Florian Pochlatko

Florian Pochlatko (born 1986 in Graz) is an Austrian film director and screenwriter.

Life and education Pochlatko attended the HTL Ortweinschule for Art and Design. He studied in Linz at the University of Fine Arts, and in Vienna at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Vienna Film Academy in the film directing class under Michael Haneke. In addition, he studied Critical Studies under Diedrich Diederichsen at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

He lives and works in Graz, Vienna and Berlin. His brother is the film producer Jakob Pochlatko.

He is regarded as a representative of the Austrian New Wave.

Works

Short films and music videos Between 2013 and 2022 he worked on short films and music videos, including for Zebra Katz, Monsterheart, Koenigleopold and the band Wanda. His short film Erdbeerland won the Diagonale Award for Best Short Feature in 2013. Another milestone is the 12-minute music video God of Ghosts for Zebra Katz and DJ Leila, released in 2016. For that, he won the Austrian Music Video Prize awarded as part of the VIS Vienna Independent Shorts Festival.

Feature film debut His feature film debut How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival 2025 in the Perspectives section and was nominated for the Perspectives Award Best First Feature. The Austrian premiere was as the opening film at the Diagonale 2025.

The film centers on Pia (played by Luisa-Celine Gaffron), who returns to her parents’ home after a stay in a psychiatric hospital. Reality begins to dissolve as she is confronted with suppressed memories and a distorted perception. The film combines elements from pop culture, surreal imagery and dark humor.

Filmography 2025: How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World 2021: WEIL: Chaos (music video) 2017: Wanda: 0043 (music video) 2015: Zebra Katz x Leila: God of Ghosts / Nu Renegade (music video) 2012: Erdbeerland (short feature) 2012: Bunny Lake: Satellite Sky (music video) 2011: Koenig Leopold – Heat the Water (music video) 2010: Eisberg (short film) 2009: Von vergangenen Tagen (short film) 2009: Im Auto – segment "Porsche" (short film) 2006: Running Sushi (short film)