Competitions 2021
We are happy to present the films of our International Competitions! A total of 38 films from 31 countries are nominated. The competitions convene numerous new voices from the documentary field, but also works by well-known filmmakers, including Dima El-Horr, Murilo Salles and Diana El Jeiroudi.
Two films in the International Competitions are part of STEPS’ Generation Africa project, which create films with new narratives about migration – from the perspective of young people from Africa. Other works in the feature-length competition take curious looks at places and regions, reflect on territorial borders and colonial heritage, and deal with questions of identity.
The films in the German competitions at DOK Leipzig once again represent a wide variety of cinematic approaches, in terms of both their themes and their formal criteria. The film-makers’ works document current political crises, seek out historical vestiges and sketch introspective portraits.
The selection committee has nominated a total of 15 productions for the German Competition Long Documentary and Animated Film and the German Competition Short Documentary and Animated Film. Among them are eleven world premieres, one European and three German premieres. Female film-makers are heavily represented in the German Competition Long Film, having directed seven of the eight films nominated.
For the second time, a jury of film enthusiasts from Leipzig will present two audience awards at the festival. A total of 20 films from 21 countries have been entered in the competitions for the Audience Award. The feature-length films are competing for a Golden Dove, the short films for a Silver Dove.
Waiting to be discovered are films by filmmakers, such as Boris Missirkov, Georgi Bogdanov, Paweł Łoziński, Claire Simon and Corina Schwingruber Ilić, who have been a guest at DOK Leipzig on several occasions.
Many of the films approach current political issues. The plight of refugees is explored from different perspectives, and various films focus on personal stories or family ties. The competitions also bring together some films with light-hearted approaches and narrative styles that inevitably produce moments of comedy or humorously tell of day-to-day dramas.
Further prizes will be presented by our partners. Read more about all awards at DOK Leipzig here.
