Since 2015, DOK Neuland has provided an exhibition platform for the art of immersive extended reality works. Each year during the DOK Leipzig festival week we invite our audiences to discover around 10 international XR pieces that question conventional narrative forms and open up new audio-visual experiences for the visitors. 

What we are looking for

Virtual reality, mixed reality or augmented reality experiences, 360° films, media and web-based art, sound installations, participatory films, games, apps – or surprise us with new XR formats we can’t even imagine right now! 

You can submit your XR works directly on our website, from now on until 29 June. Head to our DOK Neuland page to find out more about the exhibition, read the regulations and access the entry form.

Submit now

Dear filmmakers and producers,

Show us your new documentaries and animated films – submit until 15 June. We can’t wait to discover your captivating stories and artistic approaches. 

What we are looking for

Your newest creative documentaries and animated films! You can submit works from 2023 and 2022 (if they have not been shown public before October 2022).

We accept films of any lengths, short (up to 40 minutes) and feature-length. A German premiere at least is required for all competitions, but we prefer world, international and European premieres.

In case you didn’t know: We are also looking for films for young audiences to be screened in our Kids DOK programme.

How to submit

You only need to log in to your myDOK account or register for a new one to access the entry form.

What’s good to know

We introduce a new competition structure and provide a platform for feature-length animated films in adding a new Golden Dove this year. Find out more

There are also some updates on the entry fee policy: The entry fee depends on the length of your film (up to 40 minutes or longer) and the time you submit it. So, don’t wait too long if your film is already completed and send it right away!

You can find all details on the requirements and submission process in our guidelines. For any questions, please check our submissions FAQ.

Ready to submit? Start here!

We are delighted to be introducing a new award for feature-length animated films this year!

Back in 2020, we announced that we would like to give greater prominence to feature-length animated films at our festival. Due to the pandemic, we were not able to put the plan into action until now and are all the more happy now to add the Golden Dove long animated film to our line-up of festival awards.

“Every year we’ve been seeing feature-length animated films of very high artistic quality. In recent years, these animated films have been competing alongside documentaries for the Golden and Silver Doves. We now intend to change that and award a Golden Dove for a feature-length international documentary as well as a separate one for a feature-length animated film – as we’ve been doing with the short films,” explains Christoph Terhechte.

In adding the new Golden Dove, we are also revamping the entire framework of our competitions:

The previous International Competitions are being split into the International Competition Documentary Film and the International Competition Animated Film.

The German Competitions will be replaced by the German Competition Documentary Film. German animated film productions will henceforth be screened in the International Competition Animated Film. The competitions for the Audience Award are being merged into the Audience Competition.

Overview of the competitions and awards at DOK Leipzig 2023:

International Competition Documentary Film

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary film
• Golden Dove for a short documentary film
• Silver Dove for a feature-length documentary film by an up-and-coming director
• Silver Dove for a short documentary film by an up-and-coming director

International Competition Animated Film

• Golden Dove for a feature-length animated film
• Golden Dove for a short animated film

German Competition Documentary Film

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary film
• Golden Dove for a short documentary film

Audience Competition

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary or animated film

246 short and long animation and documentary films at eleven venues in Leipzig, nine XR works at DOK Neuland as well as numerous talks, networking events and Get Togethers – that was DOK Leipzig 2022.

“We are very happy about the exuberant, positive feedback from our audience and the trade visitors, which shows us how important direct encounters are for the film and cinema industry,” concludes festival director Christoph Terhechte.

The Retrospective “The Female Documentarists of the GDR” was very well received, as were the two Matinees on related themes. The two Master Classes by Mila Turajlić and Špela Čadež were also met with enthusiasm. The free screenings at the Leipzig main station were again in high demand, as was the DOK Neuland exhibition “THX 4 Nothing!”.

DOK Industry returned to a focus on in-person participation this year, with great success. During the week-long festival, some 1,500 international industry representatives met in Leipzig, with a further 200 accredited participants attending remotely. Highlights included the DOK Archive Market with accompanying keynotes, case studies and individual consultations with archive experts. DOK Short n’ Sweet and the focus programme for the animation film industry also met with great interest.

During the festival week, 24 prizes were awarded, including nine Golden and Silver Doves. See all winners

In total, DOK Leipzig was visited 41,500 times in Leipzig and online. We would like to thank our audience, guests and filmmakers for many intensive conversations at Q&As, masterclasses and talks as well as for numerous great encounters – and we are looking forward to the 66th edition (save the date: 8– 15 October 2023)!

Read more in our press release