Ottinger Says 'The Blood Countess' Was Cut by 20 Minutes Against Her Wishes
Speaking at the Tokyo International Film Festival, the German director said her preferred cut of the Isabelle Huppert film ran 15 to 20 minutes longer.
Ulrike Ottinger said her film The Blood Countess was cut by as much as 20 minutes against her wishes, speaking at a German cinema evening at the Tokyo International Film Festival, according to Variety. The director said her preferred version ran 15 to 20 minutes longer than the released cut.
Ottinger said she recut the whole film to restore its balance at the shorter length. She also said The Blood Countess was the most expensive film she has ever made, and that she had wanted 40 shooting days but the production gave her 30, with a crew of more than 100 people.
The film stars Isabelle Huppert as the vampire countess, with Lars Eidinger and Birgit Minichmayr among the co-stars. Ottinger said Huppert stayed with the project for 20 years and that Eidinger was very enthusiastic about joining.
Funding questions at the same event
Barbara Wurm, the Austrian head of the Berlinale Forum, said at the same event that German federal film funding has been allocated automatically on the basis of admissions and festival success since January 1, 2025. Wurm said the Berlinale Forum is not on the FFA's current festival list, so films screening there do not get the funding.
The Tokyo festival is hosting a retrospective of Ottinger's work that includes Ticket of No Return and Under Snow (2011). The Blood Countess world-premiered at the Berlinale in February. Ottinger said she once made her own films for €2.5 million–€3 million and that meeting current requirements now needs at least €7 million–€8 million.
Quick answers
What did Ulrike Ottinger say about the cut of The Blood Countess?
She said the film was cut by as much as 20 minutes against her wishes, and that her preferred version ran 15 to 20 minutes longer than the released cut.
Where did Ottinger speak about the film?
At a German cinema evening at the Tokyo International Film Festival, which is hosting a retrospective of her work.
Who stars in The Blood Countess?
Isabelle Huppert plays the vampire countess, with Lars Eidinger and Birgit Minichmayr among the co-stars.