DOK.fest München Podcast. Im Kino. Zuhause. Archiv
103 Episoden
22 Minuten
MAGIC MOUNTAIN, GE, PL 2023, Mariam Chachia, Nik Voigt
Pills, card games and cigarettes: this is how the days go by in Abastumani. In a crumbling palatial building high in the Georgian mountains, people who are chronically ill with tuberculosis live in complete isolation – until they find out that their unloved home is to be demolished. In calm and clear images, MAGIC MOUNTAIN tells of a parallel world and how it begins to falter.
Biography
Mariam Chachia graduated from Shot Rustaveli Georgian State University of Theatre and Film in 2003. She worked for film and TV productions for several years, and in 2012 she shot her first documentary film KIROV STREET 8. In 2014 she founded the organisation OpyoDoc, which strives for social change projects.
Pills, card games and cigarettes: this is how the days go by in Abastumani. In a crumbling palatial building high in the Georgian mountains, people who are chronically ill with tuberculosis live in complete isolation – until they find out that their unloved home is to be demolished. In calm and clear images, MAGIC MOUNTAIN tells of a parallel world and how it begins to falter.
Biography
Mariam Chachia graduated from Shot Rustaveli Georgian State University of Theatre and Film in 2003. She worked for film and TV productions for several years, and in 2012 she shot her first documentary film KIROV STREET 8. In 2014 she founded the organisation OpyoDoc, which strives for social change projects.
24 Minuten
Moderation: Daniel Lang
SHE CHEF, AT, DE 2022, Melanie Liebheit, Gereon Wetzel
Agnes' years as a young chef in Europe's Michelin-starred restaurants are instructive: she convinces the head chefs with her ability, but the pressure is enormous. Can Agnes stand her ground in this male-dominated world? Her self-declared goal is to be the boss in her own restaurant. The directors get right up close to the action in extremely cramped spaces and grant us an insight into new approaches in high-end cuisine.
Biographies
Melanie Liebheit
Studied ethnology in Munich and Manchester and documentary film at the HFF. Liebheit is co-founder and co-director of the Nonfiktionale in Bad Aibling. Together with Wetzel she already realised the film DIE KUNST DER WIDERREDE (DOK.fest Munich 2018).
Gereon Wetzel
Studied archaeology in Heidelberg, later documentary film at the HFF. Since 2008 he has been co-operating with the DVD label and streaming portal DocCollection. He lives and works as a freelance filmmaker, author and lecturer in Eichstätt/Bavaria.
SHE CHEF, AT, DE 2022, Melanie Liebheit, Gereon Wetzel
Agnes' years as a young chef in Europe's Michelin-starred restaurants are instructive: she convinces the head chefs with her ability, but the pressure is enormous. Can Agnes stand her ground in this male-dominated world? Her self-declared goal is to be the boss in her own restaurant. The directors get right up close to the action in extremely cramped spaces and grant us an insight into new approaches in high-end cuisine.
Biographies
Melanie Liebheit
Studied ethnology in Munich and Manchester and documentary film at the HFF. Liebheit is co-founder and co-director of the Nonfiktionale in Bad Aibling. Together with Wetzel she already realised the film DIE KUNST DER WIDERREDE (DOK.fest Munich 2018).
Gereon Wetzel
Studied archaeology in Heidelberg, later documentary film at the HFF. Since 2008 he has been co-operating with the DVD label and streaming portal DocCollection. He lives and works as a freelance filmmaker, author and lecturer in Eichstätt/Bavaria.
28 Minuten
Moderation: Daniel Lang
DEMON MINERAL, US 2023 – Director: Hadley Austin
On the territory of the Navajo Nation in USA, disused uranium mines pose an on-going threat to the environment of the indigenous people. Their efforts to reclaim their sacred earth and gain compensation are unfailing. Here the indigenous community of activists, artists and scientists have their say. A film manifesto that is intelligent in both its form and narrative content. Maren Willkomm
Biography
Writer and documentarian Hadley Austin has academic roots in history and social science and works as a lecturer and (audio) producer, among other things. She was a 2020 Redford Center and 2021 Bay Area Video Coalition fellow. As an artist, she publishes poetry and short films.
