Sunday, October 5, 2025

DOK Leipzig 2024 Sets Golden Dove Contenders as Full Slate Unveiled

33 World Premieres Among 73 Titles Competing Across Documentary and Animated Sections in the Festivalโ€™s 67th Edition

Film Reviews

Navid Nikkhah-Azad
Navid Nikkhah-Azad
Navid Nikkhah-Azad is an Iranian film director and cinema journalist. He is a member of the Association of Dutch Film Journalists (KNF), the Dutch branch of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). He is the founder of 1TAKE NEWS and covers news about films and film festivals.

The International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film (DOK Leipzig) has unveiled the full competition lineup for its 67th edition, running Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 in Leipzig, Germany.

The festival previously announced Thomas Riedelsheimerโ€™s latest documentary, Tracing Light, as the opening film. This yearโ€™s program will include 209 titles โ€” spanning documentary, animation and XR (Extended Reality) works โ€” from 55 countries. Of those, 73 feature-length and short films, including 33 world premieres, will compete for the festivalโ€™s Golden and Silver Dove awards.

As part of its digital platform, DOK Stream, one film from the lineup will be available online each day for a 24-hour window.

The International Competition Documentary Film features eight feature-length entries representing Argentina, France, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Mexico, the United States and Colombia. Dominique Cabreraโ€™s โ€œLa Jetรฉe,ย the Fifth Shotโ€ is among the selections, presented in a special homage to the French filmmaker. Other competing titles include โ€œFlowers of Ukraineโ€ (Adelina Borets), โ€œLucianoโ€ (Manuel Besedovsky), โ€œMirallesโ€ (Maria Mauti), โ€œMorichalesโ€ (Chris Gude), โ€œThings of a Lifetime,ย Intimate Archeological Exercisesโ€ (Cรฉline Sรฉgalini), โ€œTwice into Oblivionโ€ (Pierre Michel Jean), and โ€œValentina and the MUOStersโ€ (Francesca Scalisi).

The International Competition Documentary Short Film includes 11 contenders, such as โ€œBeing John Smithโ€ by John Smith, โ€œBirthday Cakesย from Chinaโ€ by Shengjia Zhang, โ€œAfterlivesโ€ by Timotheus Angawan Kusno, โ€œMy Therapist Said, I am Full of Sadnessโ€ by Monica Vanessa Tedja, and โ€œA Moveโ€ by Elahe Esmaili.

Five animated features will compete for the Golden Dove in the International Competition Animated Film: โ€œPelican Blueโ€ (Lรกszlรณ Csรกki), โ€œOlivia & the Cloudsโ€ (Tomรกs Pichardo Espaillat), โ€œGhost Cat Anzuโ€ (Yรดko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita), โ€œAnimalia Paradoxaโ€ (Niles Atallah) and โ€œMemory Hotelโ€ (Heinrich Sabl).

In the German Competition, nine world premieres are set, including โ€œIm Prinzip Familieโ€ (Daniel Abma), โ€œLichter der StraรŸeโ€ (Anna Friedrich), โ€œBarbara Morgenstern und die Liebe zur Sacheโ€ (Sabine Herpich), โ€œSpielerinnenโ€ (Aysun Bademsoy), โ€œTarantism Revisitedโ€ (Anja Dreschke and Michaela Schรคuble), โ€œSonnenstadtโ€ (Kristina Shtubert), โ€œMoria Sixโ€ (Jennifer Mallmann), and โ€œTruth or Dareโ€ (Maja Classen).

The German Competition Documentary Short Film lineup features 11 titles, with highlights such as โ€œGut Ding will Weile habenโ€ (Jens Franke), โ€œIn den Wohnungen meiner Muศฐer sind viele Tรผrenโ€ (David Kind) and โ€œHauspausenโ€ (Biko Erki).

The Audience Competition will see 10 feature-length documentaries vying for the Golden Dove, with selections including โ€œWishing on a Starโ€ (Peter Kerekes), โ€œElementaryโ€ (Claire Simon), โ€œSabbath Queenโ€ (Sandi DuBowski), and โ€œThe Battle for Laikipiaโ€ (Daphne Matziaraki and Peter Murimi).

A full list of films in competition at DOK Leipzigโ€™s 67th edition follows.

International Competition Documentary Film: Feature-Length Films

  • โ€œFlowers of Ukraine,โ€ย director: Adelina Borets (Poland, Ukraine)
    International Premiere
  • โ€œLa Jetรฉe, the Fifth Shot,โ€ย director: Dominique Cabrera (France)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œLuciano,โ€ย director: Manuel Besedovsky (Argentina)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œMiralles,โ€ย director: Maria Mauti (Spain, Mexico)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œMorichales,โ€ย director: Chris Gude (USA, Colombia)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œThings of a Lifetime, Intimate Archeological Exercises,โ€ย director: Cรฉline Sรฉgalini (France)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œTwice into Oblivion,โ€ย director: Pierre Michel Jean (France, Haiti, Dominican Republic)
    European Premiere
  • โ€œValentina and the MUOSters,โ€ย director: Francesca Scalisi (Switzerland, Italy)
    International Premiere

