The programme for the 41st DOK.fest München has been announced: 106 films from 49 countries will be screened. Of these, 82 films are being shown in Germany for the first time: 23 films will have their world premiere, and a further 59 films will have their international or German premiere. This year, the programme team was able to select from 1,440 submitted films – a new record.
The programme is divided into thematically curated sections. In each section, a signature film represents the theme and is accompanied by an in-depth FocusTalk. These talks feature not only film guests but also subject matter experts on the respective topic. Ten to twelve outstanding films, nominated in advance, compete for each of the festival’s three prestigious main prizes, the VIKTORIAS – across all sections.
Advance ticket sales have begun. Information on all sections, tickets, and the full programme can be found at www.dokfest-muenchen.de.
These are the sections and signature films of the 41st DOK.fest München:
Interdependence – Films about how We Love and Fight Signature film: BECOMING KIM (Susanne Kim / Germany, Korea 2026) More info
EcoCinema – Films about the world at tipping point Signature film: THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD (Florian Heinzen-Ziob / Germany 2026) More info
Politics – In times like these. Films about power, freedom and human rights Signature film: WHISTLEBLOWER (Marc Bauder / Germany 2025) More info
Young Perspectives – Films about growing up in this world Signature film: HAUS 4 (Philipp Schaeffer / Germany 2026) More info
Empowered – Films about defiance and speaking out Signature film: CHOSEN FAMILY (Élisa Vdk / Belgium 2025) More info Reframing History – Films exploring how the past shapes our present Signature film: MEANWHILE IN NAMIBIA (Jonas Spriestersbach / Germany, Namibia 2026) Mehr info
Life Together – Films about Community Signature film: DYING FOR BEGINNERS (Kurt Langbein / Austria 2025) More info Beyond Borders – Films about migration, exile and their realities Signature film: ONE IN A MILLION (Itab Azzam, Jack MacInnes / USA, UK 2026) More info
The Artist is Present – Films on artists and their realities Signature film: ROBERTO ROSSELLINI. LIVING WITHOUT A SCRIPT (Ilaria De Laurentiis, Raffaele Brunetti, Andrea Paolo Massara / Italy 2025) More info
Visions of the Future – Tomorrow starts now! Signature film: FINDING CONNECTION (Florian Karner / Germany 2026) More info
HerStory – Films about fearless women Signature film: SILENCED (Selina Miles / Australia 2025) More info
The Sound of Music – Films about musicians and their stories Signature film: WACKEN – HEARTS FULL OF METAL (Cordula Kablitz-Post / Germany 2026) More info
Personal Memoriams – A look back at great filmmakers More information on this section and our guests will be available shortly.
African Encounters – Films and dialogues on resistance and activism More information on this section and our guests will be available shortly.
The curated films will be screened from 6 to 18 May in Munich’s cinemas and special venues. Furthermore, 80 per cent of the films will be available to watch across Germany on digital screens from 11 to 25 May at www.dokfest-muenchen.de.
All dates at a glance:
Tuesday, 28 April 2026: Press conference
Wednesday, 6 May 2026: Opening ceremony of the 41st DOK.fest Munich (by invitation)
Saturday, 16 May 2026: Award ceremony (by invitation)
Monday, 18 May 2026: Closing ceremony of the 41st DOK.fest Munich (by invitation)
