Dokumentale'24
Explore the first published titles of our program! Get a sneak peek of the full program, which includes not only films but also non-fiction books, podcasts, and a multimedia exhibition. Secure your Early Bird Pass and be part of an unforgettable festival.
Films
Alreadymade
12. Oct
/ 19:30 / Berlinische Galerie
18. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
In 2004, a urinal was voted the most influential work of modern art. But was its creator really Marcel Duchamp? Visser tells the absurd story of this iconic work and reflects on what makes art art.
And So it Begins
15. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
20. Oct
/ 18:30 / ACUDkino
In the midst of the election campaign for the presidency of the Philippines, a grassroots movement standing up for freedom of expression and freedom of the press is emerging. Leni Robredo, former Vice President, is widely seen as a hope for freedom and democracy.
The Art of Losing
12. Oct
/ 20:30 / Kant Kino
13. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
At age fourteen, Chilean guitarist and musician Andrés Godoy lost his right arm in a work accident. What initially seemed like the end of his passion was actually just the beginning.
Black Box Diaries
17. Oct
/ 17:30 / Kant Kino
19. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
As a journalist, Shiori Ito always dreamed of telling other people’s stories. Now the Japanese journalist is telling her own: Ito was raped by an influential, older colleague. In her film, she shows what it means when a justice system fails.
The Click Trap
19. Oct
/ 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater
20. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
Hate and disinformation on the internet are difficult to control and are posing challenges for democracies worldwide. Data is being collected and misused. What price does society have to pay for digitalization?
Diary of an Elephant Orphan
17. Oct
/ 20:30 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium
18. Oct
/ 17:30 / Kant Kino
A baby elephant has lost its parents. Since a wild elephant family is unlikely to accept an orphaned youngster, wildlife conservationists set out to find a herd of orphaned elephants that was rescued twenty-five years ago in order to ensure the baby elephant’s survival.
Draw for Change
19. Oct
/ 15:00 / Documentation Centre
A series about female cartoonists from around the world who are challenging their societies’ taboos. Through their art, they are fighting for freedom of speech, feminism, and justice— risking their lives every day.
In a world built by men, architect Eileen Gray has created her own sanctuary, a special house on the Côte d’Azur. But the architect Le Corbusier begins to paint the house against the architect’s wishes. A story about a woman’s fight for her own space.
Fauna
15. Oct
/ 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
18. Oct
/ 18:30 / ACUDkino
During the Covid-19 pandemic, a shepherd and a laboratory technician live together in a house nestled in a forest on the outskirts of Barcelona. Two worlds collide. A reflection on the relationship between animals, technology, and humans in pandemic times.
Free Party: A Folk History
11. Oct
/ 18:00 / Kater Blau
19. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
Director Aaron Trinder takes us back to the beginnings of the Free Party movement in England during the 1980s and 1990s. Far off from commercialism and official venues, the movement threw wild outdoor parties. A story about the power of a movement and the desire to be free.
The Friendship Bench
13. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
20. Oct
/ 20:30 / Kant Kino
There is a severe shortage of psychologists in Zimbabwe. This drives Dr Dixon Chibanda to seek solutions outside the conventional healthcare system. He begins training grandmothers, developing a completely new approach that sees people in the community helping each other.
The Giants
11. Oct
/ 17:30 / Kant Kino
12. Oct
/ 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
Australian politician and environmental activist Bob Brown has dedicated his life to saving the world’s tallest deciduous trees, Tasmania’s giant eucalyptuses. A journey through more than fifty years of his work as an activist and Australia’s first openly gay MP.
The Gospel of Revolution
15. Oct
/ 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater
17. Oct
/ 18:30 / ACUDkino
In the 1990s, a wave of revolutionary movements against dictators and governments washed over Latin America. This documentary follows a Belgian pastor who fights in the opposition movement in Nicaragua. A film about strength and conflict, through and with one’s own faith.
Grasshopper Republic
16. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
18. Oct
/ 20:30 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium
Millions of grasshoppers swarm deep in the forests of Uganda to mate. A group of young men waits at the edges of fields and forests to catch the insects, as the elusive grasshoppers are considered a special delicacy.
