Florian Teichtmeister, who plays Emperor Franz Joseph in this Austrian film, has been charged with possession of child pornography. He faces up to two years in prison.
The crew of the successful Austrian film about Sissi Bodicein the running for the Oscars, is in turmoil this Sunday, after the announcement of the indictment for possession of child pornography material of Florian Teichtmeister, the actor who plays the emperor François Joseph.
Public television ORF, which co-financed the feature film, “immediately refrains from producing and broadcasting works with Florian Teichtmeister”, can we on the website of the audiovisual group.
According to the ORF, the Cineplexx cinema chain, which manages 400 theaters in twelve countries, has also withdrawn from the poster the work presented last year at Cannes in the “Un certain Regard” selection.
Candidacy for the Oscars
But the professional association of the film industry in Austria told AFP that it was maintaining “in consultation with the director and the producers” the candidacy of Bodice for the Oscars.
You have to “make the difference” between the film and the conduct of its actor, she pleads, when she selected him to represent the country for the next ceremony, in the category of best foreign film.
On Friday, Florian Teichtmeister’s lawyer, 43, announced to the media the indictment, since confirmed by the Vienna prosecutor’s office, of his client who intends to plead guilty and will be tried from February 8.
He is accused of having possessed a large quantity of child pornography material, at least between February 2008 and August 2021. He risks up to two years of deprivation of liberty.
A film financed by more than 90 countries
In a press release sent to AFP on Sunday, the producers of the film Bodice, Johanna Scherz and Alexander Glehr, claim that filming took place before “the first rumors” appeared “in the fall of 2021”. Confronted, the actor had told them “with conviction” that they were “false”.
“In the meantime, we have informed in detail our co-producers, distributors and commercial partners, financiers and sponsors as well as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences [qui remet les Oscars] on the facts currently available to the public,” they added.
The film, which is a hit in theaters and has been presented at nearly 70 festivals where it has received several awards, has been purchased by more than 90 countries. It was released at the end of December in the United States. Florian Teichtmeister attended premieres in Austria and Germany.
The director and screenwriter of Bodice Marie Kreutzer said she was “saddened and angry that a feminist film […] is so dirty and damaged by the horrible actions of a single person “. The Austrian national theater Burgtheater, where the actor is a member, has also announced his dismissal with immediate effect.
