On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of television in Austria, two schools - represented by idols of the public - competed for a prize of ATS 500.000 (€ 36.336), in the ORF-programme "countdown" on June 24,2000. The Viennes High School "Bundsgymnasium Auf der Schmelz" won the prize, which was donated by "Zuerich Kosmos" and intended for the realisation of a media-project.

Project manager Mag. Gerry Göllner forms a team of committed students, teachers and parents and hires director and producer Roman A. Tolic. In co-operation with the International Youth Centre for Culture and Education in Vienna "Interface" (Senad Hergic) and supported by dramatic adviser Dr. Erich Dworak the concept of a media-pedagogical project (following the internationally accepted and prize-winning media- and educational projects "ORF Goes to School" and "CLIP") is developed. In this project, children and teenagers are involved in all stages of a film production - from the first idea on to the actual shooting to the first night. In special seminars they are taught the skills and the know-how that are necessary for a film production.

Both teachers and pupils, equally entitled, take part in a competition which is won by the class of the German- and History teacher Mag. Friedrich Klingenbrunner and their story "Summer Samba": The dog "Samba" brings life and meaning into the boring every-day school life with his virtuoso piano performance. The authorities close down the school; a music producer is willing to pay millions for the show of the pupils and the dog; Mr.Mayer, a cruel tormentor of animals, wants to kill Samba; the pupils save the dog; finally they all depart for New York.

"Summer Samba" - with its catchy title song "Hey, Samba" (Chucky Grafeneder and Pepsi Zirbs) is a fascinating 60-minute movie. It is the result of a year of coaching and training of a young team, 14 days of shooting, with dozens of pupils and teachers, a chase through the streets of Vienna, the Meisel Market, the Wilhelminen Hospital, the allotment gardens on the Schmelz, and the "Gänsehäufel" at the "Old Danube".
There is a "Making of" documenting the events behind the scenes. The main production process based on simulation of film using digital equipment, special optical systems and frame-movie mode gave very interesting results.