Films

Germany 2024, 90 min
by Richard C. Schneider

The state of Europe is bad. Right-wing populists are coming ever closer to power or have already taken it over. The fatal thing about this is that we only seem to realize, that a state is becoming autocratic, reactionary or even a dictatorship when it is almost too late. In this two-part documentary, we will look at Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and France, four countries that have already embarked on the path to illiberal democracy. What were or are the strategies used in these countries to destroy democracy - and do these steps possibly also serve as a blueprint for other countries?RISE OF THE POPULISTSRight-wing populists are on the rise around the world and are jeopardising liberal democracies. The issues they use to campaign are always similar: against migrants, against elites, in favour of the nation. Using the Netherlands and France as examples, the film shows how successful right-wing populists are in gaining power. In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders was able to form a governing coalition, while in France, Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National party won the European elections and also made gains in the national parliamentary elections. Le Pen wants to win the presidential elections in 2027. The succession of crises is making people increasingly insecure and looking for simple answers: Islamist terror since 9/11, the economic crisis in 2008, the influx of refugees in 2015, the Covid crisis, the war in Ukraine and now the crisis in the Middle East are making people increasingly nervous as they see their prosperity and peaceful lives under threat. Right-wing populists are exploiting this situation by creating enemy stereotypes against which they want to defend and protect their respective nations.EROSIN FROM WITHINWhere right-wing populists are already in power, it is clear how they are eroding democracies from within. They take over democratic institutions and render them meaningless. Using Hungary and Italy as examples, the film shows how right-wing populists operate when in power. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán set the script from 2010 onwards: He changed the constitution, disempowered the judiciary and ruined the free press. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is now trying to do the same. This raises questions for all democratic parties in Europe: Are they able to stand together against the populist threat? Can they make the people of Europe a political offer that takes their concerns and fears into account and thus win back those who have not yet drifted ideologically to the far right in favour of democracy?

2024, 90 min
by Jens Becker, Dorothea Braun

JOSEPHINE PEARY, wife of North Pole conqueror Robert Peary, promoted his work and contributed much to his success.ADA BLACKJACK, the sole survivor of a terrible expedition to Wrangel Island during the early 1920s.LOUISE AMER BOYD, a millionaire and the first woman to finance her expeditions to map East Greenland and a (part-time) secret agent. Three extraordinary stories of women, risking life, health, and money to explore the Arctic deserts – but in our days forgotten. We also aim to highlight contemporary women’s involvement in Arctic research, such as those aboard an icebreaker in Greenland or preserving Inuit culture and language in Alaska and Greenland.

Germany 2024, 300 min
by Karin de Miguel Wessendorf

Everything revolves around football for Chayenne, Eriona, Liv and Pauline. They play in the U15 squad of SGS Essen, one of the few clubs that gives priority to women’s football. This season it’s all or nothing for the players now they are stepping up their performance and fighting to make it into competitive football, even to the Bundesliga. Football mania and high stakes guaranteed! [38 DOK.fest München, Ysabel Fantou]

2024, 90 min
by Tom Ockers

Many seducers made history. How do they manage to tempt us again and again? Using fascinating examples from the past and present, the 2-part series immerses itself in a game about power, desire, and manipulation. How can the sex appeal of Elvis Presley be explained, who still makes the hearts of his fans beat faster today? Historians show what led us into temptation throughout history. Political scientists unmask the rational calculation behind seduction – and reveal how manipulation functions as a political weapon.

Germany 2024, 66 min
by Michael Hilger

The New Spirit of Whisky is a documentary about women, about taste and about Scotland. We follow six female protagonists who are distillery founders or work as master blenders in the Scottish whisky industry, focusing on their craft and their challenges such as climate change, all while casually changing the perception on who is making whisky and whom it is made for.

2023, 86 min
by Antje Starost, Hans Helmut Grotjahn

13 years after the premiere of 7 OR WHY I EXIST we meet them again: the 7 children from all over the world. How did they find their way into becoming adults?The film shows their philosophical context to the life and future of a generation between 20 and 30. As children, they impressed and inspired us with their curiosity about "difficult" questions. As young adults, they allow us to share in their feelings and thoughts. They give us the opportunity to watch them reflecting and “in the process of the gradual production of thoughts while speaking” (Heinrich von Kleist).That's the charm. Then as now.