DEMON MINERAL, US 2023 – Director: Hadley Austin
On the territory of the Navajo Nation in USA, disused uranium mines pose an on-going threat to the environment of the indigenous people. Their efforts to reclaim their sacred earth and gain compensation are unfailing. Here the indigenous community of activists, artists and scientists have their say. A film manifesto that is intelligent in both its form and narrative content. Maren Willkomm
Biography
Writer and documentarian Hadley Austin has academic roots in history and social science and works as a lecturer and (audio) producer, among other things. She was a 2020 Redford Center and 2021 Bay Area Video Coalition fellow. As an artist, she publishes poetry and short films.
22 Minuten
#RACEGIRL – DAS COMEBACK DER SOPHIA FLÖRSCH, DE 2023,Sonia Otto
Editing: Finbarr Wilbrink, Karoline Schulz
Since she was four years old, Sophia Flörsch has trained to fulfil her life’s dream – to be a Formula 1 racing driver. And she is good. Really good in fact. But what does that mean in an industry fixated on men, where only drivers whose families can provide them with start-up capital have a chance. But giving up is not an option for Sophia, despite all the setbacks. It means everything to her.
Biography
Sonia Otto
After studying Cultural Studies in Berlin and Audiovisual Media in Seville, Otto first worked as a writer and assistant director before becoming a producer in material development. #RACEGIRL is her debut as a director.
Editing: Finbarr Wilbrink, Karoline Schulz
Since she was four years old, Sophia Flörsch has trained to fulfil her life’s dream – to be a Formula 1 racing driver. And she is good. Really good in fact. But what does that mean in an industry fixated on men, where only drivers whose families can provide them with start-up capital have a chance. But giving up is not an option for Sophia, despite all the setbacks. It means everything to her.
Biography
Sonia Otto
After studying Cultural Studies in Berlin and Audiovisual Media in Seville, Otto first worked as a writer and assistant director before becoming a producer in material development. #RACEGIRL is her debut as a director.
22 Minuten
Moderation: Seggen Mikael
KOKOMO CITY, US 2023, D. Smith
Four black trans sex workers speak about their backgrounds and their everyday lives in New York and Atlanta. Their deeply honest stories expose the clichés and taboos in discussions of transsexuality. In striking black and white images and underscored with a Blaxploitation soundtrack, interviews, dramatizations and re-enactments come together into impactful biographical narratives.
Biography
Earlier in her career, D. Smith worked in the music industry as a (read male) producer, singer and songwriter, collaborated with Lil Wayne and Timbaland, among others, and was nominated for a Grammy twice. In 2014, she began her transition to womanhood. As a result, she hardly received any offers as a musician and started working on KOKOMO CITY, her first film, which took a total of three years. The film premiered at Sundance in 2023.
KOKOMO CITY, US 2023, D. Smith
Four black trans sex workers speak about their backgrounds and their everyday lives in New York and Atlanta. Their deeply honest stories expose the clichés and taboos in discussions of transsexuality. In striking black and white images and underscored with a Blaxploitation soundtrack, interviews, dramatizations and re-enactments come together into impactful biographical narratives.
Biography
Earlier in her career, D. Smith worked in the music industry as a (read male) producer, singer and songwriter, collaborated with Lil Wayne and Timbaland, among others, and was nominated for a Grammy twice. In 2014, she began her transition to womanhood. As a result, she hardly received any offers as a musician and started working on KOKOMO CITY, her first film, which took a total of three years. The film premiered at Sundance in 2023.
39 Minuten
Moderation: Eva Weinmann
BE WATER – VOICES FROM HONG KONG, DE 2023, Lia Erbal
Umbrella protests in Hong Kong: we hear the voices of people caught between hope for change and brutal repression.
Nathan Law is a young political activist that has been leading the Hong Kong democracy movement. Beginning from the Umbrella Movement in 2014 where he participated as a student leader, he was there on every page of crucial moments of the movement.
Thorsten Benner is co-founder and director of the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin. His areas of interest include the interplay of the US, Europe and non-Western powers in the making of global (dis)order, German and European policy vis-à-vis China and Asia-Pacific, peace and security as well as data and technology politics.
