Melissa Naschenweng Makes Film Debut in ORF Premiere Herzklang

Austrian musician Melissa Naschenweng is set to make her debut in a leading film role in the ORF romance Herzklang – Zurück zu mir. The production premieres on April 4, 2026, at 20:15 on ORF 1 and will be available simultaneously on the streaming platform ORF ON.

The film follows the story of Melanie Buchauer, a successful Schlager singer portrayed by Naschenweng, who finds herself at the peak of her professional career. Despite the acclaim from her audience and the demands of a life spent on stage, Melanie begins to experience growing doubts about the direction of her life.

Melanie’s personal crisis reaches a breaking point when she discovers that her boyfriend, Marc, has been unfaithful. This betrayal prompts her to flee her current daily routine and return to her roots in her home region of Carinthia to clear her head.

Upon her return, Melanie finds a practical purpose as her grandmother, Annabell, is in urgent need of assistance managing the family’s alpine farm. The narrative highlights a stark transition in the protagonist’s life, as she moves from the glamour of the stage to the manual labor of farm life, swapping glitter boots for dungarees and rubber boots.

While engaged in tasks such as milking sheep and cleaning stables amidst the mountain landscape, Melanie begins to rediscover her true self. This period of reflection also allows her to find the courage to begin writing her own original songs.

The plot introduces a romantic element through Melanie’s encounter with a local national park ranger. As romantic feelings develop, Melanie is forced to contemplate whether she wants to return to the spotlight of her music career or seek happiness in her renewed life in nature.

Production and Casting

The film was directed by Patricia Frey, with a screenplay written by Harald Haller and Marc Brugger. Principal photography took place during August and September 2025, with filming locations spanning Carinthia, East Tyrol, and Vienna.

Alongside Naschenweng, the cast includes:

• Ferdinand Seebacher, who plays the role of Ben
• Michael Steinocher
• Katharina Pichler
• Martin Muliar
• Christina Cervenka
• Elfriede Schüsseleder
• Rainer Wöss

Musical Integration and Career Context

Integrating her musical background into the production, Naschenweng collaborated with producer Sebastian Steinhauser to write and compose a new song specifically for the movie titled Hoamat in mir. This track is featured at the end of the film.

While Herzklang – Zurück zu mir marks her first lead role, Naschenweng is not entirely new to the screen. She previously appeared in the comedies Pulled Pork and Neo Nuggets, both of which were co-financed by the ORF.

Naschenweng has been a recurring presence on Austrian television for several years, primarily through her appearances in various ORF music shows. This film represents a transition from her established music career into romantic drama acting.

For viewers in Austria, a repeat broadcast of the film is scheduled for April 5, 2026, at 00:56 on ORF 1.