The second Dokumentale is kicking off on 11 June with 'Glanz & Widerstand' ('Glamour & Resistance')—an immersive foray into the life of Marlene Dietrich. From 12 to 22 June, the festival for documentary storytelling across different media will be presenting forty documentary films, ten live podcasts, readings from nine new non-fiction books, a vibrant kids’ programme, and seven VX projects.
On 11 June, the second Dokumentale will be opening with Glanz & Widerstand, an immersive, experimental ballet performance that takes a fresh, interdisciplinary approach to explore the myth of Marlene Dietrich. This project, carried out under the artistic direction of the Berlin Ballet Company and co-produced with the Dokumentale, blends dance, film, acting, and reading into an open-ended, creative experiment. Can documentary storytelling move beyond narration and become an experience? Glanz & Widerstand invites the audience to actively engage in the creative process, offering new perspectives on Marlene Dietrich’s iconic biography — her life, work, and her resolute stance against antisemitism and the Nazi regime.
Over the course of the festival, there will be multiple showings of Glanz & Widerstand and Maximilian Schell’s film Marlene, which the project is based on.
Ten films are vying for the main prize—with personal narratives, unique perspectives, and their own distinctive documentary styles. In the running are:
● Exciting life stories play a role in films like Sabbath Queen by Sandi Simcha DuBowski, who presents a portrait of queer rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.
● The programme also includes films from Berlin like Michael Schwarz’ Death is an Asshole, about undertaker Eric Wrede and his team.
● In Hermann Vaske’s Creativo Paradiso, Lilith Stangenberg and Blixa Bargeld ask artists like Björk, Ridley Scott, and Marina Abramović what creativity means to them.
The film programme will be complemented by nine live podcasts, including Feuer & Brot hosted by Alice Hasters and Maxi Häcke. The episode being recorded at the festival will discuss topics like public life, friendship, and social tensions from a feminist angle.
The Dokumentale will also be showcasing nine of the latest non-fiction books, including Berauscht der Sinne beraubt: Eine Geschichte der Ekstase
by Racha Kirakosian, an exploration of cultural forms of ecstasy that is both historical and personal. Another highlight is Der Deutsche Film by Rainer Rother, a multifaceted journey through 130 years of film history.
Finally, seven VX projects will open up new realms of experience. They include Soul Paint by Sarah Ticho und Niki Smit, an interactive VR application making it possible to experience emotions in 3D.
The Dokumentale (12–22 June 2025) is a Berlin-based festival for documentary formats that promotes films, new media, non-fiction books, and podcasts. It offers a platform for filmmakers, journalists, authors, artists, scholars, and audiences to meet and collaborate.
From 12 to 15 June, the D’Hub industry programme will take place alongside the main programme, offering the film sector new ideas in panels, workshops, and networking events. One highlight will be The Good Media Pitch, Germany’s first film and impact programme, which will connect selected projects with experts from civil society to foster potential partnerships.
The festival and industry programme receive significant support from the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
The Dokumentale is organized by The Good Media Network, an initiative that supports outstanding films and media projects seeking to create a more just, sustainable, and inspiring world.
Press Contact
For inquiries, requests for materials, or interview requests, feel free to contact
Marie Ketzscher
ketzscher@posteo.de
+17620730333.