BE WATER – VOICES FROM HONG KONG, DE 2023, Lia Erbal
Umbrella protests in Hong Kong: we hear the voices of people caught between hope for change and brutal repression.
Nathan Law is a young political activist that has been leading the Hong Kong democracy movement. Beginning from the Umbrella Movement in 2014 where he participated as a student leader, he was there on every page of crucial moments of the movement.
Thorsten Benner is co-founder and director of the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin. His areas of interest include the interplay of the US, Europe and non-Western powers in the making of global (dis)order, German and European policy vis-à-vis China and Asia-Pacific, peace and security as well as data and technology politics.
18 Minuten
Moderation: Christina Wolf
THE LAST SEAGULL, BG, FI, NO 2023, Tonislav Hristov
For the past 40 years, Ivan has been an escort on Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. He is getting tired and wants to retire and re-establish contact with his son in Kyiv. This is no easy undertaking because of the pandemic and his lack of savings. What’s more, the wealthy Russian women are hard to convince. A sentimental portrait of life with unexpected twists.
Biography
Tonislav Hristov
The Bulgarian-born director and writer moved to Helsinki in 2003 to study film after graduating in engineering. His film "Hyvä postimies (The Good Postman)" was nominated for the European Film Award in 2017. He lives and works in Finland and Bulgaria.
THE LAST SEAGULL, BG, FI, NO 2023, Tonislav Hristov
For the past 40 years, Ivan has been an escort on Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. He is getting tired and wants to retire and re-establish contact with his son in Kyiv. This is no easy undertaking because of the pandemic and his lack of savings. What’s more, the wealthy Russian women are hard to convince. A sentimental portrait of life with unexpected twists.
Biography
Tonislav Hristov
The Bulgarian-born director and writer moved to Helsinki in 2003 to study film after graduating in engineering. His film "Hyvä postimies (The Good Postman)" was nominated for the European Film Award in 2017. He lives and works in Finland and Bulgaria.
15 Minuten
Moderation: Vera Drude
BE WATER – VOICES FROM HONG KONG, DE 2023, Lia Erbal
The fight for democracy in Hong Kong has long been a battle of systems, as well as a brutal game of economic dependencies. With a collage of found footage, interviews with experts and sketches of the thoughts of young activists, the filmmaker paints a picture of a city between wild hope for change and resignation to the Chinese regime.
Biography
Lia Erbal sees the work of Johann van der Keuken and her encounters with Bela Tarr and György Ligeti as the most important impulses for her work. Her films focus on the questions of fundamental changes brought about by the era of economic globalisation and what the upheavals do to the lives of each individual. She searches for new ways of working and expressing complexity, the dialogical and the change of perspective.
BE WATER – VOICES FROM HONG KONG, DE 2023, Lia Erbal
The fight for democracy in Hong Kong has long been a battle of systems, as well as a brutal game of economic dependencies. With a collage of found footage, interviews with experts and sketches of the thoughts of young activists, the filmmaker paints a picture of a city between wild hope for change and resignation to the Chinese regime.
Biography
Lia Erbal sees the work of Johann van der Keuken and her encounters with Bela Tarr and György Ligeti as the most important impulses for her work. Her films focus on the questions of fundamental changes brought about by the era of economic globalisation and what the upheavals do to the lives of each individual. She searches for new ways of working and expressing complexity, the dialogical and the change of perspective.
27 Minuten
Moderation: Julia Teichmann
INNOCENCE, DK, FI, IS, IR 2022, Guy Davidi
Even the youngest are meant to learn to love the army. In Israel, military service is part of every young person’s experience from the age of 18. Those who refuse to take part, have to reckon with hostility and lack of understanding while many are torn apart by doubt. A powerful plea for self-determination and a warning against the dramatic consequences of global militarisation.
Biography
Guy Davidi
After a year at the Tel Aviv University Cinema School, Davidi first lived in Paris from 2002. Since 2001 he has worked internationally as a cinematographer and director. In 2013, Davidi received an Oscar nomination in the Best Documentary category for 5 BROKEN CAMERAS.