Germany 2023, 92 min
by Daniel Burkholz

Bella Ciao – Love and Battle, the third part of the Roadside Resistance Trilogy. It is a journey to the roots of modern Europe and to the roots of European identity – the victory against Fascists and Nazis. A victory gained by the allied forces, but also by numerous resistance fighters – men and women. Bella Ciao – Love and Battle gives the timewitnesses, who fought in the Second World War and won the war, their say. They are the leading men and women of their stories. But they are not only talking about the past, they are also taking a stand when it comes to the dangers and threats which we have to face today.

Germany 2023, 250 min
by Florian Opitz

The 5 part high-end documentary series CAPITAL B. WHO OWNS BERLIN? tells in an exciting and entertaining way how Berlin became what it is after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It has been a hip global metropolis for three decades, attracting artists, freedom lovers and young people from all over the world. But the way there was by no means preordained.And Capital B tells the story of how Berlin’s citizens have been fighting back ever since: against the sellout of their city, its displacement and against Berlin suffering the same fate as London, New York and Paris before it. To become a boring biotope for rich people and investors.In the 5 episodes we experience greed, corruption, the emergence of various youth and subcultures in the 90s and noughties, housing struggle, crime, and the rise and fall of greedy politicians.Capital B tells this story in a special way: multi-perspectival from the point of view of those who have shaped the city: Politicians, artists, entrepreneurs, squatters, club operators and clan members.Capital B is not the umpteenth true-crime series, but an unprecedented urban sociology in the form of an exciting, entertaining and highly topical documentary series. New in style, socio-politically relevant and excitingly told. Like Netflix, but public service. Or to put it immodestly: a mixture of House of Cards and The Wire, but for real, as a docu-series.With: Eberhard Diepgen, Klaus Landowski, Renate Künast, Sandy Kaltenborn, Marion Brasch, Peter Fox, Klaus Wowereit, Kool Savas, Dimitri Hegemann, Thilo Sarrazin, Pamela Schobeß, Franziska Giffey a.o.

Germany 2023, 180 min
by Dirk Schneider, Ariane Riecker

The Chernobyl disaster was the worst nuclear accident in history – and the end of a utopia: the achievements of the New Human. Those who worked there were chosen for their skills, and lived a dream that most of us today can hardly fathom. But this dream was torn asunder on April 26, 1986. With contemporary witnesses, high-end animations, previously unpublished archive and new footage from the nuclear exclusion zone, we immerse ourselves in the Atomic Age of the Soviet Empire. We uncover the whole true story from the early 1970s up to the harbingers of the current Russian/Ukrainian war.

Germany 2023, 239 min
by Julian Vogel

Munich 2016, Halle 2019 and Hanau 2020.Three right-wing extremist attacks by so-called 'lone wolves': Alleged lone perpetrators who apparently radicalised themselves on the internet without being part of classic extremist structures and suddenly struck in public spaces.These are stories that now dominate the headlines: According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, right-wing terror is currently considered the greatest threat to democracy in Germany.And this despite the fact that until recently such perpetrators were often classified as mentally ill, 'confused' lone perpetrators and thus denied their racism. These times are over: after the attack in Hanau, Frank Walter Steinmeier spoke of an 'attack on all of us'. But who are 'all of us'? The documentary EINZELTÄTER (Lone Perpetrator) takes the perspective of the people whose relatives were actually the target of the attacks and whose lives will never be the same again.

Germany 2023, 225 min
by Sibylle Smolka, Detlev Konnerth, Katja Runge

Breathtaking canyons, lakes and rivers: from the Tatra Mountains via the Dordogne to the Danube Delta, this series explores extraordinary, still unspoilt corners of Europe where water plays a central role.Where the elements of water and earth meet, the forces of nature are unleashed in a dramatic way. Spectacular landscapes and extraordinary habitats are created for plants and wildlife. And the energies they release have a magnetic effect on man. Often, though, it’s a case of love at second sight. As travel destinations, inland bodies of water have always been overshadowed by coastal shores. But this appears to be changing. The environmentally conscious and especially younger people are becoming increasingly interested in these intact landscapes in the heart of Europe. Once they have discovered the magic of these unspoilt regions, they soon want more. This series takes us to little-known areas of untouched natural beauty where water plays a central role: breathtaking canyons, lakes, rivers and landforms whose rich fauna and flora leave a lasting impression on us. Because of the biodiversity of these exceptional regions, some are already protected as national parks, UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites or biosphere reserves. The series introduces us to five especially stunning landscapes in Europe. Far from the usual tourist trails, we explore unique spots in Poland, Slovakia, Romania, France, Montenegro and Germany.

