As the 68th edition of DOK Leipzig is about to begin, DOK Leipzig extends gratitude to all its partners, sponsors, and patrons, both long-standing and new.

The City of Leipzig, as the proprietor of Leipziger Dok-Filmwochen, is the primary source of funding for the festival. The Free State of Saxony also provides significant financial support through the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK).

At the EU level, DOK Leipzig is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA and is involved in two funding programmes: one for the public side of the festival, the other for DOK Industry’s events for professionals. In addition, Creative Europe MEDIA provides funding for the Doc Alliance documentary film festival network, of which DOK Leipzig is a founding member. The Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM) and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (Beauftragter für Kultur und Medien, BKM) provide crucial support to the festival as well as to its events and activities for industry representatives. The festival’s retrospective is once again funded by the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Eastern Germany.

At this year’s edition, prize money and non-cash benefits totalling 85,000 euros will be awarded. Among DOK Leipzig’s stalwart partners are Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF). Since 2013, MDR has sponsored the Golden Dove in the International Competition Documentary Film, endowed with 10,000 euros. Since 1995, the broadcaster has also funded the 3,000-euro MDR Film Prize (a partnership award), honouring an outstanding Eastern European documentary film.

In the International Competition Documentary Film, 3sat is again sponsoring the Silver Dove Feature-Length Film, endowed with 6,000 euros and awarded to the best documentary by an up-and-coming director. Since 1993, the broadcaster has supported auteur documentaries by supporting their production and presenting them in its programme on air. Through this award, 3sat reaffirms its commitment to nurturing international talent and new voices. The Silver Dove Short Film, which carries prize money of 1,500 euros, is granted by the Saxon State Media Authority (SLM). As a partner and award sponsor of DOK Leipzig, the SLM champions young filmmakers and backs the events aimed at promoting critical thinking and media literacy among viewers of all ages. It supports the organisation of the DOK master classes and the DOK Neuland XR exhibition as well as the pedagogical activities at DOK Spotters and DOK Education.

In the German Competition Documentary Film, Doris Apell-Kölmel and Michael Kölmel are again sponsoring the Golden Dove Feature-Length Film, endowed with 10,000 euros, as part of efforts to support documentary filmmaking in Germany. The Leipziger Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Filmkunst e. V. and the Leipzig Stiftung are co-funding the Golden Dove in the Audience Competition.

Further partners are supporting DOK Leipzig through various financial and non-cash contributions and are instrumental to its success. ARTE is one of the festival’s long-standing partners. BIG Cinema’s technical support makes it possible to hold film screenings in Leipzig Central Station’s East Hall. Mo Systeme is supporting the festival’s events through its Modulbox systems, while Die Leipziger Gruppe is generously providing DOK Leipzig with advertising services. Among the festival’s supporters are also German Films, die Promenaden Hauptbahnhof Leipzig, and the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig, which is home to DOK Leipzig’s festival centre and is part of the DOK Neuland exhibition. Heilandskirche/Westkreuz supports the festival as a venue for DOK Neuland and DOK Exchange XR. UT Connewitz is joining as another new venue this year. The Polish Institute is also making its premises available to DOK Leipzig. The Regis-Breitingen juvenile detention centre is the most unusual venue of DOK Leipzig and, with the support of the Saxon State Ministry of Justice, is actively involved in organising an award.

The European Foundation of the Rahn Dittrich Group for Education and Culture is funding the Young Eyes Film Award, which carries prize money of 2,000 euros and media education support for the youth jury by the Landesfilmdienst Sachsen’s Centre for Media and Education. The Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig supports the DOK Spotters youth editorial team in DOK Leipzig’s educational programme.

As part of the “film.land.sachsen” programme aimed at strengthening film culture in rural areas, the Filmverband Sachsen e. V. and DOK Leipzig are awarding a prize, which is handed out directly by the cinema operators in rural Saxony. This programme receives financial support from the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK).

Additional funding for partnership awards comes from ver.di, the Stiftung Friedliche Revolution, the VCH Hotel Michaelis in Leipzig, and the Interreligious Round Table and the Oratorium Leipzig. The DEFA Foundation presents the DEFA Sponsoring Prize in line with the motto of its charter, “Rediscover the Past – Support the Future”, supporting young filmmakers in their critical examination of contemporary issues.

DOK Neuland  is successfully carried out with the support of Sächsische Medienanstalt (SLM), MDR Media, and Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM). With the Netherlands as this year’s XR Country in Focus, DOK Neuland is also receiving support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as from SEE NL. As part of the Novembre Numérique programme, this edition of DOK Neuland is also supported by the French Institute.

DOK Exchange XR, the programme on interactive and immersive storytelling with a focus on XR works, is supported by SEE NL, the British Council, and the French Institute as part of the Novembre Numérique programme, as well as by the Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg. DOK Exchange XR is collaborating with CPH:DOX/LAB. The panel “Accessibility in Game Design” is taking place in partnership with MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and Inclusive Gaming GmbH.

DOK Industry is realised with the support of Creative Europe MEDIA of the European Union, the Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM), and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media upon a Decision of the German Bundestag.

Twelve prizes will be awarded at DOK Industry, seven of which will be presented at the DOK Co-Pro Market. The Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism is sponsoring the Saxon Award for the Best Documentary Project by a Female Director, endowed with 5,000 euros.

With the Deutsche Welle Award, worth 1,500 euros, Deutsche Welle honors a project that addresses major issues of our time. IMAGO presents the IMAGO Archive Award, which comprises 1,500 euros and archive material worth 500 euros. The award is given to a project that demonstrates innovation in storytelling drawn from archives. The Jacob Burns Film Centre provides the Jacob Burns Film Centre Residency Award, which includes a two- to four-week residency with a 500-dollar weekly stipend, travel support, housing, and access to the JBFC arthouse cinema and Media Arts Lab with editing, audio, animation, and screening facilities. No Nation Films grants the No Nation Films Fellowship Award, a six-month fellowship offered to exceptional documentary film teams from around the world who are working in vulnerable conditions and facing challenges. The Unifrance Doc Award, sponsored by Unifrance, provides subtitling services by TitraFilm and a Unifrance membership for the project’s French producer. Willow Avocats presents the Willow Avocats Consultations Award, which comes with two tailored consultations on navigating international collaborations with a specialist on entertainment and film law.

At DOK Preview Germany, an exclusive showcase of German feature-length documentaries in the final stages of production, D-Facto Motion presents the D-Facto Motion Works-in-Progress Prize, providing a project with post-production services valued at 10,000 euros. At the festival’s short film pitch DOK Short n’ Sweet, participating projects will be recognised with a total of four awards. Square Eyes grants the Square Eyes Festival Consultation Award which comes with a tailored consultation on festival strategy. With its Cut Through the NOISE Award, NOISE Film & TV offers a mentoring session, offering practical guidance on how to effectively prepare a film for festivals, premieres, and press. Documentary Association of Europe (DAE) presents the DAE Talent Encouragement Award, providing a project with a tailored mentoring session with its senior consultant. Ohrfilm presents the Ohrfilm Award, which includes comprehensive music support services for short documentary films. 

DOK Leipzig also counts on the commitment of a large number of patrons, sponsors, and partners whose support ensures the realisation of all that the festival offers.

From 27 October to 2 November this year, DOK Leipzig will showcase 252 films and extended reality works from 55 countries.

Overview of awards, award sponsors and juries: Awards & Juries

Overview of all partners and sponsors: Supporters