This is the press release from the upcomoing DOK Leipzig. Of course there is a lot of publicity words in this but figures are impressive and interesting, and the quotes of he director document that the political engagement, and the openness to the so-called third world are intact elements of the prestigious old festival:

84 documentaries and 114 short animated films will make up the official programme of this year‘s DOK Leipzig. Among the documentaries are 27 world premieres and 14 international premieres, a record number for the film festival. The 198 selected films were chosen from 2,847 entries submitted from 113 countries. The number of countries also marks a new high. The 55th International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film will also feature numerous special programmes, so that a total of 360 films from 62 countries will be shown during the festival from 29 October to 4 November.

Festival director Claas Danielsen praised the depth and scope of the festival’s official programme: “This year’s films paint a very exciting and varied picture of a world in transition. In that way, the festival serves as a barometer of fundamental political, social and cultural change.” The themes of protest, resistance and globalization recur throughout the programme. “Told through the stories of individual human beings, the work of the filmmakers provides an emotional window on how the world is changing.” This year, DOK Leipzig is proud to be showing films from five continents. The opening film ARE YOU LISTENING! comes from Bangladesh, a first in the history of the festival. The 13 films in the prestigious International Competition come from renowned directors as well as from impressive new talents in Europe, Asia and Latin America. “The maturity and determination of these young talented filmmakers is absolutely extraordinary,” says festival director Claas Danielsen.

Danielsen is equally impressed with the German competition: “This year’s group is perhaps the strongest since we introduced the section eight years ago. The quality of documentary film production in our country can absolutely hold its own on the international stage.” Also among the five competition categories in which the Golden and Silver Doves and many other prizes will be awarded are the International Competition Animated Film, the International Short Documentary Competition and the Young Cinema Competition (formerly Generation DOK). In addition to the competitions, DOK Leipzig will be presenting attractive special programmes such as the “The Spirit of Freedom” focus on Latin America, the “Utopias and Realities – The Red Dream Factory” retrospective and four filmmaker tributes. Those honored will be Barbara Hammer, Peter Nestler, Mariola Brillowska and Boris von Borresholm. New this year is an extensive children’s and youth program with contemporary animated and documentary films. More Information: www.dok-leipzig.de

Photo: UB Lama by Lithuanian Eglė Vertelytė is in the competition for young cinema.

Share your love
Tue Steen Müller
Tue Steen Müller

Müller, Tue Steen
Documentary Consultant and Critic, DENMARK

Worked with documentary films for more than 20 years at the Danish Film Board, as press officer, festival representative and film consultant/commissioner. Co-founder of Balticum Film and TV Festival, Filmkontakt Nord, Documentary of the EU and EDN (European Documentary Network).
Awards: 2004 the Danish Roos Prize for his contribution to the Danish and European documentary culture. 2006 an award for promoting Portuguese documentaries. 2014 he received the EDN Award “for an outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture”. 2016 The Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. 2019 a Big Stamp at the 15th edition of ZagrebDox. 2021 receipt of the highest state decoration, Order of the Three Stars, Fourth Class, for the significant contribution to the development and promotion of Latvian documentary cinema outside Latvia. In 2022 he received an honorary award at DocsBarcelona’s 25th edition having served as organizer and programmer since the start of the festival.
From 1996 until 2005 he was the first director of EDN (European Documentary Network). From 2006 a freelance consultant and teacher in workshops like Ex Oriente, DocsBarcelona, Archidoc, Documentary Campus, Storydoc, Baltic Sea Forum, Black Sea DocStories, Caucadoc, CinéDOC Tbilisi, Docudays Kiev, Dealing With the Past Sarajevo FF as well as programme consultant for the festivals Magnificent7 in Belgrade, DOCSBarcelona, Verzio Budapest, Message2Man in St. Petersburg and DOKLeipzig. Teaches at the Zelig Documentary School in Bolzano Italy.

Articles: 3926