NEWS
04 | 2026
April 20
Talk & Theater Intervention in the Salzburger Nachrichten Hall
Talk in the SN Hall: America and the Shattered Dream. US correspondent Christian Fahrenbach, university professor Reinhard Heinisch, and dramaturge Sarah Henker will discuss the topic. Henker will also be joined by the cast of Amerika, currently performing at the Salzburg State Theatre. The discussion will be moderated by SN foreign policy editor Gudrun Doringer.
April 16
Filming for "Die Toten von Salzburg"
Sarah Zaharanski is currently filming the TV crime series Die Toten von Salzburg. She plays the role of Gloria in the new TV film Jagdfieber (Hunting Fever).
April 14
Screening of "Soldier Monika" in Rome
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the Austrian film Soldier Monika will be screened as part of I Martedì dell’ANAC – Il Cineclub degli Autori. The screening will take place at the recently reopened Pasquino Art Center in Rome's Trastevere district. The film will be introduced by director Paul Poet, actress Sarah Zaharanski, and Eleonora Santamaria (scientist, programmer). A discussion will follow, moderated by Ludovico Cantisani (TFF) and Giuliana Gamba (ANAC).
03-06 | 2026
New ORF Vertical series "Das Wunderteam" - now online
With Das Wunderteam ORF is presenting a unique project in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup, offering a completely new perspective on the legendary team and their era. On an Instagram channel that begins with the match between Austria and South Korea on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and runs until Wednesday, June 17, the day of Austria's first World Cup match against Jordan, the story of the Wunderteam is told as if the players had already used smartphones and social media back then. Broken hearts are inevitable, but they don't stop the team's meteoric rise – which is documented and shared with the world by sports reporter Millie von Ostenhoff-Peng (Sarah Zaharanski).
03 | 2026
March 20
Franz Kafka's "Amerika" at the Salzburg State Theatre
On March, 20, Franz Kafka's Amerika, directed by Georg Schmiedleitner and starring Sarah Zaharanski in the female roles of Johanna, Klara and Therese, will premiere at the Salzburg State Theatre's Main Stage.
Premiere: Friday, March 20 / 7.30 p.m.
Further performances: March 22, 27 & May 20, 22, 29
March 29
"So feiern wir Ostern" on ORF & 3sat
Sarah Zaharanski narrates the documentary So feiern wir Ostern which premieres on ORF and 3sat.
ORF 2, March 29, 2026 / 4 p.m.
3sat, April 6, 2026 / 1.05 p.m.
In March, Zaharanski will be filming the new ORF Vertical series Das Wunderteam (directed by Paul Poet and Lukas Sturm). She plays the sports journalist Millie von Ostenhoff-Peng. The series will be available to watch from March 31, 2026 on Instagram at @das.wunderteam.
01 | 2026
⇢ Scenes from Soldier Monika
⇢ Scenes from Dear Mother
⇢ Guitar, Singing, French
New voice samples from documentaries, reports and commercials.
12 | 2025
December 7
Christmas Documentary on ORF
This Is How We Celebrate Christmas" (25 min)
directed by Franz Gruber
ORF 2, 4 p.m.
December 13
Christmas Documentary on 3Sat
The documentary 'This Is How We Celebrate Christmas - Stories and Customs from Carinthia' (45 min) will have its German and Swiss TV premiere on December 13th, 2025.
3Sat, 4.45 p.m.
11 | 2025
November 12
Reading for "Texte Wien"
Texte. Wien Josefstadt
November 12, 2025 / 10 a.m.
09 | 2025
September 16 & 23
"Soldier Monika" at the Hallein City Cinema
Exclusive screenings of Soldier Monika at the Hallein City Cinema, followed by a Q&A.
Sept, 16 - Screening and Q&A with Paul Poet, Director & Sarah Zaharanski, Actress
Sept, 23 - Screening and Q&A with Sarah Zaharanski, Actress
Hallein City Cinema, 8 p.m.
September 26
Staged Reading of "Das Rote vom Ei" at the Phoenix Theater
On September 26, Das Rote vom Ei will be presented as a staged reading at the Phoenix Theater in cooperation with the Women's Office of the City of Linz.
08 | 2025
August 13
"Soldier Monika" at Arena Sommerkino
On Wednesday, August 13, Soldier Monika will be shown at Arena Sommerkino in Vienna.
Arena Wien, 8.30 p.m.
“Dear Mother” at Summer Shorts in Salzburg
On Saturday, August 16, the 30-minute short film Dear Mother, directed by Sabrina Hickl, will be shown outdoors as part of Summer Shorts.
Open-air cinema in front of JUFA Hotel Salzburg City
Josef-Preis-Allee 18 / Start: 8 p.m.
07 | 2025
July 27
Radio Salzburg - Culture Sunday
Hear Ines Calic's new novel Commissaria Iva Markulin und die Schatten über der Adria on Radio Salzburg's Culture Sunday, read by Sarah Zaharanski.
06 | 2025
June 26
Sarah Zaharanski reads from Anna Weidenholzer's new novel Hier treibt mein Kartoffelherz for OE1 Radiogeschichten.
OE1, June, 25th 2025 - 11.05 a.m.
05 | 2025
Shooting for the new mini-series “Gnadenlos”
Sarah Zaharanski is shooting for Gnadenlos (wt), the new mini-series by Umut Dağ, where she plays the role of Cosma Wecker.
“Soldier Monika” - now in cinemas
The feature film Soldier Monika, directed by Paul Poet and produced by Freibeuter Film, is now showing in Austrian cinemas.
May 7
"Dear Mother" nominated for Camgaroo Award in Munich
The award ceremony as part of the Camgaroo Award Night will take place on May 07, 2025 from 6.30 p.m. in Munich.
