DOK Leipzig 25

Industry chief Nadja Tennstedt fills in BDE on what professionals can expect over the coming week, during the 68th edition of DOK Leipzig. This year, a record number of 391 projects were submitted for the DOK Co-Pro Market, of which 35 were chosen, and funders, broadcasters and sales agents were alerted in advance to the projects and filmmakers they may wish to focus on, and vice versa. “That’s how we schedule over 900 meetings that take place over the course of two days,” Tennstedt affirms to BDE.

White Smoke over Schwarze Pumpe, selected for German Competition at DOK Leipzig, is a film of two halves, looking at working class life in an East German industrial town. The first part was shot by Peter Badel and Dieter Chill just after reunification, the second half between 2019 and 2025 by Badel and Martin Gressmann, the latter of whom answers questions posed by Business Doc Europe.

Swiss audiences may be startled by Gregor Brändli’s new feature premiering in International Competition at DOK Leipzig, and sold by Filmotor. The film looks at the very troubling legacy of the Swiss naturalists Paul and Fritz Sarasin who looted huge amounts of sacred objects and even body parts from Sri Lanka in the late 19th and early 20th Century. “We always grew up with the narrative that we didn’t have colonies and so we’re the good guys,” the director tells BDE, and therefore hopes the film will spark discussions about this little-known side of Swiss history.

The outgoing Artistic Director of the world’s oldest docfest is in feisty mood, specifically on the defence of culture, as evidenced by his choice of Claire Simon’s Writing Life: Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students as opening film. “[It] shows in exemplary fashion how important culture is in our lives, and how it shapes us as human beings…In these times, when culture institutions are being asked to spend less, and effectively reach fewer people, it is important to insist the work that we are doing is fundamental,” he tells BDE. The 68th edition of DOK Leipzig runs 27 Oct to 2 Nov. 

Aleksandra (Ola) Staszel is set to take over from Christoph Terhechte who will leave the festival on January 31 2026. The pair will work together through January 2026 in order to ensure a smooth transition. “In Ola Staszel, the city of Leipzig will gain a general manager for DOK who brings with her a broad artistic vision as well as considerable experience in the documentary film industry and a thoughtful approach to it,” says Dr Skadi Jennicke, Leipzig’s Mayor for Arts and Culture, and Chair of the festival’s supervisory board.

Prague-based sales agent Filmotor has acquired worldwide rights (excluding Switzerland) to Elephants & Squirrels, the debut feature documentary of Swiss filmmaker Gregor Brändli. The film will world premiere in International Competition at DOK Leipzig on October 27, before screening in the Best of Fests section at IDFA 2025.

DOK Leipzig has revealed the competition line-up for its 68th edition, completing the 2025 film programme. A total of 78 films, including 30 world premieres, are competing for Golden and Silver Doves across the four competitions. “Most of the films sent to us in the post-pandemic period have dealt with family situations and inner thoughts. This year, however, numerous documentaries and animated films have returned to looking outward,” says festival director Christoph Terhechte.

The Panorama: Central and Eastern Europe and Camera Lucida sections run alongside Leipzig's four competitions for documentary and animated films. “Using films as a lens to open minds, uncover lives behind the headlines, break silences, engage with the 'other(s)' and observe the reality with care…is what films in DOK Leipzig’s out-of-comp sections endeavour to do,” organisers write. The Doc Alliance Award section, in turn, features documentaries that were selected for the 2025 competition, as organised by the Doc Alliance network. (Still: Eugénie Grandval’s Bulle Ogier, Portrait of a Hidden Star)

DOK Leipzig has unveiled the full DOK Industry Programme for the 68th festival edition (27 October - 2 November). The DOK Industry Programme “presents a range of formats and events that address timely industry topics, encourage creative exchange, and give filmmakers a platform to showcase their work and connect with peers and potential collaborators,” write organisers.

At the 68th edition of DOK Leipzig, three juries of filmmakers, artists, and industry professionals, along with an audience jury, will award short and feature documentaries and animated films in competition. The Golden and Silver Doves will be awarded to the winning films on Saturday, 1 November, at the Schaubühne Lindenfels in Leipzig. The 68th edition of DOK Leipzig will run October 27 to November 2.