DOK Short n’ Sweet

DOK Short n’ Sweet

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DOK Short n’ Sweet is a short film pitch focusing on the financing and distribution of short documentary, animated documentary and animated films as well as series.
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About

DOK Short n’ Sweet spotlights eight new exciting short film projects in diverse stages of production. A panel of international buyers, distributors and programmers share feedback and ask questions to increase the projects’ potential, unlock financing opportunities and creative collaborations. 

Projects pitched at DOK Short n’ Sweet have been nominated for prestigious awards such as the European Film Award and premiered at A-List festivals including Festival de Cannes, Berlinale, Locarno Film Festival, IDFA and DOK Leipzig.

Language
English

Access
Accredited guests welcome

When & Where DOK Leipzig Logo

–
(UTC+1)
Zeitgeschichtliches Forum
Onsite &
Online
Calendar
Aus
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DOK Short n’ Sweet Project Selection

Filmstill Fish Doorbell

Fish Doorbell

Carin Leong Denizen Studios
USA,
Netherlands
Filmstill Fragmented Days

Fragmented Days

Hasti Boshrootani MinDoc Film Production, Bilico
Iran,
Belgium
Filmstill Inbetweeners

Inbetweeners

Shadab Shayegan
Germany,
Austria,
Iran
Filmstill Limits to Our Pain

Limits to Our Pain

Kvet Nguyễn CLAW films, NINJA film
Czech Republic,
Slovakia
Filmstill LOVEBIRD

LOVEBIRD

Ferdinand Ehrhardt The Hidden Institute, Paradoks Film
Germany
Filmstill Song of Sleepless Nights

Song of Sleepless Nights

Madli Lääne Alexandra Film
Estonia
Filmstill Ultrasound

Ultrasound

Aitana Ahrens Ringo Media
Spain

Short n’ Sweet at a glance

A woman on stage is speaking into a microphone, the woman next to her listens intently
Who?

Eight selected project teams working on a short documentary or animated film, a single short film or a series, are invited to pitch in front of a group of short film experts and an engaged audience of producers and peers.

Are you curious? Join the event open to all of DOK Leipzig’s accredited guests.

Three panelists are looking kindly towards a stage an begin to clap their hands
What?

Each presentation lasts 7 minutes: 3 minutes to pitch the idea and 4 minutes to answer questions by the panellists. Following the pitch, project teams meet with the panellists in one-on-ones to continue the conversation, discuss the projects and create potential working ties. In an online workshop prior to the festival, project holders are guided to hone their pitching skills and connect with fellow Short n’ Sweet peers.

A room filled with the short n' sweet audience waiting for the pitch to begin
When and Where?

The 9th DOK Short n’ Sweet will take place on 29 October as part of the 68th DOK Leipzig Film Festival. The venue is located in Leipzig’s city centre with festival cinemas and the festival centre within walking distance.

The online prep session will be held via Zoom early October 2025.

Moderator 2025
Elizabeth Klinck
Archive Producer
(she/her)
Founder of E Klinck Research

Elizabeth Klinck is an archive producer and music clearance specialist on international documentaries and fiction films that have garnered Emmy, BAFTA, CSA, Peabody, and Oscar awards. She also leads workshops and produces industry sessions at international markets and film festivals.

Website

Filmography:
Into The Weeds by Jennifer Baichwal, 2023, Archive Producer
Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer by Thomas von Steinaecker, 2022, Archive Producer
Stories We Tell by Sarah Polley, 2012, Archive Producer 
 

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Panellists 2025
DOK Leipzig Logo

Abby Sun
(she/her)
Documentary Magazine, IDA International Documentary Association
Anne Gaschütz
(she/her)
Filmfest Dresden – International Short Film Festival
Florian Fernandez
(he/him)
Festival de Cannes SFC Short Film Corner / Rendez-vous Industry, Solal Films
Jess Gormley
(she/her)
The Guardian
Laurence Rilly
(she/her)
ARTE G.E.I.E.
Lindsay Crouse
(she/her)
NY Times Op-Docs
Sarah Schlüssel
(she/her)
Berlinale Shorts
Yeniffer Fasciani
(she/her)
Feelsales
Awards

Awards presented at the 2025 edition are:

Square Eyes Festival Consultation Award

along with a tailor-made consultation on festival strategy by Square Eyes.

Cut Through the NOISE Award

With the Cut Through the NOISE Award, NOISE Film & TV supports filmmakers in presenting their short film in the best possible way. The team behind the winning film will receive a mentoring session (including individual feedback and a material checklist) that offers practical guidance on how to effectively prepare a film for festivals, premieres, and press.

DAE Talent Encouragement Award

the award includes a tailor-made mentoring session with a Senior Consultant of DAE (Documentary Association of Europe).

Ohrfilm Award

provides comprehensive music support services for short documentary films. This includes joint analysis of music requirements and possible applications in the film, as well as the conception and adaptation of music for individual scenes or underlying narratives. It supports the mediation and briefing of composers, offers supervision for creative and legal approvals, and also advises on cross-marketing opportunities.

Contact

 

Anne Rethfeldt (she/her)
DOK Short n’ Sweet Coordinator
rethfeldt [at] dok-leipzig [dot] de (rethfeldt[at]dok-leipzig[dot]de)

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DOK Short n’ Sweet Alumni

that have recently celebrated their world premieres
An illustrated stone with arms, legs and a face is sitting on a bench watching television
Stone of Destiny
Short n’ Sweet 2024

by Julie Černá
produced by: Pure Shore, Umprum
Distribution: Square Eyes (World Sales)
CZ

World Premiere at Berlinale Shorts 2025

An animated puppet of a grey-haired woman is standing in a theater hall writing in a book
Mama Micra
Short n’ Sweet 2024

by Rebecca Blöcher, Frédéric Schuld (co-director)
produced by: Fabian&Fred
Distribution: interfilm Berlin World Sales & Distribution
DE

World Premiere and Special Mention in the IDFA Competition for Short Documentary at IDFA 2024

Four women stand together looking at a landscape at dawn.
A Move
Short n’ Sweet 2023

by Elahe Esmaili
Distribution: Square Eyes, The New York Times Op-Docs
IR, UK

World Premiere and winner of the Special Youth Jury Award at Visions du Réel (International Medium Length & Short Film Competition) 2024

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More to discover

Ulrike Schmidt sitzt vor einem Computerbildschirm, darin ist das Video von einer Frau in ihrem Wohnzimmer zusehen, die lächelt und sich mit der Hand auf ihr Herz fasst
Acclaim for DOK Industry Alumni

We are happy to see the film projects from previous DOK Industry editions evolving into successful films. Follow their stories, save the date for their premieres and discover where they screen next.

/en/dok-industry-alumni
A presentation at DOK Industry: In the foreground a huge live editing unit with four displays and a control desk. In the background, three persons on stage, equipped with microphones.
DOK Industry Project Archive

Browse the archive and get to know the documentary and XR projects presented at DOK Industry in the recent years.

/en/dok-industry-project-archive
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DOK Industry is realised with the support of Creative Europe MEDIA Programme 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.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the MEDIA sub-programme of Creative Europe. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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