Greta Gerwig: Itinerary Of A Rising Star
11. Oct
/ 18:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
13. Oct
/ 21:00 / Kant Kino
Her film Barbie grossed over a billion dollars, marking a high point in Greta Gerwig’s career—but her success began decades earlier. This film chronicles the director’s journey, emphasizing her consistent focus on showcasing a feminist perspective in her work.
Harder Than The Rock
19. Oct
/ 20:30 / Yaam
20. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
In the 1970s, the Cimarons were at the heart of the great reggae boom. This documentary tells the story of Britain’s first reggae band, following them on their journey to fulfil a dream: performing live one last time.
Hardly Working
19. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
This award-winning film offers a scathing yet playful critique of our society.
The Hexagonal Hive and a Mouse in a Maze
11. Oct
/ 18:00 / Kant Kino
Codirectors Bartek Dziadosz and Tilda Swinton travel the world to understand what it means to learn. Scientists, philosophers, farmers, and children share their diverse approaches to knowledge.
Hidden Dance of Eels
12. Oct
/ 17:30 / Kant Kino
13. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Where eels spawn and how exactly they reproduce is one of marine biology’s unsolved mysteries. A group of international scientists sets out to find the eels’ suspected birthplace. Can they learn enough about these endangered fish to save them?
Hvaldimir: Conversation with a Whale
11. Oct
/ 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater
18. Oct
/ 18:00 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium
Off the coast of Norway, a beluga whale suddenly appears sporting some unusual gear. The whale seems to have escaped from a Russian military base where whales and dolphins are trained for espionage purposes. This is the intriguing story of the ‘spy whale’.
I Am the River, the River Is Me
15. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
17. Oct
/ 21:00 / ACUDkino
Māori river guardian Ned Tapa explores the important culture of his ancestors along the Whanganui River in New Zealand with friends. The river is the first in the world to be granted as legal personhood. For over 150 years, the Whanganui iwi have been fighting to protect their sacred lifeline.
Immortals
17. Oct
/ 18:00 / Documentation Centre
18. Oct
/ 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
In October 2019, Iraq sees the eruption of its largest protests since the war’s end. Khalili, a young film-maker, finds himself right in the middle and discovers that his camera is the most powerful weapon of all. Milo also takes part in the protests wearing boy’s clothes.
International Adoptions: A Global Scandal
14. Oct
/ 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater
Over 60 years, over a million ‘orphans’ were adopted by Western families worldwide. Now many discover their past was a lie. How did this colossal, lucrative market thrive? And why does it continue today?
Iris
13. Oct
/ 18:00 / Kant Kino
14. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
In a dialogue between past and present, this film tells the story of Iris Berben’s career, which has lasted more than five decades, spanning film, television, and political engagement. Iris Berben returns to important places and meets with inspiring companions along the way.
Kreis der Wahrheit
17. Oct
/ 20:30 / Kant Kino
18. Oct
/ 18:00 / Documentation Centre
Sisters Helga and Elisabeth survived the Shoah. In interviews, they recount the harrowing memories of their childhood and vividly reconstruct the terror of the Nazi regime.
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee
14. Oct
/ 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
19. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
Christopher Lee, known for his roles as James Bond and in Star Wars, appeared in nearly three hundred film and television productions. He was not only a singer, pilot, and knife thrower but also a war hero and Nazi hunter. A look back at a life full of highs and lows.
Love & Trouble
19. Oct
/ 20:30 / Kant Kino
20. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
After the birth of their child, Kerry and Kenny, a married couple, find themselves facing the most challenging period of their lives. Kenny’s post-traumatic stress disorder is triggered by the baby’s crying. Over the course of ten years, we follow them on their healing journey.
Minted
18. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
19. Oct
/ 18:30 / ACUDkino
When then relatively unknown artist Beeple sold a digital artwork for $69 million three years ago, media around the world reported on the sensation. This marked the beginning of the NFT art industry and represents the biggest turning point in the history of modern art.
Mozart’s Sister
13. Oct
/ 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
19. Oct
/ 17:30 / Kant Kino
Like her brother, Maria Anna Mozart was a gifted pianist. However, upon reaching marriageable age, she was expected to step away from public performance and devote herself to other duties. But did she play a more significant role in her brother’s music than previously acknowledged?
