Film On Holmdel Toddler Who Suddenly Died To Have Midwest Premiere

HOLMDEL, NJ — An award-winning documentary about a Holmdel toddler who suddenly passed away in 2017 is set to soon have its Midwest film premiere.

On Friday, at 8 p.m., "VIENNA: Suddenly An Angel" will be screened as an official selection of the 30^th anniversary edition of the Kansas City Film Fest International.

The film follows Dr. Denise Wunderler and her husband Dr. Michael Savino after the sudden and unexplained death of their 2½-year-old daughter, Vienna Carly Savino.

Vienna’s passing was categorized as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) — a poorly understood category of death that affects seemingly healthy children from 1–18 years old.

In 2017, Vienna fell asleep watching TV at home in Holmdel, stopped breathing, and was unable to be resuscitated. Almost nine years later, there is still no cause of death.

Determined to find answers and increase awareness, Dr. Wunderler founded Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to advocacy, education, research, and honoring Vienna’s legacy.

In the documentary, their story unfolds through intimate footage, emotional interviews, and medical insights — from their home to leading scientists at Boston Children’s Hospital.

“We didn’t want Vienna’s story to end with her death,” said Dr. Wunderler, who is a first-time producer of the film. “We wanted her life to ignite change, to bring awareness to SUDC, and to help other families avoid the pain we now cope with every day.”

Directed by Marko Albrecht, "VIENNA: Suddenly an Angel" aims to capture the spirit of a local (Holmdel) and global community rallying around the Wunderler/Savino’s, and a family choosing to transform tragic loss into purpose and global action.

Corey O’Neill is the film’s editor, and the director of cinematography is Alexander Berg.

Executive producers include Wunderler, Savino, Carl and Hilda Wunderler, and Carol Stillwell of Stillwell-Hansen.

The film will be screened at the Kansas City Film Fest International in the Documentary Shorts 1 film block: Courage & Conviction, at AMC Ward Parkway Theatre 3.

This particular screening has extra special significance to Dr. Denise Wunderler, as she attended medical school at the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

During her Midwestern visit, not only will the film screen at the festival, but Dr. Wunderler will also present a private educational screening for alumni, faculty, and medical students.

To date, the film has won the highly-regarded Audience Award for Best Short Documentary at the Long Island International Film Expo (New York), the New Hope Film Festival (Pennsylvania), and the Monmouth Film Festival (at Bell Works, Holmdel, New Jersey).

It also won Best Homegrown Short Documentary at the Garden State Film Festival (New Jersey) at its world premiere last year.

Most recently, it won for Outstanding Short Documentary at the Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival in Massachusetts.

The documentary is also an official selection of the Chelsea Film Festival (NYC), Indie Short Film Festival (Virginia), and the Love and Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain, for its international premiere as it continues its festival run.

For tickets to the Midwestern premiere of "VIENNA: Suddenly An Angel," you can click here.

Previous Coverage

• Grief To Action: Film On Holmdel Girl Who Died To Premiere At Garden State Film Festival
• Bell Works Tower To Turn Pink In Honor Of Holmdel Toddler Who Died
• Holmdel Toddler’s Unexplained Death Now Studied In Med School
• Holmdel Family Raises Awareness Of SUDC After Toddler Girl Dies