DOK Leipzig will open with the world premiere of “Good Evening, Beautiful”!

For „Good Evening, Beautiful“, the film’s director, Ina Borrmann, met several protagonists of a 1977 collection of interviews by Maxie Wander titled “Guten Morgen, du Schöne”, and interviewed them again. The feminist classic had left its mark on generations, and remains one of the most influential works in German literature. Now, the film once again raises questions about living in a patriarchy, questions that have lost none of their relevance.

On 26 October, there will be a public screening of “Good evening, Beautiful” at 20:30 in the East Hall of Leipzig Central Station. Admission is free!

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Festival director Ola Staszel is introducing a new section called “Fokus Ost”, which will bolster eastern German perspectives in documentary filmmaking. 

Eight of the total of ten documentaries will have their world premieres at the 69th edition of the festival, including this year’s opening film. Four other films in this section will be entered in the German Documentary Film Competition and will be announced on 8 October.

The section will also include the DOK Talk “Eastern German Perspectives in Documentary Filmmaking” at the Volkshochschule Leipzig at 16:00 on 30 October, which is being organised in collaboration with the weekly newspaper “der Freitag”.

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The first films in Fokus Ost

This year’s Animated Film Hommage celebrates Trollfilm, the Norwegian studio founded by filmmaker Anita Killi, which specialises in multiplane cut-out animation.

Trollfilm has spent more than 30 years to conjure worlds that radiates empathy and brims with magical optimism. At the same time, the studio confronts major themes such as domestic violence, intergenerational trauma and war. 

In the festival week, one film programme is dedicated to the work of Trollfilm founder Anita Killi, a second showcases other Trollfilm productions. We also invite the public to a masterclass with Anita Killi.

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All films in the Hommage Trollfilm

This year’s Documentary Film Hommage is dedicated to Helena Třeštíková, whose primary cinematic material is time. In her longitudinal observations, she captures what fleeting glances overlook: the quiet  shifts in everyday life, the ruptures, hopes and losses from which human biographies are formed. 

Helena Třeštíková also has a long-standing artistic relationship with DOK Leipzig. For example, “René”, in which Třeštíková documents her encounters with a prison inmate over a 20-year period, won the Golden Dove in the International Competition in 2008 and will now reappear in Leipzig cinemas during festival week. Part of the programme is also her new film „Bára – Diary of a Rockstar“. We also invite the public to a masterclass with Anita Killi.

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All films in the Hommage Helena Třeštíková

Retrospective 2026: “Kino und Kampf. Latin America between East and West“

This year, we are focusing on the radical political cinema of Latin America of the 1960s and 1970s – a recurring theme at politically committed film festivals on both sides of the Wall at the time. Another key element is the surprising story of how these films moved back and forth between Leipzig, East Berlin, West Berlin and Oberhausen and were thus preserved.

Through film discussions and a DOK Talk, the Retrospective explores how those working in the field in both East and West collaborated without paying heed to the complications of official inner-German relations.

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All films in the Retrospective

DOK Leipzig is once again presenting the most entertaining, creative and exciting films for children and young people from its programme of documentary and animated films – for kids aged 3+, 5+ or 8+ as well as for teenagers aged 12. 

The heroes, animals and fantasy creatures in these stories go on adventures, overcome challenges and rise to the occasion. Registration for nurseries and after-school care groups is now open.

DOK Leipzig also offers pupils and teachers a number of ways to become actively involved during the week of the festival.

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This new section “Positions” creates more space for exchange and debate. The selection of films is intended as a starting point and catalyst for dialogue and exchange – listening to one another, having conversations, accommodating differing views and contradictions, and questioning our own convictions.

Two shows will also feature subsequent debate formats in cooperation with Critics’ Week that break with established forms of discussion between audiences, filmmakers and critics. Further screenings will be followed by Extended Q&As with filmmakers and invited experts.

More on “Positions” in our news.

All Films in “Positions”