My Father’s Diaries
11. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
14. Oct
/ 18:00 / Documentation Centre
In 1993, in the midst of the Bosnian war, Bekir Hasanović exchanged a gold coin for a camera. When director Ado Hasanovic finds his father’s old photos and diary entries decades later, he begins to reconstruct how his father survived the Srebrenica massacre.
My Sextortion Diary
14. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
18. Oct
/ 20:30 / Kant Kino
20. Oct
/ 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
Two months after a young film-maker’s laptop is stolen, an anonymous hacker begins threatening to release intimate photos of her. The director documents her own fight for control and self-determination.
New Wave
15. Oct
/ 20:00 / DASHI Canteen
16. Oct
/ 20:30 / Kant Kino
18. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
Immaculately styled hair, underground parties, and a new blend of punk and rock music emerged in the 1980s: New Wave. Accompanied by the sounds of its music, director Elizabeth Ai takes a personal and vulnerable look back at her own past.
Of Caravan and the Dogs
12. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
15. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
How do you report on a war being waged by your own government when the word “war” is banned in reporting? This film accompanies teams from Novaya Gazeta, Radio Echo of Moscow, and Rain TV on their fight for press freedom.
Pepi Fandango
14. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
16. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
20. Oct
/ 18:00 / Kant Kino
Viennese musician and Holocaust survivor Peter Pérez sets off with his best friend in search of the fandango, which he learned from Roma children in a concentration camp. An epic road movie that combines pain and the healing power of music.
Searching for Amani
16. Oct
/ 18:00 / Kant Kino
18. Oct
/ 21:00 / ACUDkino
20. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
In the heart of one of Kenya’s largest nature reserves, the world of thirteen-year-old Simon Ali is suddenly shattered. His father, an experienced tour guide, is found dead. Together with his best friend Haron, he sets out in search of the truth.
Sisterqueens
12. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
13. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
The three friends Jamila, Rachel, and Faseeha are part of Sisterqueens, a Berlin-based rap collective. They challenge social norms, rap about feminism, discrimination, and self-determination, and help each other to forge their own paths.
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
17. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
18. Oct
/ 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater
Patrice Lumumba became the first prime minister of the independent Congo in 1960. He was executed the following year. He had become the personification of the pan-African movement that threatened Western hegemony in Africa. In this context, jazz music became a political instrument.
Space Factory
15. Oct
/ 20:30 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium
18. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
The colonisation of space is imminent. Architects are designing innovative living spaces for extraterrestrial communities. Combining art and technology, these dwellings are the first step towards a new era of human colonisation in the universe.
Standing Above the Clouds
13. Oct
/ 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater
15. Oct
/ 18:00 / Kant Kino
20. Oct
/ 19:30 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium
When the construction of a thirty-metre-high telescope on the Hawaiian mountain Mauna Kea is proposed, a global movement of kiaʻi (protectors) rises up. This film tells the story of three women fighting on the front lines to protect their sacred mountain.
State of Silence
11. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
12. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
14. Oct
/ 17:30 / Kant Kino
In Mexico, journalists are fighting against drug policy and systemic corruption. But danger is all around. Cartels and officials want to prevent the truth from coming to light. This portrait is an impressive call to advocate for the importance of press freedom.
Surfing Einstein
17. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
19. Oct
/ 21:00 / ACUDkino
In 1915, Albert Einstein predicted gravitational waves. In 2016, a group of physicists successfully confirmed their existence. Narrated through dance, this documentary delves into the interpersonal and emotional aspects of the research project.
The Tempest of Neptun
15. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
20. Oct
/ 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater
For decades, the small Croatian island of Vis was closed to tourism. That is now set to change. Fishermen, young people, and the island’s workers come together to talk about how much tourism the idyllic island can take.
Uncropped
13. Oct
/ 20:30 / Lark
15. Oct
/ 20:30 / Kant Kino
19. Oct
/ 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater
From Patti Smith to Muhammad Ali—successful photojournalist James Hamilton has photographed them all. Through the lens of his camera, we travel back in time to New York’s past and Hamilton’s exciting everyday life in the photography and art scene.
Warm Film
16. Oct
/ 20:30 / City Kino Wedding
17. Oct
/ 21:00 / Sputnik Kino
After a tabloid attacks the film crew for a queer subject in Serbia, two young actors explore the representation of LGBTIQ characters in Yugoslav and Serbian cinema. They analyse the social conditions that led to different treatments of these characters.
