land of Salt – Screenplay, cinematography, direction, production: preTV
• 2016: The Secret of Mountain Herbs – Carinthia: Natural Beauty – Screenplay, cinematography, editing, direction, production: Wurzingerfilm
• 2016: Summer Retreat: Traveling Like in the Emperor’s Day – Written and directed in collaboration with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2016: Longing for the Coast – Written, directed, cinematography, editing, production
• 2017: Mr. Pollack’s Literary Journeys – Written and directed in collaboration with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2017: Knights, Blacksmiths, Noblewomen – Carinthia’s Castles Then and Now – Screenplay, Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Production
• 2017: Where the Lemons Bloom – Screenplay and Direction in collaboration with Björn Kölz, Cinematography, Production
• 2018: Collio – Italy’s Hills of Delights – Screenplay and Direction in collaboration with Björn Kölz, Cinematography, Production
• 2018: On the Rails of the Doubleheaded Eagle IV – From the Alps to the Sea– Screenplay, directed jointly with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2018: Wilhelm von Habsburg – The King of Ukraine – Screenplay, directed jointly with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2019: The Tagliamento – King of the Alpine Rivers – Screenplay and direction in collaboration with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2019: The Secret Gardens of Lucca – Screenplay and direction in collaboration with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2019: On the Rails of the Doubleheaded Eagle V – From the Puszta to the Adriatic – Screenplay, directed jointly with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2020: Full Steam Ahead Through Carinthia – Screenplay, directed, cinematography
• 2020: Carinthia’s Most Beautiful Noble Estates – Screenplay, directed, cinematography, editing, production
• 2020: The Magic of the Mountains – Carinthia’s Fascinating Alpine World – Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Producer
• 2021: Full Steam Ahead Through Tuscany – Writer, Director (co-directed with Björn Kölz), Cinematographer, Editor, Producer
• 2021: Along the Drava River – Carinthia’s Green Lifeline – Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Producer
• 2021: Florence – The Habsburgs and the Beauty on the Arno – Screenplay, directed jointly with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2022: Stately Estates Between the Alps and the Sea – From Carinthia to the Adriatic – Screenplay, directed jointly with Björn Kölz, cinematography, editing, production
• 2022: Jewels of the Alps – Mountain Lakes in Carinthia – Screenplay, Director, Cinematography, Editing, Production
• 2023: In the Shadow of the Großglockner – The Schober Group – Co-directed with Andreas Gasser
• 2023: So That Something Remains – The Artist Manfred Bockelmann – Screenplay, Director, Cinematography, Editing, Production
• 2023: Power & Glory of the Habsburg, Part 1: Out of the Darkness of Time – Screenplay, Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Production
• 2023: Power & Glory of the Habsburg, Part 2: The Rise – Screenplay, Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Production
• 2024: Power & Glory of the Habsburg, Part 3: The Rise to World Power – Screenplay, Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Production
• 2024: Power & Glory of the Habsburg, Part 4: The Dawn of Modernity – Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Producer
• 2025: Power & Glory of the Habsburg, Part 5: A Final Splendor – Screenplay, Director (in collaboration with Walter Grill), Cinematographer, Editor, Producer
• 2025: Royal Gardens – Episode 1: Hampton Court Palace – Producer, Cinematographer
• 2025: Royal Gardens – Episode 2: Sanssouci – Production, cinematography, screenplay, and direction in collaboration with Walter Grill
• 2025: Royal Gardens – Episode 3: Schönbrunn Palace – Production, cinematography
• 2026: Royal Gardens – Episode 4: The Royal Garden of Madrid – Production, screenplay, direction, cinematography
• 2026: Royal Gardens – Episode 5: Audley End House – Production, Screenplay, Direction, Cinematography
• 2026: Royal Gardens – Episode 6: Schloss Hof Estate– Production

Feature Films, Short Films, and Music Videos

• 1996: Single White Male – short film; director
• 1996: Merging – short film; cinematographer
• 1996: Manhattan – music video; screenplay, director, editor, producer
• 1996: Faith – short film; screenplay, director, editor, producer
• 1996: While I Kiss the Sky – short film; Cinematography
• 1997: Tom’s Journey – Feature Film; Screenplay, Director, Editor, Producer
• 2003: Shadows of Time – Feature Film, unfinished; Director, Co-Writer

Radio Plays (Selection)

• 1997: Heimo Toefferl: Simon Kramer – Bandit and Rebel. Based on an idea by Gernot Stadler (adaptation and direction) (radio play adaptation – ORF Kärnten)

Bibliography

• 2012: A Fire within: Galsan Tschinag and the Tuvan Nomads of Mongolia. Book and DVD co-authored with Gernot Gleiss and Gernot Stadler. G2 Publishing, Klagenfurt, ISBN 978-3-200-02558-5.

Weblinks

• Gernot Stadler on fernsehserien.de
• Gernot Stadler on IMDb
• Gernot Stadler on MeinBezirk.at
• Gernot Stadler in the Kleine Zeitung
• 2013 Communications Report. (PDF) In: parlament.gv.at. Rundfunk & Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH, 2013, p. 83; accessed August 12, 2026.

References

[[:Category:Men]] [[:Category:1967 births]] [[:Category:Austrian people]] [[:Category:Film directors]] [[:Category:Cinematographers]] [[:Category:Documentary film directors]] [[:Category:Screenwriters]] [[:Category:Film producers]]