2023, 180 min
by Anne von Petersdorff, Georg Tschurtschenthaler

For many years, King Juan Carlos I was a Spanish hero, celebrated around the world for reforming Spain with his modern, progressive, democratic values. He led his country from the Franco dictatorship to parliamentary monarchy, transforming Spain into a modern European state and becoming the most popular Spanish ruler in history. King Juan Carlos had a loyal Queen, a loving family, international respect, friends in high places and faithful subjects; he had everything a King could wish for. So, how did this revered Monarch take such a drastic fall from grace that he was forced to abdicate in 2014 and eventually flee into exile in 2020? The documentary shows how a fateful hunting trip to Botswana revealed the King’s secret love affair with his companion, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, and set off a series of events that shook the Spanish monarchy to its core. The house of cards began to crumble when questions were raised about the King’s financial affairs, his lucrative links with the Spanish establishment and alleged global corruption, including a €65 million payment.

2023, 208 min
by Sebastian Saam

From Finland to Anatolia, we learn more about great lakes and their importance for the ecosystem. These habitats are often at risk. What strategies are there to preserve these bodies of water?They are thousands, sometimes even several million years old, some are even made by man. They provide refuges for animals and humans, are important for biodiversity, have aesthetic value and have inspired numerous myths and legends: Lakes. But although their discovery has only just begun, these wonderful water worlds are threatened by pollution, sewage and waste, overfishing and illegal development. In the far north of Europe (Finland's Lake Saimaa), in the central European lowlands (Hungary's Lake Balaton), in Europe's southwest (Alqueva reservoir in Portugal) and in the highlands of Anatolia (Lake Van), we find out more about the special features of various large lakes and their importance for the ecosystem. The series highlights the problems these habitats face in the 21st century, but also the strategies that are being employed to preserve them. This is a captivating four-part series full of stunning landscape shots and unusual discoveries and insights into unique natural wonders far from the tourist hotspots.

Germany 2023, 90 min
by Harald Pokieser

The endless expanses of the Indian Ocean are home to the last natural paradises: Remote atolls surrounded by coral reefs in crystal clear water.Whole regions of this ocean are still unexplored, many reefs are not marked on any map. The departure of the research vessel Agulhas II from the island of La Réunion marks the beginning of one of the greatest scientific adventures of our time. The expedition, initiated by Monaco Explorations with the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, lasted six weeks and led into the Western Indian Ocean along the Mascarene Plateau. On board are one hundred experts who are among the world's elite marine scientists. On their mission, they discover never-before-seen creatures like the Dumbo Octopus and fabulous animals like the State Jellyfish, which resembles a floating work of art. Several hundreds of gigabytes of data are still waiting to be processed, but one thing is already certain: the expedition will help to better understand the physics and biology of the oceans and thus the consequences of global warming.

Germany 2023, 104 min
by Moritz Mayerle, Annette Scheurich

Children – the meaning of life!?At least in nature. Humans may take a more differentiated view, but animals make enormous efforts to produce as many offspring as possible throughout their lives. But no matter how clearly the goal of life seems to be defined, the paths to animal child happiness could hardly be more different and are as diverse as they are fascinating. In two parts, we show animal parents and children all over the world: on land, on water and in the air – family life in all its facets.

Germany 2023, 180 min
by Dmitri Vologdin, Frank Müller

Even in Soviet times, Crimea, with its pleasant climate and luxurious sanatoriums, was a place of longing for many Russians. The six-part documentary series accompanies the entertainer Spartak and the staff of his 'International Striptease Show' from the pre-war year 2021 to the war year 2023 in the holiday hotspots in Crimea. How does Russia's war of aggression change the people there?

Germany 2023, 24 min
by Therese Koppe

Mariella lives in Berlin with her family of seven. Her father was trained in kung fu martial arts at the Chinese Shaolin monastery. Today he runs the Berlin-Schöneberg kung fu school and prepares her and her sisters for the next tournament. This has been part of Mariella’s life for many years. But the nervousness before each competition never really gets better. [66 DOK Leipzig, Lina Dinkla]

Finland, Germany 2023, 80 min
by Jesse Jokinen, Petri Luukkainen

A young gamer called Bona has, since a small kid, been trying to find his way in the harsh world of esports and now under a professional contract. Bona is very talented in CS:GO, but his mental side fails him every time he is on the verge of success, always resulting in second place.Bona seeks help from the world’s best esports psychologist Mia. The sessions with her set him on a path to self discovery to become a better player – and a person. Unexpectedly, another player – his old nemesis from the past – comes to steal his position in the team. The mentorship between the psychologist and Bona is in the key role, while he must figure out how to balance the conflicts, burden of pressure and his dreams before his professional contract runs out.