We Iranian Women
11. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
14. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
This film showcases courageous Iranian women risking their lives to fight economic crises, corruption, and the patriarchy. Prominent women from the fields of culture, art, and science share their stories of being forced to leave their beloved country.
Who Cares?
12. Oct
/ 19:00 / Sputnik Kino
16. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
At a training centre for medical professionals in Switzerland, nurses and doctors practise how to interact with patients in the most compassionate way possible. But can sensitive, empathetic care succeed in a healthcare system that is chronically overburdened and underfunded?
Yintah
11. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
20. Oct
/ 21:00 / ACUDkino
In the Wet’suwet’en First Nation community, resistance to the construction of an underwater pipeline that jeopardizes the community’s livelihood has been growing. Activists Howilhkat Freda Huson and Sleydo’ Molly Wickham take us with them on their fight to reappropriate their homeland.
Books
250 Komponistinnen
18. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
250 Composers uncovers the hidden side of music history. Arno Lücker introduces us to 250 female composers whose works have frequently been overlooked. In vivid portraits, we learn about their lives, their struggles, and their music. A book that will revolutionize your perception of classical music.
Beyond Molotovs
15. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Beyond Molotovs explores how anti-authoritarian movements are utilizing emotions and the senses to fight authoritarianism. Activists, artists, and scholars from around the world share their strategies.
Café der Freiheit
12. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Café of Freedom tells the inspiring story of Tara Paighambari, a young woman who lives her dream, despite her difficult escape from Iran and a life in refugee shelters. Her story is a testament to courage, perseverance, and the power of determination.
Die Salze der Erde
13. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
The Salts of the Earth reveals how three seemingly insignificant elements—phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium—are deeply intertwined with our history, environment, and future. From agriculture to geopolitics, it reveals the challenges posed by these three elements and how they shape our lives.
Klimagerechtigkeit
11. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Climate Justice connects the climate crisis with social injustice. The book shows how colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchy have contributed to the climate crisis and how marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by its consequences, calling for a just fight against climate change.
Spiel*Kritik
19. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Spiel*Kritik sheds light on the dark side of the video game industry. Renowned authors analyse how games reflect power relations, capitalism, and social inequality. From production to consumption—this book offers a critical look at the virtual world.
Systemic: How Racism Is Making Us Ill
16. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
"Systemic: How Racism Is Making Us Ill" by Layal Liverpool reveals how racism is embedded in healthcare. Black people and people of colour face discrimination and often receive inferior care. This book exposes the impact of these disparities and offers solutions for a fairer healthcare system.
The Piano Player of Budapest
14. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
The Piano Player of Budapest tells the moving story of Stephen de Bastion, a Jewish pianist who endured immense suffering during the Holocaust. His granddaughter Roxanne discovers his hidden diary, learning about his incredible struggle for survival and his unwavering love for music.
Virtual Experience
The Darkest Files
18. Oct
/ 16:30 / Filmrauschpalast
In this exclusive video game preview, you take on the role of young prosecutor Esther Katz. In post-war West Germany, she tries to solve the crimes of the Nazis and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Draw for Change
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
This virtual reality experience will take you into Maremoto’s world, showing how the young Mexican caricaturist works. With her art, Maremoto fights for equal rights, empowers other women, and criticizes patriarchal structures.
Floating with the Spirits
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
In Mexico, two sisters who are members of the Mazatec community celebrate the Day of the Dead. Together they remember the stories of their grandmother and take us to the breathtaking landscapes of the Oaxaca mountains, which are full of knowledge and culture.
The imaginary friend
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
Eight-year-old David invites you to immerse yourself in his vivid imagination and his grief. Those around him don’t seem to understand the grieving boy, who increasingly wonders where the boundaries between reality and fantasy lie.
La strada molesta
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
Set designer Silvia Albarella guides us through her memories of growing up in Naples. She takes us on a poetic journey through the city as both a living space and a danger zone, asking: Who owns the city?
The Matriarx
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
In matriarchal societies, women are in charge. This has an impact on social, political, and economic life. The Matriarx will allow you to experience what such a world could look like. How will you see yourself in a world that works very differently?
