For eight days, 15 youth journalists came together to report on the 68th edition of DOK Leipzig in a total of 17 articles. They had an intense few days: articles were written, videos were shot, audio pieces were recorded, and, of course, countless films from the festival were watched.
The film “Niñxs” tells the story of Karla. Director Kani Lapuerta accompanied his Mexican niece for eight years. Karla is transgender and has to endure a lot of hostility in public—yet she and the film remain hopeful. You can find out more about the film in an interview and a discussion with colleagues.
In the film “After the Silence,” Matilda-Luna Perotti talks to her grandmother on the phone for the first time in many years. Back then, she broke off contact with her family out of fear of the truth. After years of silence, shame, and fear, she overcomes her reluctance to continue repressing the abuse and decides to confront her trauma.
In their film “Austroschwarz,” Mwita Mataro and Helmut Karner tell Mwita’s own story. The film depicts everyday racism using not only documentary but also animated elements, transporting viewers into the world of “Greenland.”
In “Ether” and “Nonna,” we follow two grandmothers through their everyday lives. DOK spotters Gretel and Judie sat down together and talked about the two films and the inspiring older women they feature.
The short film “Lina” tells the story of parents who lost their children during pregnancy or at a very early age. Accompanied by abstract images, those affected tell their stories and provide a deep insight into their emotional world. Mia and Wanda had the opportunity to interview filmmaker Remo Rauscher at Cinestar.
This year, DOK Leipzig will once again present the Young Eyes Award, which is given by a youth jury. Twelve young people are coming together this week to evaluate the films and select the best one. The DOK Spotters met with them.
This year, 180 volunteers are working both in front of and behind the scenes at DOK Leipzig. The DOK Spotters accompanied them—in the cinema, in the guest office, and at the information stand in the pedestrian zone. What does everyday life as a volunteer actually look like? And how do the volunteers perceive the festival atmosphere? The DOK Spotters asked them.
The “Films for Everyone 3+” series shows documentary and animated films for the youngest audience at DOK Leipzig. DOK Spotters Judie and Wanda attended the screening and captured the atmosphere in the cinema.
Prison is not usually the first thing we associate with cinema. But “DOK im Knast” (DOK in Prison) combines these seemingly incompatible concepts by allowing a jury of inmates to select one—this time even two—winning films each year. The DOK Spotters were there and report on their prison cinema experience.
The film “Active Vocabulary” is about Maria, a young Russian teacher who speaks out against the war in her school lessons shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After being denounced by one of her students, Maria is forced to flee to Germany. We met the filmmaker for an interview.
“Weißer Rauch über Schwarze Pumpe,” the documentary film by Martin Gressmann and Peter Badel, follows the small town of Schwarze Pumpe in Saxony. To learn more about his film and the people in “Weißer Rauch über Schwarze Pumpe,” we had the opportunity to interview Martin Gressmann.