INNOCENCE, DK, FI, IS, IR 2022, Guy Davidi
Even the youngest are meant to learn to love the army. In Israel, military service is part of every young person’s experience from the age of 18. Those who refuse to take part, have to reckon with hostility and lack of understanding while many are torn apart by doubt. A powerful plea for self-determination and a warning against the dramatic consequences of global militarisation.
Biography
Guy Davidi
After a year at the Tel Aviv University Cinema School, Davidi first lived in Paris from 2002. Since 2001 he has worked internationally as a cinematographer and director. In 2013, Davidi received an Oscar nomination in the Best Documentary category for 5 BROKEN CAMERAS.
45 Minuten
Moderation: Julia Teichmann
WIR UND DAS TIER – EIN SCHLACHTHAUSMELODRAM, DE 2023, David Spaeth
Many people have become completely disconnected with the process of killing in which meat production originates. What does it mean for the people whose job it is to slaughter? And what impact does it have on us to face up to it? There are no ready-made answers. That is what we learn from this intelligent film that observes processes, listens and makes the meat-eating viewers step out of their comfort zone.
Biography
David Spaeth first studied humanities at the Ruhr University in Bochum and then directing at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy. The documentary director teaches at the Filmakademie and at the HFF Munich. His film BETRUG was awarded the Grimme Prize 2019.
WIR UND DAS TIER – EIN SCHLACHTHAUSMELODRAM, DE 2023, David Spaeth
Many people have become completely disconnected with the process of killing in which meat production originates. What does it mean for the people whose job it is to slaughter? And what impact does it have on us to face up to it? There are no ready-made answers. That is what we learn from this intelligent film that observes processes, listens and makes the meat-eating viewers step out of their comfort zone.
Biography
David Spaeth first studied humanities at the Ruhr University in Bochum and then directing at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy. The documentary director teaches at the Filmakademie and at the HFF Munich. His film BETRUG was awarded the Grimme Prize 2019.
33 Minuten
Moderation: Ludwig Kramer
LA EMPRESA, DE 2023, André Siegers
In search of a story, a German film crew ends up in El Alberto, Mexico. The village has become famous for the Caminata Nocturna – an attraction that re-enacts illegal border crossings to the USA and is based on the experiences of the locals. This keenly nuanced essay film grapples with the possibilities and limits of cinematic representation.
Biography
André Siegers studied English in Düsseldorf and film at the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg and was a Robert Bosch Grenzgänger scholarship holder. He lives and works as a freelance filmmaker and author in Berlin.
LA EMPRESA, DE 2023, André Siegers
In search of a story, a German film crew ends up in El Alberto, Mexico. The village has become famous for the Caminata Nocturna – an attraction that re-enacts illegal border crossings to the USA and is based on the experiences of the locals. This keenly nuanced essay film grapples with the possibilities and limits of cinematic representation.
Biography
André Siegers studied English in Düsseldorf and film at the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg and was a Robert Bosch Grenzgänger scholarship holder. He lives and works as a freelance filmmaker and author in Berlin.
24 Minuten
Moderation: Ina Bormann
WIR WAREN KUMPEL, DEE, CH 2023, Christian Johannes Koch, Jonas Matauschek
In 2018, anthracite mining comes to an end in Germany. Generations of miners have known nothing but shift work underground and coal dust on their skin and under their fingernails. Now this era is ending and a new one is dawning. The film accompanies five miners as they cross the threshold into the unknown. A grand documentary narrative filmed in Cinemascope.
Biographies
Christian Johannes Kochwas born in Lucerne and first studied photography in Leipzig, then film directing at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
Jonas Matauschek was born in Dresden and studied photography in Leipzig and film in Halle.
WIR WAREN KUMPEL, DEE, CH 2023, Christian Johannes Koch, Jonas Matauschek
In 2018, anthracite mining comes to an end in Germany. Generations of miners have known nothing but shift work underground and coal dust on their skin and under their fingernails. Now this era is ending and a new one is dawning. The film accompanies five miners as they cross the threshold into the unknown. A grand documentary narrative filmed in Cinemascope.
Biographies
Christian Johannes Kochwas born in Lucerne and first studied photography in Leipzig, then film directing at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
Jonas Matauschek was born in Dresden and studied photography in Leipzig and film in Halle.
