Virgil Widrich
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Works:
All Exhibition Stage Film Research Lecture Jury Member Publication Bibliography checkpointmedia University of Applied Arts
Presentation of all projects in a wide variety of formats, such as films, exhibitions, installations, multimedia, research, publications and works, which were produced under the roof of checkpointmedia or in the course of teaching at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Practically everything – from 1980 to today.
161Projects
300+Awards
2.523Screenings
2028 Film Screenplay

Micromeo

Romeo and Juliet in the microcosm of the human body. Forbidden love between the young Bacterium Micromeo and Antibody-girl Globia threatens the harmony of the immune system.

2026 Exhibition checkpointmedia

Violence – Society. Austria in the Age of the World Wars, 1918–1955

On 11 June 2026, the Museum of Military History opened “Violence – Society. Austria in the Age of the World Wars, 1918–1955”, the first major exhibition project of its programmatic realignment. checkpointmedia, led by Marc Schuran and Virgil Widrich, developed the exhibition design.

2025 Exhibition checkpointmedia

IN-SIGHT: Gustav Klimt – The Bride

For the exhibition IN-SIGHT: Gustav Klimt – The Bride at the Upper Belvedere, checkpointmedia (Marc Schuran, Virgil Widrich) was responsible for the exhibition design.

2025 Exhibition checkpointmedia

A Century in Pictures. Austria 1925–2025

Graphic production for the exhibition in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library. Following „Image.Power.Politics“ and “The Danube – A Journey into the Past,” checkpointmedia, in collaboration with Nicole Stadler (Pop.Cut), is once again responsible for the graphic production of an exhibition in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library: “A Century in Pictures. Austria 1925–2025.”

2025 Exhibition checkpointmedia

Klimt. Pigment & Pixel – Rediscovering Art Through Technology

The exhibition “Gustav Klimt. Pigment & Pixel” at the Belvedere Vienna combines art and technology, offering new insights into Klimt’s painting techniques. checkpointmedia developed the exhibition design, where originals, technological analyses, and digital reconstructions are presented in three sections.

2023 Exhibition checkpointmedia

IMAGE POWER POLITICS: Yoichi Okamoto. Post-war photography icon

Graphic design of the exhibition in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library.

2023 Screenplay

Front Window

Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”, seen from the other side.

2022 checkpointmedia

City Dome for Rosenbauer AG - Everything for that moment

A multimedia look into the future of firefighting at Interschutz 2022 in Hannover.

2022 Film

Microconcert Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg

Visualization for a microconcert, a digital music project of the Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg under the musical direction of Kent Nagano.

2021 Research University of Applied Arts

Radical Matter

A Guide to the Unknown. Research project at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2021 Exhibition checkpointmedia

The Danube. A journey into the past

Graphic design of the spectacular 44-meter reproduction of the famous Pasetti map.

2021 Film

There is exactly enough time

Oskar Salomonowitz, the 12-year-old son of filmmakers Anja Salomonowitz and Virgil Widrich, had drawn 206 frames of a flip book when he died in an accident. Using the remaining blank sheets, his father continued drawing the film. Winner of 86 international film awards!

2020 Publication Bibliography

Hans Moser. Weltschmerzkomiker

Text contribution “Hans Moser in North Korea”, Virgil Widrich in conversation with Arno Rußegger, edited by Gottfried Schlemmer, Georg Seeßlen, Arno Rußegger. © Filmarchiv Austria, 2020.

2020 Publication Bibliography

Data Loam Sometimes Hard, Usually Soft. The Future of Knowledge Systems

Data Loam focuses on the future of knowledge systems in texts about artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and cryptoeconomics – as a means of counteracting end-of-the-world fears.

2020 Exhibition checkpointmedia

Music everywhere!

The princely court of Salzburg – a centre of European musical culture 1587 – 1807 19.7.2020 to 2.1.2022, DomQuartier Salzburg Artistic direction: Virgil Widrich, exhibition design: Hans Kudlich

2019 Exhibition checkpointmedia

sconarium Visitor Centre for Bad Schönau

Artistic director of the exhibition.

2019 Publication Bibliography

Expanded Animation – Mapping an unlimited landscape

Text contribution “Images between Digital Realism and Analog Believability” by Virgil Widrich in: Expanded Animation – Mapping to Unlimited Landscape

2019 Stage Film production

Nova – Imperfection Perfection

An opera by Franz Danksagmüller for a singer, viola, live electronics, two virtual singers and a digital stage design. Stage design and film direction: Virgil Widrich. Projections and lighting design: Oleg Prodeus.

2019 Film production Exhibition

Teleplasmatic Views of Vienna

On two corresponding screens the video installation “Teleplasmatic Views of Vienna” deconstructs and reinterprets Vienna’s Stephansplatz.

2019 Research University of Applied Arts

Data Loam - Sometimes Hard, Usually Soft

Exhibition on the research project on contexts of meaning through categorization and indexation.

2019 Film Research

tx-reverse

A space time cut through cinema. 20 years after Martin Reinhart and Virgil Widrich used this film technique for the first time in a short film (“tx-transform”, 1998), they again deal with the question of which previously unseen world arises when space and time are interchanged, aptly in a cinema and at full 360°. Winner of 39 international film awards!

2018 Film

Light Matter

A black-and-white film that lets you see colors. Winner of 13 international film awards!

2018 Publication Bibliography

The Future of Museums

Text contribution in “The Future of Museums”, edited by Gerald Bast, Elias G. Carayannis and David F. J. Campbell: “Transforming Education and Labor in a Museum as a Model of the Future: Vacancies in the Future Museum”.

2018 Exhibition Multimedia

Vienna Design Week 2018 – Voyage Around My Room

Video installation in an endless loop in the former Sophienspital for the Vienna Design Week 2018.

2018 Multimedia

tx-mirror

The interactive installation “tx-mirror” is a magical mirror with a camera: one can look at oneself and explore the laws of a universe in which time and space have been reversed.

2018 Exhibition checkpointmedia

Sound of Music World Salzburg

Exhibition in Salzburg about central stages in the life of the Trapp family, known from “The Sound of Music”.

2018 Film

Nena & Dave Stewart: Be my Rebel

“Be my rebel”, the first collaboration of the two music legends Nena and Dave Stewart, premiered at Nena’s 40th anniversary on stage. Winner of 48 international film awards!

2017 Stage Film

Icon Island – a live battle of pictures and sounds

Live mix of pictures, accompanied by the live music performance of the Maltese artist Sonitus Eco.

2017 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

Aesthetics of change – 150 years of the University of Applied Arts Vienna

The exhibition “Aesthetics of change: 150 Years of the University of Applied Arts Vienna” in two parts casts a glance back onto 150 years of the University’s history, while at the same time daring to look into the future.

2017 Exhibition

Memory Palace

The installation “Memory Palace” reflects the house from the film “Night of a 1000 Hours” which has been built using rear projections, backdrops, props, costumes and light and brought to life around the actors for the film.

2017 Exhibition

Side by Side

Media installation as part of the exhibition “ANALOG_DIGITAL. Media (Ex)changes” at METRO Kinokulturhaus.

2017 Exhibition

Exhibition and retrospective “analog_digital – The Dichotomy of cinema”

On the occasion of the exhibition “Analog_Digital. Media (Ex)Changes” the Filmarchiv Austria is showing a fascinating cross section of national and international analogue/digital cinema in a retrospective curated by Virgil Widrich.

2017 Exhibition Multimedia

Vienna Design Week 2017 – Panzerschrank Potemkin

Film director and multimedia artist Virgil Widrich transforms the strongroom of a former bank into a surface for projections.

2017 checkpointmedia Multimedia

Bankhaus Spängler display window collage

Design and implementation of a faceted display window collage.

2017 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence17

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2017 Exhibition checkpointmedia

70 Years of the Marshall Plan

Design and implementation of the anniversary event.

2017 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

Circuit Training

Exhibition of the classes Art & Science and Site-Specific Art in cooperation with CERN, art@CMS and HEPHY.

2017 Research University of Applied Arts

Data Loam

Research project on contexts of meaning through categorization and indexation.

2016 Film Screenplay

Night of a 1000 Hours

A family, a night, a murder and a forbidden passion: When the Ullich family meets and their deceased ancestors appear, the events in their Viennese palace turn over.

2016 Film

Vienna table trip

A promotional film for Vienna, awarded with 45 international awards or honorary mentions.

2016 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence16

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2016 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

[dis]placement – Information through Sound

Annual exhibition of Art & Science on the topic “Information through Sound”.

2016 Publication Bibliography

Bei den Fischottern in der Ebene und auf den Bergen

In his “biographical fragments for the home and village”, Hans Widrich (born 1936) describes his life.

2016 Exhibition checkpointmedia

Figaro Parallelo

The large-scale media installation “Figaro Parallelo” allows a comparison of recent productions of “The Marriage of Figaro”.

2015 checkpointmedia Exhibition

“Parallaxis” – Media installation for the exhibition “A Rush of Color” at the Leopold Museum

Media installation for the exhibition “A Rush of Color – Masterpieces of German Expressionism” at the Leopold Museum Vienna.

2015 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence15

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2015 Film Screenplay

back track

Virgil Widrich’s short film is a 7-minute 3D-remix of feature films from the 1950s and 60s which were projected on glass and photographed in 3D. Winner of 14 international film awards!

2015 Research University of Applied Arts

Apertus AXIOM: the first open source professional film camera

The European Union (Horizon 2020) funded project AXIOM develops the first open source film camera.

2014 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Funeral Museum at Vienna Central Cemetery

The consortium of checkpointmedia Multimediaproduktionen AG / OMS Objektmanagement Service GmbH was commissioned in June 2013 as sole contractor for the design, construction and furnishing of the new museum.

2014 Research University of Applied Arts

The Future of the Control Room

The Department of Art & Science at the University of Applied Arts is conducting the research project “The Future of the Control Room”.

2014 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence14

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2014 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

Biosphere n+1

Exhibition and transdisciplinary pieces in 3 acts by Art & Science students at the University of Applied Arts at University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU).

2014 checkpointmedia

Silhouette International – Film to mark 50th anniversary

An almost 3-minute animated film marks the 50th anniversary of Silhouette International Schmied AG, whisking the viewer on a rousing journey through the history of the world’s leading brand in light eyewear. The film depicts each decadal chapter in the company’s history using a unique graphic style.

2013 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

Crucial Experiments

An exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna during Vienna Art Week 2013.

2013 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Experimenta Heilbronn – Music workshop

checkpointmedia develops and installs a new music workshop with three studios for experimenta Heilbronn.

2013 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence13

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2013 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

14/16, on-site research

Micro-exhibitions at 6 locations by students of Art & Science at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2012 Publication Bibliography

Hundert Jahre Kupelwieser auf dem Mönchsberg

“Eine kleine Haus- und Familiengeschichte” by Hans Widrich.

2012 Stage Screenplay

Black Cat/New Angels

A stage musical for one tenor, two dancers and a baroque ensemble, based on the novella “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe.

2012 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Museum of Natural History Vienna – The Meteorite Gallery

For the reopening of the world’s largest and oldest collection of meteorites in 2012, the vast collection of extraordinary exhibits is expanded by the skilful inclusion of media stations, interactive hands-on stations and animations.

2012 Lecture

The Night of the Avant-garde - Film Seen Differently

On the occasion of the 50th Viennale, ORF Kultur presents treasures of Austrian avant-garde film from five generations. The night of Austrian avant-garde film is presented by filmmaker Virgil Widrich.

2012 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence12

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2012 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Erste-Campus-Schauplatz – Visitor centre for Erste Group’s new headquarters

Visitor Centre “Erste Campus-Schauplatz” about the future headquarters of Erste Group on the site of the former Vienna South Railway Station.

2012 Research University of Applied Arts

Liquid Things

Research project by Roman Kirschner on materials as transmitters of messages.

2011 Publication Bibliography

An envelope for arts, sciences, politics and us

Mixing realities and mediating myths & methods. Editors: Valerie Deifel, Bernd Kräftner, Virgil Widrich

2011 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

Things that talk

Exhibition of the University of Applied Arts/Art & Science at the Museum of Natural History Vienna on the occasion of the Vienna Art Week 2011.

2011 checkpointmedia Publication

Presentation and new Media – 10 Years checkpointmedia: concepts, paths, visions

Besides an overview of projects carried out by checkpointmedia between 2001 and 2011, the book “Presentation and New Media – 10 Years checkpointmedia: Concepts, Paths, Visions” contains essays by leading contemporary protagonists on the current discourse in the media, worlds of experience, communication and internet sectors.

2011 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence11

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2011 Screenplay Film

warning triangle

A found footage film collage about the destructive triangle between a man, a woman, and her car.

2011 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

Parameter{world} - parameters for every or no thing

Annual exhibition of the students of the Master course “Art & Science Visualization” at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2010 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Exhibition “90 Years of the Salzburg Festival – The Great World Theatre”

The history of the Salzburg Festival as a accessible spatial sculpture with different layers of mediation in the Salzburg Museum.

2010 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence10 – Hyperactive Prototypes

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2010 Screenplay Film

make/real

A surreal montage of science fiction films about the public image of the robot.

2009 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Exhibition “Linz. City in Luck” – Linz 2009 European Capital of Culture

The history of Linz was worked out on the basis of different, partly very personal perspectives to a house with many rooms.

2009 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence09 – Digital Traces

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2009 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

Alias in Wonderland

Exhibition of the Department of Digital Art at the University of Applied Arts Vienna at Freiraum/quartier21 Vienna.

2009 Publication University of Applied Arts

Catalogue “Alias in Wonderland”

Catalogue for the exhibition of the department “Digital Art” at the University of Applied Arts Vienna in the Freiraum/quartier 21 Vienna.

2008 checkpointmedia

Identity Film “What makes Erste Group great?”

An animated film about the past, present and future of Erste Bank.

2008 Exhibition University of Applied Arts

The Essence08 – Digitale Kunst

Annual exhibition of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2008 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Krones AG – Company Museum

The corporate museum designed by checkpointmedia presents 50 years of Krones’ history and technical developments.

2007 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Swarovski Crystal Worlds – Redesign 2007

In the course of the redesign of the Swarovski Crystal Worlds, further attractions attracting the public were conceived and implemented in 2007.

2007 University of Applied Arts

University of Applied Arts Vienna

Head of the Master course “Art & Science” at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

2006 Film production

Every Seventh Person

Between 2002 and 2005 the filmmakers Elke Groen and Ina Ivanceanu carried out numerous interviews in three Chinese villages documenting everyday life – without any censorship whatsoever.

2006 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Mozarthaus Vienna – Multimedia Exhibition

Since 27 January 2006 (Mozart’s 250th birthday), this fully refurbished house containing Mozart’s former apartment, the only one of his Viennese residences still in existence today, has paid homage to the life and work of the musical genius.

2005 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Exhibition – Palais Epstein

Five media stations equipped with high-format 30-inch screens enable visitors to call up texts, pictures, graphics, animation films and short video clips.

2005 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Vienna Parliament Visitor Centre

The media stations in the visitor centre of the Austrian Parliament serve to impart knowledge and are integrated into the architecture.

2005 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Salzburg Museum – Sattler Panorama

Supplemented by an interactive module, the original Sattler-Panorama is now once again open to the public at the Salzburg Museum

2004 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Hans-Moser-Exhibition – Austrian Theatre Museum

The exhibition Hans Moser on the popular Austrian actor and the virtual national institution was one of the most successful exhibitions ever held in the Austrian Theatre Museum.

2003 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Swarovski Kristallwelten – Redesign 2003

The Crystal Worlds, designed by André Heller in Wattens, Tyrol, was opened in 1995 for Swarovski’s 100th anniversary. Since then it has been continually expanded and further attractions have been added.

2003 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Red Bull Hangar-7 – Multimedia Staging

Extensive multimedia planning and implementation of Red Bull Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport.

2003 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Exhibition “Archbishop Paris Lodron” at the Dommuseum Salzburg

For the exhibition “Archbishop Paris Lodron (1619-1653), Statesman between War and Peace” at the Salzburg Dommuseum, checkpointmedia designed and installed a complex projection installation and an information display for the entrance hall of the Salzburg Dommuseum.

2003 Film Screenplay

Fast Film

“Fast Film” is an animated homage to motion pictures, hand-made by folding 65,000 print outs of film frames into three-dimensional objects. The film won 35 international awards.

2001

Amour Fou Film

In August 2001 Amour Fou Filmproduktionen GmbH is founded, together with Gabriele Kranzelbinder, Alexander Ivanceanu and the Wiener Volksbildungsverein/Polyfilm.

2001 checkpointmedia Exhibition

Museum Ladin – Media stations

The multimedia station “Historical Panorama” portrays their history using video animations and audio commentaries in four languages; the interactive “Language Atlas”offers entertaining insights into the Ladin language.

2001 Exhibition checkpointmedia

Lower Austrian Provincial Exhibition 2001 – Media stations

checkpointmedia was responsible for developing the majority of the media stations and the hardware and software.

2001 Film Screenplay

Leftright

Interviews with Bady Minck, Ruth Beckermann, Hans Hurch, Peter Tscherkassky, Florian Flicker, Alexander Ivanceanu, Michael Kreihsl and Wolfgang Lehner about “left” and “right” in film and politics.

2001

checkpointmedia GmbH – Multimedia Productions

As one of the most successful representatives of “Creative Industries Vienna/Austria,” checkpointmedia acts as an interface between arts/culture and the business world.

2001 Film Screenplay

Copy Shop

The story of a man who copies himself until he fills up the entire world. The film won 43 international awards and was nominated for the Oscar 2001 (best short film).

2000 Exhibition

tx-transformator

This automat, based on the theory of relativity, allows viewers for the first time to modify their perception of the familiar relation between space and time by experiencing time in a transverse flow to their spatial movements.

2000 CD-ROM

Hands on Media – CD-ROM

A CD-ROM as a service portfolio of the multimedia network, which later became checkpointmedia.

2000 Screenplay Film

Brighter than the Moon

Virgil Widrich’s first feature film: A comedy about foreigners in Vienna: Italians, Romanians and people from Lower Austrian.

1999 Film production

webfreetv.com Cinema Spot

Cinema spot for internet TV station webfreetv.com, which was shown in November 1999 in 65 Austrian cinemas.

1999 Exhibition

100 Media Stations for Technisches Museum Wien

Large-screen projections and video loops, audio stations, interactive mini-cinemas, selectable videos, interactive terminals and Internet research stations enrich and supplement the permanent exhibition.

1998 Screenplay Film

tx-transform

tx-transform is a film technique that transposes the time axis (t) and one of the space axes (x or y) with one another.

1997 CD-ROM

Salzburg Festival – the CD-ROM

The world-famous Salzburg Festival presents itself and its work on a double CD-ROM for the first time.

1997 CD-ROM

Maths Trainer – CD-ROM

The “Maths Trainer” on CD-ROM.

1996 CD-ROM

Robbi – Adventures on CD-ROM

The children’s book bestseller “Robbi – a seal pup escapes to the wild beasts” by the Tyrolean Günther Aloys on CD-ROM.

1995 Film festival

Diagonale 1995 – Festival of Austrian Film

In December 1995 the Diagonale, the festival of Austrian film, takes place for the third and last time in Salzburg.

1994 Film festival

Diagonale 1994 – Festival of Austrian Film

In December 1994 the Diagonale, the festival of Austrian film, takes place for the second time in Salzburg.

1993 Film festival

Diagonale 1993 – Festival of Austrian Film

The Diagonale, the festival of Austrian film, takes place for the first time in Salzburg in 1993.

1992 Exhibition

100 Objects to represent the world

Exhibition by Peter Greenaway on the occasion of the 300 anniversary of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in the Vienna Hofburg, the Semper Depot and in the Academy of Fine Arts.

1987 Film festival

Classic Films – Film distribution

Classic Films, a film distribution company specialising in art films, is founded in May 1987.

1985 Screenplay Film

The Spirit of Time

A genre cross-over mixing action, horror and science fiction in the past, present and future.

1982 Film Screenplay

Monster in Salzburg

A gigantic insect-like monster destroys the city of Salzburg. An oedipal drama.

1981 Film Screenplay

Color can dream

Animated film by the then 13-year-old Virgil Widrich about a man and a small worm fleeing environmental destruction.

1980 Film Screenplay

3 times Ulf

Documentary about the Carinthian “mirror artist” Arnulf Komposch.

1980 Screenplay Film

Fried Meat

Crime story: A woman is killed in a Restaurant and served to the guests.

1980 Film

Gusti Kupelwieser

Documentary about Gusti (Auguste) Kupelwieser (1907-1987), the grandmother of the director.

1980 Screenplay Film

My Homelife

Documentary about the old house of the Widrich family.