Belgien, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, USA 2023, 52 min
by Karen Vázquez Guadarrama

Mar Maremoto is a vibrant force of queerness and punk energy. Through her dynamic and emotional artwork, she fearlessly delves into the profound impact of machismo, anguish of fat-shaming, and struggles of not conforming to societal norms.Maremoto (Mar) is a young illustrator in Mexico City struggling to make sense of a town where 11 women are murdered daily, and 95,000 people have gone missing, with no one held accountable. Her feminist drawings support her community in dealing with the emotional trauma left by the femicides and galvanize them to fight to get the government forces to act. With her work, Mar also creates a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and teaches self-acceptance. [14 DOC NYC, Ruth Somalo]about the series DRAW FOR CHANGE!Cartoonists play a critical role in our world of social media, populism and fake news, offering a unique perspective and voice that can help to cut through the noise and provide clarity in a sea of information. In this digital age of post-truth, the cartoon did not lose any of its power for social commentary and activism. On the contrary.The series DRAW FOR CHANGE! showcases six female cartoonists from around the globe challenging societal boundaries and norms. In each episode, a cartoonist offers viewers a glimpse into her world, exposing not only the hurdles and perils she faces but also the bravery and wit essential for overcoming them. Filming took place in Mexico, Russia, India, Syria, Egypt [and the US], with each country offering distinct challenges, resulting in six episodes centered on themes like femicide, press freedom, and female representation. This series introduces resilient women who draw because it’s unthinkable not to. Despite job loss, intimidation, or death threats, they persist, contributing to incremental changes in their societies. Each film, directed by a distinguished female director linked to the subject’s country, seamlessly blends documentary, cartoons, and animation.After an idea of showrunners/cowriters Vincent Coen & Guillaume Vandenberghe, DRAW FOR CHANGE!, written and directed by Alaa Amer, Alisar Hasan, Sama Pana, Anna Moiseenko, Karen Vázquez Guadarrama [and Laura Nix], and produced by Clin d’oeil films (Hanne Phlypo), coproduced by A Bahn (Marion Guth & François Gall), Point du Jour/Les films du balibari (Estelle Robin You) and Ma.ja.de (Heino Deckert) is presented as broadcast episodes (52 minutes RT) and some have an additional feature lenght (70 minutes RT).

Germany 2023, 156 min
by Matthias Schmidt, Vit Polacek

Europe, 1930s: the Jewish Hertzberger family were living happily in Rotterdam. Just a few hundred kilometres away, young German Wilhelm Frank hoped for the resurgence of the German nation and became Hitler’s supporter. Ellis Hertzberger and Wilhelm Frank represent the polar opposites that set the underlying tone for Lost Youth (Ep1). From numerous international perspectives, the award-winning writing duo of Matthias Schmidt and Vít Poláček tells the story of both, the victims and the perpetrators, in conversations with their children and grandchildren. A story of reconciliation in modern Europe. In the name of Hitler, more than 13 million Europeans – in many cases mere children – were taken from their homes and forced to work for the enemy, Nazi Germany. This phenomenon was not confined to concentration camps: there was no German town, no German village that did not have forced labourers. From numerous international perspectives, this series traces the story of both, the victims and the perpetrators. And it discusses why the reappraisal of this history continues to be political dynamite for European politics and the global economy.8 May 1945: World War II comes to an end in Europe. But for many Europeans, this does not end their suffering. They may be free, but they are uprooted and traumatised: between 1938 and 1945, more than 13 million people were deported from their homes and send to Nazi Germany to work as forced labourers. Many of them were forcibly deported, many interned, all of them exploited. Marked with letters on their clothing and forced to work for the enemy. More than six million of them are still in the Third Reich when it falls in 1945. But they quickly disappear from the consciousness of the German and international public. And yet everyone knew who they were and what they did: in every town, in every village, on every farm – forced labourers were ever-present.This mini-series uncovers the forgotten life stories of millions of mostly young adults and children.Through diaries, photographs, letters and other personal documents, the stories of these people who have since died are brought to life. The focus however is on the generations that followed: in conversations with the children and grandchildren of the victims and perpetrators, the series tells a story of reconciliation in modern Europe.The award-winning German-Czech journalist duo of Matthias Schmidt and Vít Poláček innovatively follows selected individual stories, told in a horizontal structure, which encompass all the dimensions of the Nazi programme of forced labour. They also pursue the central questions surrounding how the phenomenon of forced labour was dealt with after the war.The transnational and multi-perspective approach to forced labour opens up this phenomenon in all its complexity. In this way, the series paints a multifaceted picture of all those who were forced to work for the enemy – young women, men and children from many different countries – and of those who profited from them. To this day, their fate defines the lives of their descendants, the political and economic face of Germany and thus also the numerous narratives of guilt and reconciliation in modern Europe.

