The documentary films presented as well as internationally award-winning media projects, immersive VR experiences and readings from non-fiction books address current topics in our society and shed light on new perspectives. The Dokumentale thus offers a unique festival experience on and off the big screen in Berlin, with plenty of space for exchange.
"In our opinion, Berlin lacked a platform for documentary narratives that showcase the entire spectrum: from artist portraits to projects dealing with our past and present, to scientific inquiries," explains artistic director Anna Ramskogler-Witt about her approach. She continues, "We want to create a space for encounters where an discourse can happen on equal footing, even when it involves differing perspectives."
These are the first confirmed highlights:
Whether art, environmental protection or social justice: the Dokumentale festival program spans the spectrum from burning contemporary issues to personal narratives. The first confirmed program highlights illustrate this range of content.
MY FATHERS DIARY by Ado Hasanovic (German premiere) tells the story of the occupation of Srebrenica using archive videos and diary recordings of his father.
I AM THE RIVER, THE RIVER IS ME by Petr Lom (German premiere) shows the deep connection of Māori tribal leader Ned Tapa and his community with the Whanganui River in Aotearoa, which was the first body of water in the world to be recognized as a legal entity.
An appetizer is already planned for the hot months ahead: As part of the summer preview from July 18 to 21, Dokumentale will present the first international highlights at various locations in Berlin. These include:
NOMAD SOLITUDE (German premiere) by Belgian filmmaker Sebastien Wieleman portrays the unconventional lives of three US-American women, taking a look at alternative forms of living in mobile homes.
CATCHING FIRE: THE STORY OF ANITA PALLENBERG (Berlin premiere) by Alexis Bloom portrays the model, actress and muse of the Rolling Stones Anita Pallenberg. Using archive material, private video recordings and reconstructed 16mm images, the film takes a closer look at this unique woman.
More than cinema: the event formats D'Lounge and D'Salon
Under the motto “Non-Fiktion Lover”, the D'Lounge series invites you to film screenings, discussions and non-fiction readings in unusual locations on six festival evenings, followed by DJ sets or artistic performances. In this way, the festival connects Berlin's nightlife with Berlin's cultural world. In addition, Dokumentale offers the D'Salon, an interactive discussion forum where visitors can enter into a direct exchange with filmmakers, experts and authors over coffee and cake or an aperitif.
The industry platform for international documentary filmmaking: The D'Hub
With the D'Hub, the Dokumentale also addresses the international documentary (film) industry. As part of workshops, discussion panels and Germany's first impact pitch - The Good Media Pitch - documentary filmmakers and other non-fictional storytellers meet decision-makers and civil society actors to develop new collaborations and campaigns that are good for films and good for society.
Vivian Schröder, Impact Director of the festival, explains the approach of the specialist program as follows: “At a time when facts are more important than ever, the Documentale brings together documentary filmmakers, journalists*, podcasters* and authors* to jointly advance the discourse on the future of non-fictional storytelling. Through our Impact program, we highlight the central role that documentaries and other non-fiction media play in our society and show how we can reach and engage people with information.”
Your press contact
If you have any questions, requests for material or interviews, please do not hesitate to contact Marie Ketzscher at ketzscher@posteo.de or +49 176 20730333.
The Dokumentale is organized by The Good Media Network.The Good Media Network is committed to supporting outstanding films that strive to transform the world into a more just, sustainable and beautiful place.