Arri Astor Film Lounge Munich
May 7, 2025 / 6.30 p.m.
May 16
"Dear Mother" was awarded at Next Step Film Festival Cannes
The short film Dear Mother (30 minutes) was awarded at the Next Step Film Festival in Cannes on May 16th. The film screenings and the award ceremony took place at the Canopy by Hilton Hotel in Cannes.
Canopy by Hilton Hotel Cannes
May 16th, 2025 / 2.30-7 p.m.
04 | 2025
April 3
"Soldier Monika" invited to DIAMETRALE Film festival 2025
Tyrolean premiere of Soldier Monika at DIAMETRALE Film Festival 2025
directed by Paul Poet & produced by FreibeuterFilm
April 25
Cinema release of “Soldier Monika”
Soldier Monika can be seen in Austrian cinemas from April, 25.
03 | 2025
March 6
Three scenic exaggerations about decriminalization and de-tabooing of abortion by Gertraud Klemm, Gabriele Kögl and Grischka Voss.
Kempten Theatre
March, 6 / 7 pm
March 8
The Red of the Egg
Lindau Theatre
March, 8 / 7.30 pm
March 29
“Soldier Monika” invited to Diagonale 2025
An explosive film about the intersectional battlefield of gender identities and political struggles. As part of Diagonale 2025, the Austrian premiere of Soldier Monika will take place on Saturday, March 29 in Graz.
March, 29 / Annenhof Kino / 7.30 p.m.
March, 30 / Annenhof Kino / 11 a.m.
01 | 2025
January 26
Soldier Monika at the Solothurn Film Festival 2025
The Swiss premiere of Soldier Monika will take place on January, 26 at the Solothurn Film Festival 2025.
January 29
As part of the OE1 radio stories Sarah Zaharanski reads from Anna Maria Stadler's novel Halbnah.
OE1, 29/01/2025 - 11.05 a.m.
12 | 2024
December 5
Reading at the Schauspielhaus Vienna
The prize for young literature will be awarded this year by the Literarische Bühnen Wien in cooperation with the Schauspielhaus Wien. In the gala finale - hosted by Markus Meyer - 25 texts by the finalists will be read, which were selected by a jury from a large number of submissions from all over the German-speaking world on the theme of “Moments”.
Schauspielhaus Wien, 5/12/2024 - 7 p.m.
⇢ further information & tickets
December 7
"Dear Mother" nominated for Baden-Württemberg short film award
Sabrina Hickl's short film "Dear Mother" (29 min.) has been nominated for the Baden-Württemberg Film Award in the short film category. The film will be shown on Saturday, December 7, 2024 as part of the Baden-Württemberg Film Show in Stuttgart.
December 18
Last show of "Odyssey" at Salzburg State Theatre
On December 18, 2024, the last performance of Odyssey (director: Nuran David Calis) will take place at the Salzburg State Theatre.
⇢ further information & tickets
11 | 2024
November 12-22
“Das Rote vom Ei” at the Kosmos Theater Vienna
Commissioned work - Gertraud Klemm, Gabriele Kögl, Grischka Voss
On November 12, 2024, the Vienna premiere of Das Rote vom Ei will take place at the Kosmos Theater Vienna. Further performances are planned for November 14, 15, 16, 19, 21 and 22, 2024.
Kosmos Theater Vienna, from 12/11/2024 - 8 p.m.
November 18
TV premiere of “Fast Forward - Angelika Who?”
Fast Forward's Season 8 starts on television. From November 4, 2024, the episodes will be shown weekly in double episodes on ORF 1 and available to stream on ORF ON. Sarah Zaharanski has taken on the role of meditation trainer Sardes for episode 6 - Angelika Who?
Original TV premiere: ORF 1, 18/11/2024 - 9.05 p.m.
November 23, 24, 25
"Soldier Monika" invited to the Torino Film Festival
New artistic director Giulio Base has revealed the films gracing this year’s edition, which is unspooling 22 – 30 November boasting a stripped-back line-up, world premieres and international stars. Soldier Monika will be screened at the Cinema Romano and will run in the main competition Concorso Documentari.
Screenings:
Nov, 23 at 7 p.m. - Cinema Romano 1
Nov, 24 at 10 a.m. - Cinema Romano 1
Nov, 25th at 5 p.m. - Cinema Romano 3
⇢ The 42nd Torino Film Festival presents its programme
⇢ Soldier Monika at 42° Torino Film Festival
10 | 2024
October 22 & 24
“Soldier Monika” celebrates its world premiere at the Doclisboa Film Festival 2024
The world premiere of Soldier Monika, a hybrid documentary by Paul Poet, will take place in October at the Doclisboa International Film Festival 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.
⇢ Soldier Monika - Doclisboa International Film Festival 2024
October 24 & 26
“Soldier Monika” invited to 58th Hof Film Festival 2024
Soldier Monika has been invited to the 58th Hof Film Festival, where the film will be shown for the first time in Germany.
⇢ Der Soldat Monika - 58th Hof International Film Festival
October 3, 4, 8, 15 & 18
Further “Odyssey” performances at Salzburg State Theatre
Odyssey, directed by Nuran David Calis, premiered at the Salzburg State Theater at the end of September. Further performances will take place on October 3, 4, 8, 15 and 18, 2024.
October 9
ORF premiere of “Die Bergretter - Höhenfeuer”
On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Sarah Zaharanski can be seen as alpine climber Tina Schlosser in the TV series Die Bergretter (engl. Mountain Rescue). She completed all the climbing and helicopter rescue stunts herself for the guest role in this episode.
ORF 2, 9/10/24 - 8.15 p.m.