The 40th edition of #DOK.fest München# concluded with an awards ceremony on Sunday, marking four decades of one of Europe’s leading documentary film festivals.
The top award, VIKTORIA DOK.international, went to Silent Observers by Eliza Petkova (Bulgaria/Germany, 2024), a striking experimental work that observes life in a remote Bulgarian village through the eyes of animals.
Other highlights included Wir Erben by Simon Baumann winning the VIKTORIA DOK.deutsch award for its intimate look at intergenerational tensions over inheritance and moral responsibility, and Rashid, L’enfant de Sinjar by Jasna Krajinovic, which won the VIKTORIA DOK.horizonte – Cinema of Urgency award as well as the DOK.fest Award of SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit for its moving portrayal of a Yazidi boy’s struggle to rebuild his life after surviving captivity by the so-called Islamic State.
The megaherz Student Award was awarded to Woman/Mother by Klara Harden, a touching and honest depiction of motherhood and female friendship that critically explores the societal pressures placed on mothers.
DOK.fest München 2025 Award Winners
- VIKTORIA DOK.international Main Competition: Silent Observers – Eliza Petkova
- Special Mention, DOK.international: The Invisible Contract – Luciana Kaplan
- VIKTORIA DOK.deutsch Competition: Wir Erben – Simon Baumann
- VIKTORIA DOK.horizonte – Cinema of Urgency: Rashid, L’enfant de Sinjar – Jasna Krajinovic
- megaherz Student Award: Woman/Mother – Klara Harden
Previously Announced Awards
- kinokino Audience Award (sponsored by BR and 3sat): Writing Hawa – Najiba Noori and Rasul Noori
- German Documentary Film Music Award: Vracht – Music by Mirjam Skal, Director: Max Carlo Kohal
- VFF Documentary Film Production Award: A Nearly Normal Life (Das Fast Normale Leben) – Producers: Ulla Lehmann and Andrea Roggon, Director: Stefan Sick
- DOK.fest Award of SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit: Rashid, L’enfant de Sinjar – Jasna Krajinovic
- DOK.edit Award – presented by Adobe: A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things – Editor: Timo Langer, Director: Mark Cousins
DOK.forum 2025 Industry Awards
- DOK.digital Award: Traces of Responsibility – Anja Reiß and Jann Anderegg
- DOK.archive Award: Febre Tropical / Tropical Fever – Andy Malafaia and Carolina Höfs
- DOK.talent Award: Family, LOL – Patrick Wira
- DOK.composition Award: The Angel Maker – Music by Mirjam Skal, Director: Marina Klauser
The 40th DOK.fest München continues online in Germany through 25 May