International Competition Documentary Film: Short Films

  • โ€œBeing John Smith,โ€ย director: John Smith (UK)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œBirthday Cakes from China,โ€ย director: Shengjia Zhang (China)
    International Premiere
  • โ€œFluid Lagos,โ€ย directors: Justine Chima Unanka, Kamnelechukwu Obasi, Kenneth โ€œLaboomzโ€ Donatus, Lateefah Mayaki, Morola Odufuwa, Nora Mandray, Peace Olatunji โ€œDopayโ€, Ramon Shia, Uwana Anthony โ€œChurchyโ€, Wami Aluko (Nigeria)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œAfterlives,โ€ย director: Timoteus Anggawan Kusno (Indonesia)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œMy Therapist Said, I Am Full of Sadness,โ€ย director: Monica Vanesa Tedja (Indonesia)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œNine Easy Dances,โ€ย director: Nora Rosenthal (Canada)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œTales from the Source,โ€ย director: Lรฉonard Pongo (Belgium)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œA Move,โ€ย director: Elahe Esmaili (Iran, UK)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œWhat Goes Up,โ€ย director: Samar Al Summary (Saudi Arabia, USA)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œWhat We Ask of a Statue Is That It Doesnโ€™t Move,โ€ย director: Daphnรฉ Hรฉrรฉtakis (Greece, France)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œWe Had Fun Yesterday,โ€ย director: Marion Guillard (Belgium)
    World Premiere

German Competition Documentary Film: Feature-Length Films

  • โ€œBarbara Morgenstern und die Liebe zur Sache,โ€ย director: Sabine Herpich (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œIm Prinzip Familie,โ€ย director: Daniel Abma (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œLichter der StraรŸe,โ€ย director: Anna Friedrich (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œMoria Six,โ€ย director: Jennifer Mallmann (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œSonnenstadt,โ€ย director: Kristina Shtubert (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œSpielerinnen,โ€ย director: Aysun Bademsoy (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œTarantism Revisited,โ€ย directors: Anja Dreschke, Michaela Schรคuble (Germany, Switzerland)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œTracing Light,โ€ย director: Thomas Riedelsheimer (Germany, UK)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œTruth or Dare,โ€ย director: Maja Classen (Germany)
    World Premiere

German Competition Documentary Film: Shortfilms

  • โ€œBaฤงar biss,โ€ย director: Franziska von Stenglin (Malta, Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œBedsores,โ€ย director: Fritz Polzer (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œAccidental Animals,โ€ย directors: Leila Fatima Keita, Felix Klee (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œGut Ding will Weile haben,โ€ย director: Jens Franke (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œHimmel wie Seide. Voller Orangen,โ€ย director: Betina Kuntzsch (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œIn den Wohnungen meiner Mutter sind viele Tรผren,โ€ย director: David Kind (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œHauspausen,โ€ย director: Biko Erki (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œDer Kรถnig von Spanien,โ€ย director: Leonard Volkmer (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œDie Stimme des Ingenieurs,โ€ย director: Andrรฉ Siegers (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œPain That Comes in Waves,โ€ย director: Irem Schwarz (Germany)
    World Premiere

International Competition Animated Film: Feature-Length Films

  • โ€œAnimalia Paradoxa,โ€ย director: Niles Atallah (Chile)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œGhost Cat Anzu,โ€ย directors: Yรดko Kuno, Nobuhiro Yamashita (Japan, France)
    German Premiere.
  • โ€œMemory Hotel,โ€ย director: Heinrich Sabl (Germany, France)
    World Premiere.
  • โ€œOlivia & the Clouds,โ€ย director: Tomรกs Pichardo Espaillat (Dominican Republic)
    German Premiere.
  • โ€œPelikan Blue,โ€ย director: Lรกszlรณ Csรกki (Hungary)
    German Premiere.

International Competition Animated Film: Short Films

  • โ€œThe Brown Dog,โ€ย directors: Nadia Hallgren, Jamie-James Medina (UK, USA)
    European Premiere
  • โ€œBunnyhood,โ€ย director: Mansi Maheshwari (UK)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œAferrado,โ€ย director: Esteban Azuela (Mexico)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œThe Car That Came Back from the Sea,โ€ย director: Jadwiga Kowalska (Switzerland)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œThe Diffusion Pilot,โ€ย director: Aurelijus ฤŒiupas (Estonia)
    International Premiere
  • โ€œDolores,โ€ย director: Cecilia Andalรณn Delgadillo (Mexico)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œContradiction of Emptiness,โ€ย director: Irina Rubina (Germany)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œDuck Broth,โ€ย director: Maria Dakszewicz (Poland)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œHaunted House,โ€ย director: Ayden Lamb (Canada, USA)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œHun Tun,โ€ย director: Magdalena Hejzlarovรก (Czech Republic, France)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œExtremely Short,โ€ย director: Koji Yamamura (Japan, USA)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œHurikรกn,โ€ย director: Jan Saska (Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œLines,โ€ย director: Martin Schmidt (Germany)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œOn Weary Wings Go By,โ€ย director: Anu-Laura Tuelberg (Estonia, Lithuania)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œIbuka, Justice,โ€ย director: Justice Rutikara (Canada)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œThe Role,โ€ย director: Paolo Chianta (UK)
    German Premiere.
  • โ€œWhere the Jasmine Always Blooms,โ€ย director: Husein Bastouni (Germany)
    World Premiere
  • โ€œThe Wild-Tempered Clavier,โ€ย director: Anna Samo (Germany)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œSimply Divine,โ€ย directors: Mรฉlody Boulissiรจre, Bogdan Stamatin (France, Romania)
    German Premiere
  • โ€œYou Are the Truck and I Am the Deer,โ€ย director: Max Ferguson (Belgium)
    German Premiere

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest article