Tonight, the 52nd edition of the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film has opened its diverse programme with 330 films from 69 countries.

The biggest German and worldwide oldest festival for documentaries is presenting a selection of the best works from the past year and numerous special programmes.

Numerous filmmakers and guests have been welcomed at Leipzig's cinema CineStar by festival director Claas Danielsen, the mayor of the city of Leipzig Burkhard Jung and State Secretary Hansjörg König (SMWK).

The opening film was the world premiere of Volker Koepp's "Berlin-Stettin" - a biographical journey through a century and the landscape east of the Elbe.


And not to forget:
The Digital DOK Market has already opened on Sunday. International commissioning editors, buyers, distributors, sales experts, festival representatives and other accredited festival guests can come here to view around 150 new documentary film productions in addition to the festival films at the click of a mouse and also make contacts. (DOK Market Digital: from 25 to 31 October, daily from 10:00am - 10:00pm, on 01 November, from 10:00am - 2:00pm).

You want to know who is attending DOK Leipzig in 2009?

All accredited guests (as per 22 October 2009) can be found in our guest list. The list will be updated during the festival week.

Have a look!

Here: Guest List 2009 (PDF)

You are searching for a specific film, want to get to know more about the films in special programmes or about the screening dates?

Or you just want to browse DOK Leipzig's programme with it's 330 films out of 69! countries?

Then just have a look at the FILM SEARCH!

There you can find detailed Information on every film and the corresponding screening dates. IIt is also possible to search for specific key words according to your interests.

"Rabbit à la Berlin" by Bartek Konopka and Piotr Rosolowski - an aspirant for the Academy Awards nomination in 2010 in the section "Doc Shorts" - will be shown at DOK Leipzig 2009. The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on February 2, 2010, in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, USA.

The Film:

Rabbit à la Berlin (Królik po berlinsku) by Bartek Konopka and Piotr Rosolowski | Poland, Germany 2009 | 51:00 min.

This film is told consistently from the perspective of the rabbits who found a new home in the so-called ‘death-strip’ around West Berlin when Germany was still divided. They artlessly talk about a paradise in the midst of lush green and practically free of enemies, who were kept at bay by a large fence and later an unsurmountable wall. Armed guards took personal responsibility for the welfare of the cute animals, the close proximity to the border guard fostered warm relationships. In time, the rabbits lost all shyness and became indolent and lazy in their small, manageable world. Against their nature, they stopped fighting out their hierarchies and lost all interest in what happened around them. But even paradise does not last forever. Pesticides were used, the rabbits became sick and were eventually hunted – until the Wall broke down. Then they had to cope with the new freedom, keep from going under. A fate that the rabbits share with all Eastern Europeans. An unusal documentary about rabbits and men.

Screening Dates at DOK Leipzig:

Wednesday 28.10. | 2.30 pm

Cinema: Wintergarten, Passage Kinos

>> The Press Release: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (09.10.2009)

Peter Liechti's film "The Sound of Insects - Record of a Mummy" which was granted the 'Documentary Award' by the European Film Academy will be shown at DOK Leipzig.

As part of the Doc Alliance Selection Liechti's film is competing for the Doc Alliance Award connected with 5,000 Euros. The Award Ceremony takes place on Saturday 31 October at Centraltheater Leipzig.

The Film:

The Sound of Insects – Record of A Mummy by Peter Liechti | Switzerland 2009 | 88:00 min.

The incredible story of how the mummified corpse of a 40-year-old man was discovered by a hunter in one of the most remote parts of the country. The dead man's detailed notes reveal that he actually committed suicide through self-imposed starvation only the summer before. A stunning rapprochement of a fictional text, which itself is based upon a true event. A cinematic manifesto for life, challenged by the main character’s radical renunciation of life itself.

Screening Dates:

Thursday 29.10, Universum, 16.30
Saturday 31.10, CineStar 6, 22.30

 

 

>> Further information on Doc Alliance and the Doc Alliance Selection 2009

>> Further information on the European Film Award