DOK.fest 2025
Red carpet for the anniversary edition
It has become a firm tradition that we transform our theater into a large cinema hall once a year. And this spring, we are once again rolling out the red (film) carpet for DOK.fest München. On May 7, we will present the first big premiere, which will be followed by further film screenings until May 11.
Time for a look back
The film festival in Munich is taking place for the 40th time. An ideal time for a retrospective, which is also this year’s motto. “Since the beginning, our program has been dedicated to all the essential themes and stories, including the less beautiful sides of our world. And especially in light of current political and social developments, it is even more important than ever to take unexpected and new perspectives on the world,” explain festival directors Daniel Sponsel and Adele Kohout. And that is exactly what documentaries can do: look and create empathy.
Together with our Managing Director Thomas Linsmayer, the festival will open on May 7.
Festival opening with opening film
FRIENDLY FIRE – Klaus Fried, Julia Albrecht
Germany, Austria 2024, 109 Min., OmeU
He is among the most significant German-language poets. Having fled Vienna, he became an awkward writer after 1945, who condemned injustices in verse and believed in the power of love. What is it like to grow up as the son of such an icon? Klaus Fried examines his father’s life and discovers an empathetic troublemaker.
Ina Borrmann / DOK.fest München
Other films
MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN – David Borenstein
Denmark, Czech Republic 2024, 90 Min., OmeU
In a small town in Russia, teacher Pasha witnesses how propaganda can take over the classroom. Forced patriotism, weapons training, tales of heroism – the school becomes a platform for ideology. Pasha secretly films how children are drilled for war. When he attracts the attention of the regime, the only option left is to flee – with the explosive material in his luggage.
Pablo Bücheler / DOK.fest München
AZZA – Stefanie Brockhaus
Germany 2025, 88 Min., OmeU
Since 2018, women have been allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia. As a driving instructor in Jeddah, Azza stands up to everyday sexism and defends herself against the control and violence that her ex-husband continues to use to harass her and her children. Again and again, she seeks out and finds little spaces of freedom. Empathetically and sensitively observed by a female film team.
Silvia Bauer / DOK.fest München
THE WHITE HOUSE EFFECT – Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos, Jon Shenk
USA 2024, 96 Min.
Since 2018, women have been allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia. As a driving instructor in Jeddah, Azza stands up to everyday sexism and defends herself against the control and violence that her ex-husband continues to use to harass her and her children. Again and again, she seeks out and finds little spaces of freedom. Empathetically and sensitively observed by a female film team.
Pablo Bücheler / DOK.fest München
BLAME – Christian Frei
Switzerland 2025, 121 Min., OmeU
Mammals as misunderstood as bats is how Frei, the filmmaker, describes scientists. He follows three of them who have been researching the SARS virus for decades. For almost as long, they have been warning of the danger of a pandemic. Why are people still prepared to believe in a conspiracy? “New attention economy!”
Sara Gómez / DOK.fest München
AI WEIWEI'S TURANDOT – Maxim Derevianko
Italy, USA 2025, 78 Min., OmeU
“I like to do what I’m not good at.” Ai Weiwei’s artistic vision meets Puccini’s Turandot. The opera questions norms and addresses social conflict. In a new production, it becomes a means for Ai Weiwei to focus on current tensions and to reflect on his own biography. “I like trouble. So I think opera is truly a trouble.”
Helga-Mari Steininger / DOK.fest München
FRITZ LITZMANN, MEIN VATER UND ICH – Aljoscha Pause
Germany 2025, 144 Min.,OmeU
Daniel Sponsel / DOK.fest München
MONK IN PIECES – Billy Shebar
USA, Germany, France 2025, 94 Min.
For six decades, Meredith Monk has been creating groundbreaking performance art using her voice, choreography, videos and musical narrations. MONK IN PIECES presents a kaleidoscopic view of the artist’s life by means of her artworks. Archive footage of happenings and multimedia operas are artfully interwoven with interviews with her contemporaries.
Silvia Bauer / DOK.fest München
Film + concert
ENDLICH UNSTERBLICH – Vera Brückner
Germany 2025, 81 Min.
A band attempts to stand out from the musical mainstream and still remain commercial enough. On the one hand ‘Florian Paul und die Kapelle der letzten Hoffnung’ want it all; on the other hand, they want very little. Like many other German indie bands, they face challenges: how do we reach our audience? And at what cost?
Konzert der Band „Florian Paul & die Kapelle der letzten Hoffnung“ im Anschluss an den Film.
Concert by the band “Florian Paul & die Kapelle der letzten Hoffnung” following the film.
Combined ticket for film + concert: €18.00
Upon presentation of the festival pass or accreditation, discounted combination tickets can be purchased for 9 euros only at the advance booking office at the HFF Munich.
Daniela Graf /DOK.fest München, Foto: Suedkino
Fotos © Mirja Kofler, Dominik Petzold, DOK.fest München 2025
