Styrian Of The Day

Jan 9

He Rethinks the Western

Filmmaker Robert Gamperl (39) from Hartberg is celebrating international festival success with his Western short films.
By Miriam Al Kafur

The vast landscapes of America have always fascinated Robert Gamperl. Growing up in Hartberg, he developed an early interest in Westerns, watching them on television with his grandparents. What fascinated him was less the cowboy myth than the landscape itself. He explains that this kind of vastness does not exist in Europe and that experiencing it firsthand is something entirely different.

Gamperl works as a cinematographer and filmmaker, and his work is strongly influenced by classic Hollywood films. Every shot is intended to tell a story, and he uses close-ups sparingly. He places particular emphasis on modern color palettes, widescreen formats, and strong image composition. He has remained drawn to the Western genre because of its versatility: within the Western setting, many genres can be explored, from horror to drama.

For this reason, Gamperl tries to address contemporary themes in his short films. He values creative exchange when developing ideas, as this back-and-forth process often leads to new approaches.

In addition to Westerns, he has already realized projects in other genres, including a Vienna-based film noir project inspired by The Third Man. With his short films Stubborn and Darlin’, Gamperl has also been represented at international film festivals. The response surprised him and was overwhelming. On one occasion, he won a cinematography award; on another, his film screened in the same festival program as a contribution by Eric Roberts, the brother of Julia Roberts—an experience he describes as a great honor.

Short films appeal to Gamperl because it is much more difficult to tell a complete story in a short amount of time. They are also less restricted by budgets, which makes experimentation easier. Next, filming is planned in Texas, and his first feature-length film is scheduled to follow in the summer.

Note: This interview originally appeared in Kleine Zeitung, an Austrian daily newspaper, and has been translated into English. The original article can be found below.