Press Releases 2025
The Programme of DOK.forum 2025
DOK.forum, the industry platform of DOK.fest München, will take place from 7 to 11 May. It consists of two pillars: DOK.forum Perspectives, a special programme for filmmakers on media-policy, technological, and narrative trends, and the DOK.forum Marketplace, a co-production and distribution market where filmmakers can present their documentary projects in development to an expert audience.
A SUDDEN GLIMPSE TO DEEPER THINGS wins the DOK.edit Award – presented by Adobe
The DOK.edit Award – presented by Adobe, which honours the work of documentary film editors, will be presented for the fifth time at DOK.fest München. This year, the award goes to editor Timo Langer for the film A SUDDEN GLIMPSE TO DEEPER THINGS by director Mark Cousins. The award is worth 5,000 euros and is sponsored by Adobe.
RASHID, L'ENFANT DE SINJAR wins the DOK.fest Award of SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit
The DOK.fest Award of SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit will be awarded for the twelfth time at DOK.fest München. This year's winner is RASHID, L'ENFANT DE SINJAR by Slovenian director Jasna Krajinovic, a moving documentary about resilience and the meaning of home.
The Programme of the 40th DOK.fest München
The programme of the 40th DOK.fest Munich has been published and is now available on the festival website. A total of 105 films from 58 countries will be screened at this year's edition. Of these, 75 films are being shown in Germany for the first time: 19 films are world premieres, 56 others are German premieres. The programme team had to choose from more than 1,400 films submitted this year - more than ever before.
The Sections „African Encounters“ and „Filmmaking in Exile“
Since 2013, DOK.fest Munich has been focusing on the African continent. This year, the format "African Encounters", which is unique in Germany, focuses on climate change. With three films from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, unresolved questions of climate justice between the global South and North, between Africa and Europe will be put on the agenda. Under the motto LET'S TALK CLIMATE, the cinematic perspective will be broadened through personal encounters: filmmakers, experts and the audience will enter into dialogue in talks and a panel discussion.
DOK.fest - for the first time also in Augsburg: Ten films from the anniversary festival
In its anniversary year, DOK.fest Munich will take place in cinemas outside the city for the first time. From 8 to 12 May, the festival will take place in two arthouse cinemas in Augsburg: Liliom and Thalia. A total of ten festival films will be screened in Augsburg. DOK.fest Augsburg was created in cooperation with the Department of Culture, World Heritage and Sport of the City of Augsburg.
VFF Documentary Production Award for DAS FAST NORMALE LEBEN
For the eighth time the VFF Documentary Production Award will be presented at DOK.fest München. The prize, endowed with 7,500 euros, is donated by the VFF (German Association of Film and Television Producers) and honours the special role of producers in documentary film. This year, producers Ulla Lehmann and Andrea Roggon will be honoured for the film DAS FAST NORMALE LEBEN by director Stefan Sick.
A New Award at DOK.fest München: The All Inclusive Award
DOK.fest München is honouring documentary film productions in which filmmakers with disabilities play a leading role with a new award. The all inclusive award is endowed with 5,000 euros and is donated by the Werksviertel-Mitte Stiftung München. It honours the inclusive team effort in the realisation of the film. The first all inclusive award goes to PATRICE: THE MOVIE by US director Ted Passon. The film celebrates its German premiere at DOK.fest Munich.
The 40th DOK.fest München opens with FRIENDLY FIRE
DOK.fest München opens on 7 May at Deutsches Theater with FRIENDLY FIRE, a film by English director Klaus Fried, brilliantly put together by filmmaker Julia Albrecht. In the film, Klaus Fried traces the life of his famous father, the poet Erich Fried. When he dies, his son is just 19 years old. Klaus sets out on a journey and, in dialogue with family members, friends and companions, feels his way towards his famous father. The film compiles a fascinating picture of the poet from the memories of these people, and it becomes clear how similar father and son are.
New Programme Structure, New Venues and Further Changes
For its 40th anniversary, DOK.fest München has developed a new curatorial concept: The previous programme scheme will be dissolved. The 105 festival films will be divided into 16 topically focused sections. The three main awards will be awarded as before; from this year they will be called VIKTORIA. Ten to twelve pre-nominated, outstanding films will compete for them – irrespective of the sections. The new structure makes it much easier for audiences to decide which films to choose.
Adele Kohout becomes new director of DOK.fest München
In October, Adele Kohout will take over the direction and management of DOK.fest München. The former Deputy Director follows Daniel Sponsel, who is leaving the festival after the upcoming edition (7 to 25 May 2025) to become president of the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). From October, Maya Reichert, who currently heads DOK.eduation, the educational platform of DOK.fest München, will be the new Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Director of DOK.fest München. The board of the association Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival München e.V. has unanimously decided on this new management.
Mirjam Skal wins German Documentary Film Music Award
Swiss composer Mirjam Skal has been announced as the winner of the German Documentary Film Music Award 2025 for her music for the film VRACHT directed by Max Carlo Kohal. The award is donated by the Versicherungskammer Kulturstiftung and is endowed with 5,000 euros. The festival honours the artistic significance of music in documentary films with this award, which is unique in Germany.
DOK.fest München turns 40: The anniversary edition starting 7 May 2025
40 years of DOK.fest München: That amounts to around 3,000 socially relevant and artistically valuable documentaries and a total of 750,000 visitors. The anniversary edition will be officially opened on 7 May at Deutsches Theater. Until 18 May 105 films will be shown in cinemas and at special venues in Munich. Almost all DOK.fest München films can also be seen @home on the digital screen from 12 to 25 May.
DOK.education 2025: Mit Dokumentarfilm auf Entdeckungsreise in die Gesellschaft und Medienwelt
DOK.education, das ganzjährige Bildungsprogramm des DOK.fest München, setzt auf die Kraft des Dokumentarfilms, um Medienkompetenz wie auch gesellschaftliche Werte zu vermitteln. In Zeiten von zunehmender Medienvielfalt und -manipulation ist es von entscheidender Bedeutung, neben den Inhalten auch die Sprache des Films verstehen und hinterfragen zu können.
