04/09/25 – Since the beginning of September, filming has been underway in Graz and Mautern for two episodes of the 21st season of the popular ORF/ZDF crime series SOKO Donau. The Satel Film production uses the historic old town of Graz and the Styria region as authentic backdrops – a key to the series’ worldwide success. The importance of authentic filming locations was revealed by the main actors Maria Happel, Gregor Seberg, Martin Gruber and Max Fischnaller during a set visit to the old town of Graz. KPÖ councillor Sahar Mohsenzada, city councillor Günter Riegler, Satel Film producer Heinrich Ambrosch and ORF editor Sabine Weber also took the opportunity to chat with the cast and crew during filming. The new episodes of the 21st season are expected to be broadcast on ORF 1 and ORF ON in 2027.
Since the beginning of September, there has been a flurry of activity in Graz city centre, with Satel Film shooting episodes of the successful ORF/ZDF series SOKO Donau, including ‘Verliebt, Verlobt, Verwitwet’. But it is not only the historic old town that serves as an impressive backdrop; the entire province of Styria is actively involved in the production. That is why KPÖ councillor Sahar Mohsenzada, representing Mayor Elke Kahr and Councillor Günter Riegler, did not miss the opportunity to visit the set in person.
Kunasek: ‘The wonderful television images are great advertising for Styria as a tourist destination.’
The Mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, sent her greetings: ‘SOKO Donau has many fans in Graz and throughout Styria, which is why it is all the more pleasing that it is also being filmed on the Mur. Graz, with its historic old town, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a great backdrop for many domestic and international productions, something the people of Graz are very proud of.’
Although Governor Mario Kunasek was unable to attend the set visit, he emphasises the added value of the production: “The crime series SOKO Donau has been thrilling its fans with its exciting cases for many years. The star-studded team also frequently investigates cases away from the Danube. This time, the crew is setting up camp here in Styria. The new season will be filmed in Graz and Mautern in Upper Styria. The wonderful television images are once again great publicity for Styria as a tourist destination. Apart from the tourist aspect, the production team’s stay also generates considerable regional added value.”
City Councillor Günter Riegler: ‘SOKO Donau reaches an audience of millions. The fact that Graz is once again being showcased here is invaluable publicity for our city. We actively strive to be a filming location for TV and film productions. Not only to boost tourism, but also because the film industry directly generates added value.’
Seberg: “Best filming location ever!”
Gregor Seberg particularly appreciates the hospitality: “Graz is an ideal filming location because it looks like a city in Italy from the outside and the people are so friendly. And Styria is the best filming location ever anyway, because I remember telling the farmers on whose farm we were filming that I was cold. They then offered me a schnapps. Somehow, word got around. Soon, the whole team was ‘kolllt’ – even our esteemed colleagues from Germany learned Styrian especially for the hoped-for schnapps – and by the evening we were all very happy.”
Martin Gruber, alias ‘Chief Inspector Max Herzog,’ adds: ‘This episode is very complex. Magic, jealousy, a treacherous murder and lots of red herrings – all of which are typical of the SOKO feeling. Graz as a setting gives us real added value, because the city itself tells a story that goes far beyond the plot.’
Max Fischnaller (forensic scientist Julius Rubatsch), who was born in South Tyrol, also feels at home here: “Filming in beautiful Styria is always a special treat for me, as I grew up in a very rural environment myself. What’s more, some of my childhood friends from South Tyrol live in Graz. So I can finally visit them again. Styria simply captivates you with the friendliness and openness of its people.”
Maria Happel also always enjoys visiting Styria: ‘Graz is always worth a visit for Soko! Even though our cases usually involve dead bodies, the attitude to life here is simply wonderful! You can already smell the south in the air.’
Production with depth and regional added value
Satel Film Managing Director Heinrich Ambrosch: ‘Through our close partnership with the province of Styria and the city of Graz, we are not only able to shine a spotlight on authentic stories from the region, but also generate significant indirect profitability for the local economy.’
Investigations at Mautern Wildlife Park
In addition to Graz, ‘Der Wilde Berg’ in Mautern will become the TV investigators’ ‘workplace’ from 8 September. In ‘Hödlmoser reloaded (AT)’, an old gang of murderers is up to no good there. Ten years ago, the SOKO team put a stop to the Hödlmoser family’s activities. After their release from prison, they run a wildlife park, and promptly a female corpse is found near the enclosures. Reason enough for the stars of SOKO to investigate in Styria.
Environmentally friendly production
The series is produced in accordance with the strict guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel for ‘Green Producing (UZ 76)’. The production facilities are supplied with green electricity and diesel generators are not used. Instead of flying domestically and abroad, public transport is used if the corresponding train journey takes less than five hours. All areas, such as building materials, stage design and props, costumes and make-up, technology, catering and accommodation, are checked for sustainability.
The 21st season of ‘Soko Donau’ is a Satel Film production in collaboration with ORF and ZDF, produced with the support of FISA+, Film in Austria (ABA), Fernsehfonds Austria, Cinestyria Film Commission and Fund, the Province of Lower Austria, and the Film Commission Graz.
Credit: Satel Film/Ekatarina Paller
