In the cinema. At home. DOK.fest München stays dual!

Review of the 39th DOK.fest München

 

 

THANK YOU for another fantastic, dual DOK.fest München!

109 films, 51 countries, 1 festival. On Monday evening, the 39th DOK.fest München came to an end: on 12 festival days at the Munich venues and 15 days on the digital screen, we once again combined the best of both film worlds to create a great festival experience. We can look back with satisfaction on 20 inspiring days full of exchange and encounters with you – our audience, our guests and partners – both on site at the venues and at online film talks and hybrid events.

We would like to thank you very much for once again making our festival a success with your participation and presence!

And how did you experience the festival?

Take part in the audience survey – we are looking forward to your impressions and experiences. With a bit of luck, you could win a festival pass for the 40th DOK.fest München in May 2025! (The survey is now closed – thank you for your participation).

 

Our résumé

During the third dual edition of DOK.fest München, a total of 54,000 visitors saw the films or took part in the festival's local, digital and hybrid events. With a programme reduced by 20 films, we were able to achieve an almost identical audience figure to last year. Around 35,000 viewers and guests were counted on site in Munich in the cinemas and special venues. Online on the digital screen, the films were viewed 19,000 times, although it is not possible to determine how many viewers were sitting in front of the digital screen in each case – so our festival films were probably seen by far more people.

Festival director Daniel Sponsel: "The programme of the 39th DOK.fest München reflected the political and social situation in Europe and the world in a stimulating way. Our audience was able to see numerous films that shed new perspectives on important topics of our time. And the audience got to know directors who provide special inside views of events that would otherwise be inaccessible. Presenting these films not only in the cinema but also online on the digital screen has proven to be a successful approach. In this way, we reach viewers all over Germany, including many people who are unable to go to the cinema for various reasons. Thanks to our barrier-free offering, they have been able to see many special, important documentary films that would otherwise not be shown here. And the Munich cinema audience is loyal to our festival. We are looking forward to presenting a great anniversary edition of DOK.fest München to film enthusiasts in our city and throughout Germany next year."


 

The DOK.forum, the industry platform of DOK.fest München, once again took place as a hybrid event and was a great success: 210 national and international experts and over 2,200 participants attended the numerous and thematically diverse pitchings, panels, workshops, case studies, roundtables and receptions from 1 to 7 May on site and digitally.

A full hall listened to filmmakers engaging in an intercontinental exchange about European colonial history and decolonization at the panel discussion THIS IS MY MOMENT: Decolonize now! of our Africa focus DOK.network Africa.

The DOK.education programme welcomed 73 school classes with over 2,200 children and young people who attended the 90-minute film education workshops of the the School of Seeing. At the same time, teachers were able to use the films and digital teaching units, including accompanying materials, online throughout Germany: Over 6,000 pupils have already registered for this so far. The online cinema screens can still be used until the end of July. Highlights of this year's programme also included the exhibition „Ich seh' etwas, was Du nicht siehst“ at Motorama, the moderation workshop by KiKa presenter Julian Janssen alias „Checker Julian“ and the symposium „Dreh‘s um – Perspektivenwechsel in der Filmbildung“.

 

 

 

Save the Date:

We look forward to seeing you at next year's anniversary edition – at the 40th DOK.fest München from 7 to 25 May 2025!