Programme

DOK Leipzig is an international festival for documentary and animated film, being the first in the world to combine these two genres. DOK Leipzig is built on more than 60 years of history and takes place every year in autumn.

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Ein voll besetzter Kinosaal während einer Filmvorführung. Auf der Leinwand fliegt eine große, weiße Taube auf pinkem Hintergrund.

At the 2022 festival opening

About DOK Leipzig 2023

This year, DOK Leipzig will celebrate its 66th edition. We look forward to welcoming you to the festival from 8 to 15 October in Leipzig.

With contemporary international films, unique curated programmes and a rich programme for children and adults, we invite our audience to discover the range of contemporary documentary and animated film. Our competition categories give exciting artistic works a place to celebrate their premieres. First info on film series and topics of the festival will be announced beginning of September. Stay tuned!

With DOK Neuland, we present the public with a curated exhibition of Extended Reality works. Each year this creates a world where visitors can experience profound stories in unexpected virtual spaces.

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The Film Programme

We present four competitions and two sections out of competition at DOK Leipzig. The main festival prizes – the Golden and Silver Doves – will be awarded in the competitions. The winners are selected by independent juries. Additionally, further prizes are presented by our partners within the festival.

In addition to the competition categories, we also present several curated series within our programme. With these formats we focus on film historic topics or honour the work of outstanding film artists. These include a retrospective, homages, matinees and programmes for children and young people (Kids DOK). Browse the films (A-Z) that we presented at DOK Leipzig 2022 in our film archive.

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Competitions and Awards at DOK Leipzig 2023

International Competition Documentary Film

A five-member jury presents the following awards:

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

A three-member jury presents the following awards:

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

German Competition Documentary Film

A three-member jury presents the following awards:

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

Audience Competition

A jury of five local film enthusiasts awards:

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

Extended Reality: DOK Neuland

Our Extended Reality exhibition DOK Neuland opens its doors to the public during the festival week. Audiences and filmmakers can discover and define new boundaries in film with immersive works, virtual and augmented reality, 360° films and media art in a completely new form. XR Submissions to DOK Neuland will open on 15 March 2023. Take a step into DOK Neuland

DOK Industry

Our film branch networking programme is tailor-made for accredited trade visitors (filmmakers, XR creatives, producers, editors, decision makers and distributors). Each year we welcome around 1,600 accredited guests at DOK Leipzig. Find out more about DOK Industry here.

DOK 365

We also organize film screenings for our audience in Leipzig during the year and show festival hits from recent years. With our DOK Leipzig Summer Cinema, we are presenting film highlights in beautiful open-air cinemas across the city in July and August.

We love to follow the journey of our festival films! In our DOK 365 section you can find updates on their theatrical releases in Germany and see which DOK Leipzig films you can currently watch from the comfort of your home.

DOK in Dialogue

In einer großen Halle ist eine Kinoleinwand mit Sitzreihen aufgebaut. Die Sitzreihen sind voll besetzt, rundherum und dahinter sitzen zahlreiche Zuschauer*innen auf dem Boden. Auf der Leinwand fliegt eine weiße Taube auf pinkem Hintergrund.

Film Screenings at the Main Station

Cinema for all at a very special Leipzig venue! Together with the PROMENADEN shopping centre at the central railway station, we show selected films from the programme free of charge during the festival. This popular format not only attracts hundreds of guests to the Osthalle each year, it’s also extremely popular with filmmakers. Our tip: Snuggling up under blanket with a thermos is rather cozy here.

Regisseurin Mila Turajlic und Festivalleiter Christoph Terhechte sitzen nebeneinander auf einer Bühne, vor ihnen Publikum. Mila spricht gestikulierend zum Publikum, Christoph ist ihr zugewandt und hört zu.

Talks

Perhaps a film hasn’t left your mind since the screening, or the discussion afterwards only piqued your curiosity further? For anyone that’s hungry for more, our talks unpack the latest developments in the industry, tell the stories of filmmaking greats, and explore national film cultures around the world. In our media library you can still dive into the recorded discussions of our 2022 festival.

/en/medialibrary

Zwei jugendliche Zuschauer*innen klatschen im Kinosaal Applaus.

School Screenings

Bringing lessons out of the classroom and into the cinema, our school screenings use selected documentaries and animated films to complement and illustrate topics that students are learning about. Each screening is followed by an in-depth discussion with the filmmakers.

/en/dok-education

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