24 Minuten
Moderation: Max Weigl
PARADISE, FR, CH 2022, Alexander Abaturov
Ash clouds darken the skies over the East Siberian taiga. The sparsely populated land is ravaged by violent forest fires in summer 2021. While great swathes of the subarctic forests are in flames, the population of the barren region must protect itself from the threat. They cannot expect help from the Russian authorities.
Biography
Alexander Abaturov was born in 1984 in Novosibirsk and graduated from Gorky University in Yekaterinburg. After working as a journalist for the Federal Press Agency, he studied at the French Lussac Documentary School. Abarutov's first feature-length documentary SLEEPING SOULS (2013) was screened at many international film festivals, including Cinéma du réel, IDFF Ji.hlava, Vilnius IHRD FF, Les Écrans Documentaires, Les Étoiles de la Scam and the 23rd dokumentART.
PARADISE, FR, CH 2022, Alexander Abaturov
Ash clouds darken the skies over the East Siberian taiga. The sparsely populated land is ravaged by violent forest fires in summer 2021. While great swathes of the subarctic forests are in flames, the population of the barren region must protect itself from the threat. They cannot expect help from the Russian authorities.
Biography
Alexander Abaturov was born in 1984 in Novosibirsk and graduated from Gorky University in Yekaterinburg. After working as a journalist for the Federal Press Agency, he studied at the French Lussac Documentary School. Abarutov's first feature-length documentary SLEEPING SOULS (2013) was screened at many international film festivals, including Cinéma du réel, IDFF Ji.hlava, Vilnius IHRD FF, Les Écrans Documentaires, Les Étoiles de la Scam and the 23rd dokumentART.
40 Minuten
NON-ALIGNED: SCENES FROM THE LABUDOVIĆ REELS
HR, FR, ME, QT, RS 2022, Mila Turajlić
Cameraman Stevan Labudović followed Yugoslavia’s President Tito on his transcontinental search for new allies during the cold war. Decades later, the director discovers the film footage created back then in a Belgrade film archive and turns it into a fascinating and touching account of an almost forgotten mission and a time full of hope for a better world.
Biography
Mila Turajlić studied political science and international relations in London, film production in Belgrade and documentary film in Paris (La Femis). In her films she deals with the effects of the violent period after the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
HR, FR, ME, QT, RS 2022, Mila Turajlić
Cameraman Stevan Labudović followed Yugoslavia’s President Tito on his transcontinental search for new allies during the cold war. Decades later, the director discovers the film footage created back then in a Belgrade film archive and turns it into a fascinating and touching account of an almost forgotten mission and a time full of hope for a better world.
Biography
Mila Turajlić studied political science and international relations in London, film production in Belgrade and documentary film in Paris (La Femis). In her films she deals with the effects of the violent period after the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
52 Minuten
Moderation: Ina Bormann
EIGENTLICH EIGENTLICH JANUAR, DE 2022, Jan Peters
Turn on the camera and go for it. Or is it finely planned? 3-minute reels of exposed film material. Textured flickering images. A train of thought without pause for breath. Whispering that breaks off at an inopportune moment. Collected photos, rearranged, relate simple everyday and major political matters – and it’s the images themselves that are important. A film to be seen over and over again.
Biography
Jan Peters studied at the HfbK in Hamburg and was a co-founder of the filmmaker collective "Abbildungszentrum". He made award-winning short and feature-length films and is known for his diary films. He has also realised radio plays and performances.
EIGENTLICH EIGENTLICH JANUAR, DE 2022, Jan Peters
Turn on the camera and go for it. Or is it finely planned? 3-minute reels of exposed film material. Textured flickering images. A train of thought without pause for breath. Whispering that breaks off at an inopportune moment. Collected photos, rearranged, relate simple everyday and major political matters – and it’s the images themselves that are important. A film to be seen over and over again.
Biography
Jan Peters studied at the HfbK in Hamburg and was a co-founder of the filmmaker collective "Abbildungszentrum". He made award-winning short and feature-length films and is known for his diary films. He has also realised radio plays and performances.