2022, 312 min
by Aljoscha Pause

“It sounds presumptuous to want to change the world with art. And yet, I think we live in a time where that is more urgent than ever.“ Bernhard ZünkelerBernhard Zünkeler worked as business lawyer for 12 years before turning his passion into a profession and dedicating himself to conceptual art. For almost a decade, film-maker Aljoscha Pause accompanied the former attorney around the world, documenting his departure from his old life, in which he had to conduct dismissal interviews for the largest bank in the world, his uncompromising devotion to art, and a concept of a successful life that is all his own. Along the way he attempts to change the world with art and struggles against the art market establishment and outdated thought patterns. The series follows Zünkeler as he builds his own art labs and artist collectives auch as Freeters in Germany or ESMoA in L.A. and establishes a global network of like-minded people, ranging from Cuban dissidents to gang members in South Central Los Angeles. The research around his thesis of art as a state of consciousness is also explored. An inspringing road trip with a conceptual artist.

Germany 2022, 49 min
by Barbara Trottnow

Natural dyeing with plants or sometimes with lice, being thousands of years old, is a very sustainable form of making our world a little more beautiful and colourful. A desire that has always existed!In two short films, we introduce people who successfully strive to apply and develop the old techniques, so they do not get forgotten. We present the DOBAG project in Turkey, where carpet wool is dyed with plants, and we follow Dieter Kaiser in Germany, experimenting with natural dyes for 40 years and now producing a colour palette that is unmatched.It is recommended to watch the films one after the other, as they complement each other well. But each film also works independently.

Germany 2022, 416 min
by Lorenza Castella, André Schäfer, Francesca D’Amicis, Katja Duregger

On this journey, we find out more about the Italian soul through the culinary culture of its people. From Piedmont to Apulia, our protagonists invite us to take a peek into their kitchens.Far from the bustling tourist hotspots, we look at the soul of Italy and find out more about the country through its culinary culture. Each episode is a journey of discovery that intrigues and inspires. Various protagonists offer us a personal glimpse of their everyday lives and invite us to visit their most sacred place: the kitchen. The recipes and ingredients reflect the culture of the country and are flavoured with the spectacular scenery of the individual regions. From the varied backdrops of Alpine peaks and plains, vineyards, national parks and the Piedmont lakes, the journey takes us to Tuscany and the coastal region around Livorno, where food cultures from the last seven centuries come together and wine-growing is considered the work of heroes. In the deep south, we travel through Apulia. The region that forms the heel of Italy’s boot is one huge fruit and vegetable patch where all the ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine grow in abundance. With its rich vegetation, Sicily has a bit of Africa, Arabia, Byzantium and Athens, a little Rome and even a touch of Spain. Ancient orchards, olive groves and plantations of prickly pears show themselves in all their magnificence.

2022, 120 min
by Vanessa Schlesier, Ronald Rist, Antje Boehmert

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban take power in Afghanistan, and two weeks later the last U.S. Air Force plane leaves Kabul. The military evacuation is over. But there are still tens of thousands of people in the country who need an airlift because their lives are in danger as local staff, media workers, artists or human rights activists. Many of them hope for “Kabul-Luftbruecke” – a Berlin NGO that, on its own initiative, evacuates people from Afghanistan because, as local employees, media workers or human rights activists, their lives are imperiled. Those who have an admission to Germany can turn to the initiative and wait for safe passage to leave Kabul for Pakistan in the shadow of the night. The series documents how former local staff manage to leave the country, how children who were separated from their parents during the flight hope for a reunion and how young women decide to no longer bow to the Taliban’s dictates.