Over 300 projects were submitted to participate in the online DOK Co-Pro Market. Interestingly it is a similar amount of project submissions as in past years, before the COVID-19 crisis affected the film industry heavily in regards to production opportunities and distribution options.

“We want to thank all submitters who again trusted us with their creative documentary projects in a year, where nothing is normal but we all find ourselves in a disrupted and changing world. Together with the Co-Pro selection committee we are taking the next weeks to have a concentrated look at all proposals and decide, for which projects we can be the best support with our platform and network, to help them move forward despite a wide-ranging production halt and particular challenges. As much as we miss having the project teams and our guests in Leipzig in October, we are excited about connecting with them online in a reimagined DOK Co-Pro Market programme!” says the DOK Co-Pro Market Coordinator Ulrike Schmidt.

Meet our DOK Co-Pro selection committee

For the selection of the final 35 projects participating in the DOK Co-Pro Market in October, the DOK Industry team receives support from two experienced documentary professionals - the producer and industry programmer Selin Murat (Parabola Films & RIDM, Canada) and producer Alex Tondowski (Tondowski Films, Germany). Read more about our DOK Co-Pro selection committee

August is the month of intensive project evaluation for the selection committee, before they make the final decisions in early September. We will announce the 2020 project selection in mid-September here on our website.

DOK Leipzig’s Industry Programme will be held online this year. We will present all key events of DOK Industry in virtual form in late October: The DOK Co-Pro Market, as will the presentations of DOK Preview, the DOK Short n’ Sweet short film pitch, the DOK Interactive Conference, networking events and talks.

A new chapter in the future of film markets

This decision is a clear reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions and hygiene measures. But these new circumstances create room for innovation on a sustainable basis, explains Head of DOK Industry Brigid O’Shea: “Our work as we know it, and by extension, the work of the whole audiovisual sector, will never be the same again. We are acutely aware of the challenges facing film professionals in these times. Nonetheless, we look forward to writing a new chapter in the future of film markets: greener, more efficient, more inclusive.”

Interactive offers for submitters

As the festival approaches we will be releasing more and more information here on our website and on our Social Media about how accredited guests can join us for this digital edition.

In the coming weeks, we will begin offering a series of webinars that will give filmmakers the opportunity to get to know our festival team and inform themselves about submitting films and projects to DOK Leipzig. Dates and topics of the webinars will be announced soon.

DOK Leipzig 2020 goes hybrid

Festival director Christoph Terhechte adds: “DOK Leipzig will be putting forward a versatile and innovative hybrid version of its programme in 2020, which will combine online activities and presentations on location in cinemas in Leipzig. In 2021, we plan to welcome filmmakers back to Leipzig in person. In the coming weeks, we will also be announcing corresponding new features of the film programme.”

Want to know more? Read the full press release.

The 16^th DOK Co-Pro Market is now open for submissions!

An online edition will take place on 26 & 27 October 2020. We may not meet in person in Leipzig, but still, high-quality networking and co-financing partners will be waiting for you in a digital offering.

Want to know how to submit a project to the DOK Co-Pro Market? Click here for more information.

DOK Leipzig returns to Potsdamer Platz with a new festival director, Christoph Terhechte, as official partner again at the European Film Market's DocSalon.

Christoph Terhechte will be present at the SalonTalk Documentary Community: A Ghetto or Necessity? on Monday, 24 February at 17:00, together with Emilie Bujès (Visions du Réel), Tine Fischer (CPH:DOX) and Orwa Nyrabia (IDFA).

Please join us for a drink afterwards at 18:00 at the DocSalon stand. All guests with a festival accreditation or market badge are welcome at the Happy Hour.

As of 21 February, you can meet our Programme Department at Meet the Festivals speed dating:

21 Feb, 12:00-13:00
22 Feb, 11:00-12:00
23 Feb, 12:00-13:00
24 Feb, 11:00-12:00
25 Feb, 11:00-12:00

at DocSalon Stand #201, Martin Gropius Bau, 2nd floor.

Read more about the complete DocSalon programme
 

Individual Meetings

For programme-related meetings and inquiries please contact: programm [at] dok-leipzig [dot] de
For strategy and partnership-related meetings please email: info [at] dok-leipzig [dot] de

Wishing you all productive days in Berlin!