Director David Schalko has been honored with the prestigious Clio Award for his exceptional portrayal of Franz Kafka’s life in the gripping mini-series “Kafka”.

VIENNA/POTSDAM – Each year, the “Moving History – Festival of Historical Films” presents the Clio Award to the best historical film. The festival is Germany’s only festival dedicated to showcasing both documentary and fictional films with historical themes from current and past cinema and television. It emphasizes the influence of media representations of history on our understanding of the past, present, and future. David Schalko, the acclaimed director of the hit series “Kafka”, has been awarded the Clio for his outstanding historical depiction of Franz Kafka’s character and life.

“I'm very pleased because it was the first time I'd shot a historical film. Kafka’s world is not naturalistic, hence it's a mixture of accuracy and interpretation. The dawn of a mobile modernity was an important focus, but also the change in working and living environments. The love and joy of detail brings old times back to life - never as they were, but the way we fantasize about them. Historical reality was the basis for our dreams”, says David Schalko, director of “Kafka”.

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the death of Franz Kafka, the author whose influence remains as profound and enigmatic as his works. Kafka’s legacy continues to captivate and inspire readers worldwide – his writings are strange and dark, his personality complex, and his influence undiminished.

Writer/director David Schalko and the internationally renowned author Daniel Kehlmann collaborated to create “Kafka”, a mini-series that debuted in March of this year. Guided by Kafka expert Reiner Stach, the series commemorates the life and legacy of the one of the most important writers of the 20^th century. 

The mini-series explores the complex life of Franz Kafka, highlighting his tumultuous love affairs with Felice Bauer, Milena Jesenska, and Dora Diamant, his strained relationship with his tyrannical father, and his close friendship with Max Brod. Born in Prague in 1883, Kafka struggled with personal relationships and detested his office job, finding solace in writing dark, intricate stories. Despite Kafka’s dissatisfaction with his own work, his best friend Max Brod believed in his genius and ultimately betrayed his terminally ill friend, yet ensured his enduring fame in the process. The series offers a surprising and distinctively unique glimpse into the mind of a genius who challenges those around him to see the world in ways they never have before.

“Kafka” is a co-production by ORF, NDR & Superfilm, funded by FISA +, Austrian Television Fund & Vienna Film Fund in Association with ORF-Enterprise.

The series has garnered significant interest worldwide. Since its premiere in March, ORF-Enterprise’s Content Sales International team has successfully licensed the series to several markets, including the Czech Republic (Ceska Televize), Slovenia (RTV Slovenija), Switzerland (SRF), Sweden (SVT), Poland (TVP), the United Kingdom (Channel 4 and Walter Presents), and Finland (YLE). Additionally, “Kafka” has reached audiences in Brazil (Arte 1) and Mexico (TV Unam) as well as the USA (Chaiflicks) and Australia (Jewish International Film Festival). In Germany, Polyband released a Limited Mediabook Edition DVD of the event-series. 

Through partnerships with Austrian Airlines (AUA), which feature the series in their in-flight entertainment on long-haul flights, and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), which include it in their onboard portal “ÖBB railnet”, ORF-Enterprise has expanded the reach of “Kafka”.

“As the proud distributors of the landmark series “Kafka”, we congratulate David Schalko and the entire team on this remarkable achievement. This series not only honors the legacy of Franz Kafka, but also sets a new standard for historical storytelling. David Schalko’s creative vision and dedication have truly brought Kafka’s world to life in a way that resonates with audiences globally”, adds Armin Luttenberger, Head of Content Sales International, ORF-Enterprise.

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