Stipsits becomes Sifkovits when the murder of a bride in his hometown in southern Burgenland calls the popular cabaret artist, actor, musician and author onto the scene as an unconventional police officer. Thomas Stipsits will receive active support in his investigations on Monday, October 28th, 2024, at 8:15 p.m. in an ORF 1 premiere and on Sunday, October 27th, at 8:15 p.m. on ORF ON in the ORF/ARTE film adaptation his bestseller of the same name about the eponymous “headscarf mafia”. Because, from jealousy to rivalries to intrigues – at their observation post on the village street, the Stinatz banker trio, whose knowledge would make many a search engine green with envy, misses absolutely nothing. And so in the crime thriller directed by director Daniel Geronimo Prochaska, one or two long-kept secrets come to light, which Sifkovits also feels firsthand.
In addition to Stipsits, whose first “Stinatz crime thriller” also forms the template for the script by Stefan Hafner and Thomas Weingartner, there are, among others, Erika Deutinger, Linde Prelog and Erika Mottl as “Headscarf Mafia” as well as Gerhard Liebmann, Rainer Doppler, Michael Rast and Julia Edtmeier and Christoph Krutzler can be seen in other roles. Filming took place in September and October 2023 in Eisenstadt, Mattersburg, Vienna as well as Stinatz and the surrounding area. “Headscarf Mafia” is a co-production between ORF, ARTE and Mona Film with support from the state of Burgenland.
The first exclusive insights into the film “Headscarf Mafia” were given yesterday, Thursday, October 10th, as part of a sneak preview in the Dieselkino Oberwart in the presence of, among others, State Governor Hans Peter Doskozil, ORF Burgenland State Director Werner Herics, ORF TV Film Director Katharina Schenk, Thomas Stipsits, Erika Deutinger, Linde Prelog, Erika Mottl, Gerhard Liebmann, Michael Rast, Julia Edtmeier, Sabrina Reiter, director Daniel Geronimo Prochaska, screenwriter Stefan Hafner and producers Gerald Podgornig and Thomas Hroch.
ORF program director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz: “the great beginning of a new Austrian television crime series”
“First it was an exciting and entertaining bestseller, now it is the great start of a new Austrian television crime series. ‘Headscarf Mafia’ impresses with its terrific cast and expressive imagery, with its care and attention to detail, with the seriousness of its crime plot, the loving character drawing and, last but not least, with the humor that is also characteristic of Thomas Stipsits. ARTE’s participation proves once again that authentic, regional films can also be successful internationally. I hope you enjoy ‘Headscarf Mafia’ and all the subsequent ‘Stinatz crime films’ that ORF, ARTE and Mona Film will realize with the support of the state of Burgenland in the coming years.”
Thomas Stipsits: “Childhood locations are suddenly filming locations”
“After a murder at a Croatian wedding, Sifkovits returns to Stinatz after a long time, but he has never lost his connection to the place. He then lives more or less with his mother, for whom he also has to do certain errand services, and tries to solve the case. It was a lot of fun making the film. Many childhood locations have suddenly become filming locations, e.g. E.g. my grandma’s house, which is Sifkovits’ mom’s house in the film. Personal and professional life mixes in a very pleasant way.” And further: “I’ve known the term ‘headscarf mafia’ since my childhood, and it can also be seen with a bit of a wink. Thanks to Croatian folk culture, the headscarf has a long tradition in Stinatz. But it also has to do with the fact that the widows in Stinatz were sitting on different benches. Back then, people always said that if you wanted to know or spread something, you had to go to the ‘headscarf mafia’ – that actually remains true to this day.”
Director Daniel Geronimo Prochaska: “The basic theme is family and friendship”
“A lot of laughter and a lot of tears in the eyes, in a positive but also in a sad sense,” the audience can expect, according to director Daniel Geronimo Prochaska. “It’s not a classic crime thriller, but actually a drama wrapped in a comedy. The basic theme is family and friendship. The film manages to work across generations. What makes him so special is that he takes the space to show small nuances and interpersonal relationships. The town of Stinatz also has its own aura.”
Producer Gerald Podgornig: “Comedy that is rarely seen”
“When I read the novel ‘Headscarf Mafia’, I knew that I would like to make a film out of it. The book already had all the ingredients for a comedy that is rarely seen: unique and lovingly quirky characters, a lot of humor, local color that only a local can describe, and a crime with a social connection. A very special highlight for this film is that Thomas Stipsits embodies his main character himself, accompanied by three excellent actresses who form a unity that you couldn’t imagine better. Staged by Daniel Geronimo Prochaska, who created this ‘Stinatz crime thriller’ in Burgenland with modern tact!”
Further information about the film is available at presse.ORF.at.