Press Releases 2025
New Programme Structure, New Venues and Further Changes
For its 40th anniversary, DOK.fest München has developed a new curatorial concept: The previous programme scheme will be dissolved. The 105 festival films will be divided into 16 topically focused sections. The three main awards will be awarded as before; from this year they will be called VIKTORIA. Ten to twelve pre-nominated, outstanding films will compete for them – irrespective of the sections. The new structure makes it much easier for audiences to decide which films to choose.
Adele Kohout becomes new director of DOK.fest München
In October, Adele Kohout will take over the direction and management of DOK.fest München. The former Deputy Director follows Daniel Sponsel, who is leaving the festival after the upcoming edition (7 to 25 May 2025) to become president of the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). From October, Maya Reichert, who currently heads DOK.eduation, the educational platform of DOK.fest München, will be the new Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Director of DOK.fest München. The board of the association Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival München e.V. has unanimously decided on this new management.
Mirjam Skal wins German Documentary Film Music Award
Swiss composer Mirjam Skal has been announced as the winner of the German Documentary Film Music Award 2025 for her music for the film VRACHT directed by Max Carlo Kohal. The award is donated by the Versicherungskammer Kulturstiftung and is endowed with 5,000 euros. The festival honours the artistic significance of music in documentary films with this award, which is unique in Germany.
DOK.fest München turns 40: The anniversary edition starting 7 May 2025
40 years of DOK.fest München: That amounts to around 3,000 socially relevant and artistically valuable documentaries and a total of 750,000 visitors. The anniversary edition will be officially opened on 7 May at Deutsches Theater. Until 18 May 105 films will be shown in cinemas and at special venues in Munich. Almost all DOK.fest München films can also be seen @home on the digital screen from 12 to 25 May.
DOK.education 2025: Mit Dokumentarfilm auf Entdeckungsreise in die Gesellschaft und Medienwelt
DOK.education, das ganzjährige Bildungsprogramm des DOK.fest München, setzt auf die Kraft des Dokumentarfilms, um Medienkompetenz wie auch gesellschaftliche Werte zu vermitteln. In Zeiten von zunehmender Medienvielfalt und -manipulation ist es von entscheidender Bedeutung, neben den Inhalten auch die Sprache des Films verstehen und hinterfragen zu können.