Origen
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
Mythological beings guide you through the rainforest and the memories, teachings, and stories of the Shipibo people in this virtual reality experience. Emilia Sánchez Chiquetti allows nature itself to become the storyteller. A reflection on how we coexist with nature.
A Provenance
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
Containing over nine hundred objects, Charlotte and Gustav von Klemperer owned the most extensive private collection of Meissen porcelain. When the Jewish family had to flee Germany in 1938, the National Socialists seized the collection. Most of it remains unaccounted for.
Red Redemption
18. Oct
/ 18:30 / Filmrauschpalast
The Austrian pseudo-Marxist collective Total Refusal is turning the popular game Red Dead Redemption 2 into a critique of capitalism.
SARC x 20
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
To mark the twentieth anniversary of the SARC building, opened by Karlheinz Stockhausen, this video installation offers a unique experience comprising archive material, performances, and compositions. Creativity and innovation merge in research, design, and art.
Trilogy by Gina Kim - Bloodless
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
Bloodless is the first part of the trilogy, with which Gina Kim addresses the events that took place in Dongducheon Camp in South Korea. Kim draws attention to the murder of Yoon Geum Yi, who was brutally killed by a US soldier at Dongducheon Camp in 1992.
Trilogy by Gina Kim - Comfortless
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
The last part of the trilogy takes a trip to American Town. In 1969, a brothel was built specifically for the American soldiers stationed at the airbase in Kunsan, South Korea. Women were brought to the town from all over the country, and a small, independent, self-sufficient town was established.
Trilogy by Gina Kim - Tearless
10.
-
20. Oct
/ Festival Center D'24
The second part of the trilogy takes us to the Monkey House, which was where women in the camps who were suspected of having sexually transmitted diseases were locked up. Its name came from the screams heard from the women imprisoned there, calling for their freedom.
D'Salon
Beyond Progress
11. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Beyond Progress: The Ethical Implications of Climate Change
Bridging Divides
12. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Bridging Divides: Stories of Home, Identity, and Sisterhood
Unveiling Nature’s Mysteries
13. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Unveiling Nature’s Mysteries: Knowledge, Ethics, and the Natural World
Master Class James Hamilton
14. Oct
/ 16:30 / Festival Center D'24
From Patti Smith to Muhammad Ali—successful photojournalist James Hamilton has photographed them all.
Music as a Lifeline
14. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Music as a Lifeline: Memory, Identity, and the Power of Art
Freedom vs. Censorship
15. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Freedom vs. Censorship: The Battle for Freedom of Expression
Invisible Barriers
16. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Invisible Barriers: Medical Racism and Healthcare Disparities
Reclaiming the Narrative
18. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
Reclaiming the Narrative: Women’s Contributions to History
From Capitol Hill to Gaming Communities
19. Oct
/ 18:30 / Festival Center D'24
From Capitol Hill to Gaming Communities: The Spread of Right-Wing Extremism
D'Lounge
Free Party: A Folk History
11. Oct
/ 18:00 / Kater Blau
Join us for an evening exploring the club scenes of Berlin and England! An upbeat Set with DJ Mirochka will be followed by a special screening of “Free Party".
Alreadymade
12. Oct
/ 19:30 / Berlinische Galerie
Catch a special screening of "Alreadymade" and a live performance by Valerie Renay at the Berlinische Galerie, celebrating Berlin's art scene!
Uncropped
13. Oct
/ 20:30 / Lark
Join us at Lark for a screening of D.W. Young's engaging film "Uncropped." Following the film, stick around for a Q&A session and enjoy an afterparty with DJs.
New Wave
15. Oct
/ 20:00 / DASHI Canteen
Don’t miss a special night with Elizabeth Ai! Enjoy a screening and Q&A of her film New Wave at DASHI Canteen and groove to a night of handpicked music.
Red Redemption - Live Performance
18. Oct
/ 18:30 / Filmrauschpalast
The Austrian pseudo-Marxist collective Total Refusal is turning the popular game Red Dead Redemption 2 into a critique of capitalism.
Harder Than The Rock
19. Oct
/ 20:30 / Yaam
We welcome you to the Young African Art Market for a screening of Mark Warmingtons documentary “Harder than the Rock”!
Our Event Passes
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