ORF productions made a strong showing at the 2026 German Crime Television Festival, where they won three awards and cemented their place on the European crime drama scene. The Grand Prize went to Eight, a film written and directed by Marie Kreutzer. The jury praised its solid narrative and its
52 min., 90 min.
On 3 July 1866, the Battle of Königgrätz became a turning point in European history. Prussian forces defeated the Habsburg and Saxon armies in one of the largest battles of its time, decisively shifting the balance of power among the German states. This film retraces the dramatic events of that summer, explores their lasting consequences, and reveals how this clash of armies and ideologies transformed both individual lives and Europe’s political future.
Universum History 25 min., 45 min., 52 min.
This documentary tells the extraordinary story of Mitsuko Aoyama, one of the first Japanese immigrants to Europe, who arrived in Austria-Hungary in the 1890s with her diplomat husband, Heinrich von Coudenhove-Kalergi. Revered in Japan as a symbol of female emancipation, Mitsuko’s life bridges cultures and eras, embodying resilience, dignity and the pioneering spirit of East-West exchange.
UNIVERSUM History 45 min., 52 min.
Set in 1940, this powerful docudrama follows Lionel, a young man from Saint Martin who leaves the Caribbean in search of adventure and opportunity. Unknowingly bound for war-torn Europe, his journey turns into a harrowing odyssey when his cargo ship strikes a mine and he is captured by Italian forces allied with Nazi Germany. Confronted with brutal racism and forced labour, Lionel is eventually sent to Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, where his survival hinges on skill, language ability and sheer luck. The film weaves together youthful audacity, extraordinary twists of fate and the enduring legacy of European racism rooted in colonial history.
Universum Nature 2×50 min.
On Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast, the documentary reveals an ancient landscape of mountains, boglands and windswept islands teeming with life. From salmon and pearl mussels in crystal-clear rivers to red deer, pine martens and falcons in remote valleys, the film follows the animals that have adapted to this rugged environment. As red squirrels return to restored rainforests and basking sharks gather offshore, Connemara’s fragile natural treasures come into focus.
1×45 min., 1×46 min., 2×52 min.
At the heart of Eurasia, the Pamir is a remote mountain world where immense peaks rise above the continent’s lowest plains. This two-part series explores a region shaped by extremes: monsoon storms, Arctic winds and desert heat; glaciers, high-altitude lakes and deep ravines. From its ice-clad summits to the surrounding deserts, the series reveals the remarkable wildlife, landscapes and cultures of a region now emerging from obscurity.
Universum Nature 45 min., 52 min.
Volcanoes, cloud forests, lakes and vast jungles shape Guatemala’s extraordinary natural world. This documentary journeys through a country where wildlife and ancient Maya culture are deeply intertwined. From the revered resplendent quetzal – now Guatemala’s national bird and the namesake of its currency – to rare endemic species such as the horned guan and Guatemalan beaded lizard, it reveals animals found nowhere else. Against a backdrop of dramatic coasts and volcanic highlands, the film explores why certain creatures were sacred to the Maya and asks what future Guatemala’s unique wildlife has in a rapidly changing world.
6×45 min.
Police officer Pia Kraus is determined to uncover what happened to her 17-year-old niece, Amelie, who vanished six months earlier. When Amelie’s body is found on the nearby moor, Pia promises her grieving sister Caro that she will find the killer. But Pia faces a devastating challenge: early-onset Alzheimer’s is eroding her memory and making her doubt her own thoughts. As she pursues the investigation, long-buried secrets surface, placing families, friendships, and the close-knit village under strain. Pia’s relentless search for the truth ultimately reveals answers that bring peace to no one.
Crime 90 min.
An era comes to an end as Bibi Fellner and Moritz Eisner investigate their final Tatort Vienna case, before a new detective team steps in. When Melvin meets Lara at an ordinary job interview, he unwittingly becomes caught up in a police investigation. At her request, he gives her a lift in a borrowed sports car, unaware that she has stolen a large sum of money from her ruthless father-in-law. When a robbery triggers a dangerous escape, Fellner and Eisner are drawn into a case where nothing is as it first appears.
Crime 10×45 min.
In season 5, experienced investigators Joe Haizinger and Biggi Obergschwendter tackle ten exciting new criminal cases. The duo investigates at an ice hockey stadium, a ski jump and a golf course – and even has to deal with aliens. Their cases also lead them to a ruined castle, a major construction site, a courtroom, bird enthusiasts and a boys’ choir. As emotions run high and secrets emerge, the investigators face challenges that test both the team and the close relationships within it.
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