PIANOMANIA

by Lilian Franck, Robert Cibis

    Synopsis

    Pianomania is a portrayal of Stefan Knuepfer, the virtuosic piano tuner from Steinway, Austria, and his many famous clients at work, including Lang Lang, Alfred Brendel, Andrej Gravilov, Mitsuko Uchida, Rudolf Buchbinder and Pierre-Laurent Aimard; the film offers an unusual and amusing look behind the heavy curtains at major concerts. This film is about the quest for the perfect tone. It shows each obstacle that is created by abandoning everyday routine and surrendering oneself to Art.
    The fortitude that devotion engenders, the supreme love of perfection and of divine moments; and yet the refusal to bask in one’s glory. Our protagonists are world-renowned pianists and their hero, piano tuner Stefan Knuepfer; and all are obsessed with the idea of the perfect sound.

    Festivals

    among others:
    Seal of Approval highly recommended as well as Film of the Month (FBW)
    Max Ophüls Preis - World Premiere
    IFF Locarno 2009 - awarded with Semaine de la Critique
    nominated European Film Ward - Best Documentary 2009
    IFF San Francisco 2010 - Golden Gate Award
    DIAGONALE, Austria - Best Editing of Documentary
    Kinofest Lünen - AudienceAward LÜDIA as well as Best Film of the Festival
    EuroDOC, Denmark - Honorable mention
    Int. Hofer Filmtage 2009
    IDFA 2009
    DOK Leipzig 2009
    Cork Festival, Ireland 2009