Central and Eastern Europe is in the spotlight at DOK Leipzig 2023, with several programmes focusing on a region which has strong historical connections to the festival.
Many of the films in the Panorama: Central and Eastern Europe section reflect Russia’s influence and the threat of Russian imperialism. The short and feature-length films that are being shown include works from Estonia, Georgia, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic, with several world premieres among them.
The section includes a portrayal of the courageous and undaunted activists in Belarus (Who, If Not Us? The Fight for Democracy in Belarus) as well of as the opposition to Putin’s regime in Russia prior to the invasion of Ukraine (The Last Relic). The backdrop of Tito-era Yugoslavia drives the narrative in a philosophical retrospective (The Box) and in Kharkiv, a 12-year-old who experiences the nightmare of wartime from an underground station struggles to find the miracle of hope (Photophobia). The selections are:
- Blue by Weronika Szym (Animated Film) Poland, 2023, 7 min, International Premiere
- The Box by Tomaž Pavkovič (Documentary), Slovenia, 2023, 22 min, German Premiere
- The Last Relic by Marianna Kaat (Documentary), Estonia, Norway, 2023, 104 min, European Premiere
- Photophobia by Ivan Ostrochovský, Pavol Pekarčík (Documentary), Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine 2023, 71 min, German Premiere
- Self Portrait Along the Borderline by Anna Dziapshipa (Documentary), Georgia. 2023. 50 mins, German Premiere
- Smoke of the Fire by Daryna Mamaisur (Documentary). Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Hungary. 2023, 22 mins. World Premiere
- Valerija by Sara Jurinčić (Documentary). Croatia. 2023. 15 mins. German Premiere
- Who, If Not Us? The Fight for Democracy in Belarus by Juliane Tutein (Documentary). Germany. 2023. 77 mins. World Premiere
Slovenia, the Guest of Honour at the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair, will be featured in a festival compilation titled Focus: Post-1991 Slovenian Documentary Films, which will screen outstanding films made in various years. This programme was developed in co-operation with the Slovenian Cultural Centre and the Slovenian Film Centre and is curated by Simon Popek, programme manager of the Ljubljana International Film Festival. The selections are:
- Boy, Bloodbrother of Death by Maja Weiss (Documentary). Slovenia. 1992. 67 mins
- Boy, Bloodbrother of Death by Maja Weiss (Documentary). Slovenia. 2012. 52 mins
- Granny’s Sexual Life by Urška Djukić, Emilie Pigeard (Animated Film) Slovenia, France. 2021. 13 mins
- Karpotrotter by Matjaž Ivanišin (Documentary) Slovenia 2013. 48 mins
- Playing Men by Matjaž Ivanišin (Documentary) Slovenia, Croatia. 60 mins
- Slices of Time by Neven Korda Andrič, Zemira Alajbegović Pečovnik (Documentary). Slovenia 2001. 60 mins
The short film programme 5×5 Shorts from the East is being presented by DOK Leipzig in cooperation with the European partners Kraków Film Foundation, Czech Film Fund, Slovak Film Institute, Estonian Film Institute and Croatian Audiovisual Centre. These 25 documentary and animated films will be screened free of charge at the Polish Institute on 14 October and can be attended on a “hop on, hop off” basis. The selections are:
- ’Til We Meet Again by Ülo Pikkov (Animated Film). Estonia. 2021. 14 mins. German premiere
- All Those Sensations in My Belly by Marko Dješka (Animated Film). Croatia, Portugal. 2020. 13 mins
- Attention All Passengers by Marek Moučka (Documentary). Slovakia. 2020. 20 mins
- Borders by Damjan Kozole (Documentary). Slovenia 2016. 10 mins
- Choir Tour by Edmunds Jansons (Animated Film). Latvia. 2012. 5 mins
- Cockpera by Kata Gugić (Animated Film). Croatia. 2020. 5 mins
- Colourbird by Rein Raamat (Animated Film). Estonia 1974. 8 mins
- Electrician’s Day by Vladimir Leschiov (Animated Film). Latvia 2018. 9 mins
- Events Meant to Be Forgotten Marko Tadić (Animated Film). Croatia 2020. 6 mins
- Faceless by David Lušičić (Documentary). Croatia. 2020. 14 mins
- The Flight by Rein Raamat (Animated Film). Estonia. 1973. 9 mins
- In Line by Kamila Kučiková (Animated Film). Slovakia. 2014. 4 mins
- Journey by Marek Jasań (Animated Film). Slovakia, France. 2018. 9 mins
- Last Lunch by Miha Subic. (Animated Film). Slovenia. 2011. 4 mins
- A Most Exquisite Man by Jonas Taul (Animated Film). Estonia. 2021. 15 mins
- Nenad by Yuliya Molina (Documentary). Slovenia. 2017. 6 mins
- Postcards by Nika Autor (Documentary). Slovenia. 2010. 9 mins
- Prince Ki-Ki-Do: A Cup of Tea by Grega Mastnak (Animated Film). Slovenia. 2016. 14 mins
- The Raft by Marko Meštrović (Animated Film). Croatia 2021.14 mins.
- Riga’s Lilac by Lizete Upīte (Animated Film). France, Latvia 2019. 14 mins
- Short Film About Life by Laila Pakalnina (Documentary). Latvia. 2014. 2 mins
- Symbol by Kristína Zilinčarová (Documentary). Slovakia. 2022. 9 mins
- Ursus by Reinis Pētersons (Animated Film). Latvia. 2011. 10 mins
- Vacuum leaner by Avo Paistik (Animated Film). Estonia 1978. 9 mins
The Doc Alliance Award section will be screening three long and three short documentaries from the competition held by the Doc Alliance festival network, to which DOK Leipzig and six other European documentary film festivals belong. Here, too, the focus will be on Central and Eastern Europe. The selections are:
- 07:15 – Blackbird by Judith Auffray (Documentary). France. 2021. 30 mins. German premiere
- Adjusting by Dejan Petrović (Documentary). Serbia. 2021. 19 mins
- Disturbed Earth by Kumjana Novakova, Guillermo Carreras-Candi. (Documentary). Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia. 2021. 71 mins. German premiere
- Kristina by Nikola Spasić (Documentary). Serbia 2022. 90 mins. German premiere
- Silent Sun of Russia Sybilla Tuxen (Documentary). Denmark. 2023. 71 mins. German premiere
- Waking Up in Silence by Mila Zhluktenko, Daniel Asadi Faezi (Documentary) Germany, Ukraine. 2023. 17 mins
