“If a cat has kittens at the riding school, that doesnʼt make them Lipizzans”, reads a commentary in an Austrian daily on the naturalization case of director Olga Kosanović, which was picked up by the media. Demarcation creates a sense of identity and cohesion: a strong sense of “us”. What is the feeling and what social structures underlie it? Based on a personal experience, this film explores the emotive question of belonging.

Far from Being Lipizzans is nominated for the award Another Gaze.

Student jury about the film:

Documentary film Far from Being Lipizzans (Noch lange keine Lipizzaner, 2025) is an authorial project of the director Olga Kosanović, based on her own experience of obtaining Austrian citizenship. However, she doesn’t limit the topic to herself; through “talking heads” and authentic footage of people trying to obtain Austrian citizenship, she broadens the perspective to encompass the system itself. Her documentary skilfully and precisely intertwines national issues and concepts and applies them to Austrian identity, only to bring it to its knees. Thanks to the film’s humour and levity, the audience can enter the dialogue without the film feeling ponderous. The director employs bold colours and short dramatic sketches, as well as statements from Austrian experts on the issue. The film forces the audience to think about what defines our citizenship and how someone can be a mere stray cat when even the Lipizzan is not purebred.