Film On Holmdel Toddler Who Suddenly Died Returns To NJ For 3rd Public Screening

HOLMDEL, NJ — An award-winning documentary about a Holmdel toddler who suddenly passed away in 2017 is set to return to New Jersey for the SModcastle Film Festival this fall.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, "VIENNA: Suddenly An Angel" will return to the Garden State for its third public screening as an official selection of Kevin Smith’s SModcastle Film Festival at 12:30 p.m. at the SModcastle Cinemas at 82 First Ave. in Atlantic Highlands.

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. Now, 9 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, the family's story unfolds through footage, 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 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.

Most recently, the film won Best Short Documentary at the Love & Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain. Footage of Dr. Wunderler accepting the award can be seen here.

Alongside the film's win at the Love & Hope International Film Festival, it also won Best Homegrown Short Documentary at Diane Raver’s Garden State Film Festival (Asbury Park, NJ) at its world premiere last year.

In addition, it won the Audience Award for Best Short Documentary at the Long Island International Film Expo (Long Island, NY), the New Hope Film Festival (New Hope, PA), and the Monmouth Film Festival (at Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ), and Outstanding Short Documentary at the Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival (Worcester, MA).

The documentary screened as an official selection of the Chelsea Film Festival (Manhattan, NYC), the Indie Short Film Festival (Charlottesville, VA), and the Kansas City Film Fest International (Kansas City, MO).

After its screening in Jersey, the film will continue its impact at the Anchorage International Film Festival in Alaska next month for its western premiere.

To learn more or purchase tickets to the screening, you can click here.