Call for Entries:

VFF Documentary Film Production Award 2025

Submit now until 3 February 2025!

DOK.fest München and VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film und Fernsehproduzenten mbH are pleased to announce the 8th VFF Documentary Film Production Award, which will be presented at the 40th DOK.fest München, taking place in May 2025.

 

An award for documentary film producers in Germany

This unique award recognises the role of production in the creation of current documentary feature films.

The award is donated by the VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film und Fernsehproduzenten mbH and is endowed with prize money of 7.500 euros. The award goes to the producer of the film. The award ceremony will take place within the festival programme of DOK.fest München.

Producers are cordially invited to submit their current documentary films!

Conditions of participation

Films that meet the following criteria are eligible for submission to the VFF Documentary Film Production Award:

  • Feature film production with a minimum length of 72 minutes
  • At least 51% production share from Germany
  • Publication after 1 January 2024
  • If your film has already participated in a previous DOK.fest München edition, it cannot be resubmitted.
  • University films (including graduation films) are not permitted.
  • Cinema exploitation may already have begun.
  • Two to three public screenings at DOK.fest München 2025 are obligatory.

The selection for the VFF Documentary Film Production Award is based on the criteria below. It is the responsibility of the producer to present the special production achievement to the jury members in the documents to be submitted:

  • Commitment of the production in the selection of a challenging subject
  • Commitment and productivity in putting together the financing
  • Creative / innovative evaluation of the film
  • Creative input of the production

Submission

  • If you are submitting a film to us for the first time, please set up an account under "My account".
  • If you already have an account, you can log in at any time.
  • Please select "VFF Documentary Film Production Award" under "Registration for" in the film submission form.
  • We provide information on the exact steps for submitting a film here under item 8.

 

Please also send the following documents by email to Elena Lanzinger (lanzinger@dokfest-muenchen.de):

  • Statement by the producer on the outstanding significance of the production for the film (max. 3000 characters)
  • Short presentation of the production company (max. 700 characters)
  • Short biography of the producer and other key participants (max. 700 characters per biography)
  • Complete and clear breakdown of the budget and financing plan

Please make sure that you send in all documents, as incomplete submissions cannot be considered. All documents and information will be treated in strict confidence.

 

The submission is independent of the participation at DOK.fest München.

Submission deadline is 3 February 2025.

Contact

If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact:

Elena Lanzinger
lanzinger@dokfest-muenchen.de
Phone: +49 89 51 39 97 88

DOK.fest München
Dachauer Straße 116
80636 Munich
Germany

Award donor

 

Review

Award-winning film 2024

LAND DER VERLORENEN KINDER

Directors: Juan Camilo Cruz and Marc Wiese
Production: Oliver Stoltz

 

Award-winning film 2023

FÜR IMMER

Director: Pia Lenz
Production: Carsten Rau and Hauke Wendler (PIER 53 Filmproduktion)

 

Award-winning film 2022

1001 NIGHTS APART

Director: Sarvnaz Alambeigi
Production: Sarvnaz Alambeigi, Stefan Tolz, Thomas Riedelsheimer, Louise Rosen (Filmpunkt GmbH, Rabison Art Production, Louise Rosen Ltd, SWR/ARTE)

 

Award-winning film 2021

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

Director: Antonia Kilian
Production: Frank Müller, Antonia Kilian, Guevara Namer (Doppelplusultra Filmproduktion)

 

Award-winning film 2020

JENSEITS DES SICHTBAREN – HILMA AF KLINT

Director: Halina Dyrschka
Production: Eva Illmer, Halina Dyrschka

 

Award-winning film 2019

BOY OF WAR

Directors: Cyprien Clement-Delmas, Igor Korenko
Production: Fabian Driehorst (Fabian&Fred)

 

Award-winning film 2018

GRENZENLOS – GESCHICHTEN VON FREIHEIT UND FREUNDSCHAFT

Directors: Johanna Bentz, Camilo Colmenares, Sandra Dajani, Madeleine Dallmeyer, Nazgol Emami, Diana Menestrey, Khaled Nawal, Birgit Schulz
Production: Birgit Schulz (Bildersturm Filmproduktion)