As part of the industry meeting "Discussing Diversity in Independent Cinema," numerous internationally staffed panels and case studies discussed different perspectives and strategies of film promotion and exploitation against the backdrop of practical experience and initiated further activities in Austria. In 2013, the 16th edition of the festival took place from March 12 to 17 and was opened by Ulrich Seidl's Paradies: Hoffnung. A total of 156 films were shown in 136 screenings, 98 of which were in competition. Compared to the previous year, the Diagonale had 25,051 visitors (about 18,900 cinema admissions and about 6,000 people at the supporting programs), an increase of 1,300 visitors, while the occupancy rate dropped from 74 to 72 percent. The prizes awarded were worth about 155,000 euros. After a cinematic year marked by major international successes for Austrian film, attention at the 2013 Diagonale focused on the numerous promising productions by young filmmakers, whose individual approaches provided a breath of fresh air. Highlights also included the presentation of Ulrich Seidl's Paradise Trilogy as a complete work and two "Personale" dedicated to Josef Dabernig and Michaela Grill. With Dominik Graf there was an exceptional figure of the German-language production landscape in Graz. The continuation of the "FilmExil" series focused on the film work of Viennese director, screenwriter, and producer Paul Czinner. The special program "Austrian Pulp" presented subversive Austrian underground cinema between genres. The industry meeting was devoted to "Models of Substance and Project Development" with the participation of numerous international experts. The 17th edition of the Diagonale opened in Graz with the Austrian premiere of Johannes Holzhausen's documentary Das große Museum. While in 2013 the focus was on numerous feature film premieres, this time, in line with the trend of the production year, the documentary film moved into the spotlight with 23 productions in competition. In total, the festival screened 192 films from March 18 to 23, 2014, 106 of which were in competition. Despite bright spring weather, a slight increase in audience attendance could again be reported after six days with around 25,500 visitors. The value of the film prizes awarded amounted to around 165,000 euros. The "Personale" was dedicated to the film artist Manfred Neuwirth. The renowned French cinematographer Agnès Godard was honored with a retrospective. The special programs on James Benning, Peter Lorre, the continuation of "Austrian Pulp" and the show "Another Country" on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary