DOK Leipzig has released the complete #DOK Industry# line-up for the festival’s 68th edition, taking place 27 October–2 November. The programme combines panels, case studies and networking formats across funding, distribution and exhibition.
A central strand addresses support for filmmakers working under precarious and politically sensitive conditions. Under the «Doc Together» initiative—launched with Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival—DOK Industry will convene a closed Think Tank bringing funders, festivals, NGOs, legal experts and filmmakers to map practical responses to recurring obstacles such as finance gaps and visa restrictions. The public talk «Doc Together: Documentary as Resistance» will examine filmmaking as an act of solidarity, featuring case studies on the Palestine Film Institute and the award-winning Myanmar Diaries, followed by a discussion with directors and producers from Georgia, India and Hungary.
The festival will also highlight ARTE’s «Generation Ukraine,» an initiative created in 2023 to sustain production amid war-time uncertainty. A dedicated case study will explore how broadcasters, funders and co-producers enable projects to move forward despite disrupted infrastructure, focusing on two completed films: Queens of Joy (Olga Gibelinda) and Silent Flood (Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk).
Representation, accessibility and archival practice form additional pillars. In partnership with the Queer Media Society, «Documenting Queer Realities: Representation on Screen» considers how non-fiction can offer more authentic and empowering LGBTQIA+ narratives. An accessibility session will present concrete steps for integrating inclusive versions, venue access and communications across festival operations. The DOK Archive Market adds a licensing deep dive on sports footage for FC Hollywood and Mädchen können kein Fußball spielen, moderated by visual researcher Elizabeth Klinck, alongside keynotes on late-stage archival workflows (Kasimir Marks) and evolving industry conditions (Gregor Murbach).
Beyond documentary, DOK Exchange XR returns with conference, showcase and prototyping formats on immersive storytelling, touching on cultural memory, literacy and ethics. Project-forward platforms include the short-film pitch DOK Short n’ Sweet (eight projects) and forthcoming DOK Preview Germany/International line-ups. Partner-led sessions cover film education (AG DOK), festival labour sustainability and the Fair Festival Award (ver.di), and AI’s impact on animation (AG Animationsfilm). Accreditation-holders can also access Industry Intros, case studies and one-to-one «Industry Connections,» with a toolkit tailored for first-time participants.
Find all information on the 2025 DOK Industry programme – HERE
