Berlin's Latest Film Festival Ready for a Stirring Debut
From October 10th to 20th, Berlin will play host to Dokumentale, a new documentary film and media festival that aims to engage audiences in non-fiction storytelling and promote discussion and understanding.
Founded by Anna Ramskogler-Witt and Vivian Schröder, the festival's mission is to support documentary filmmakers in creating political awareness and social change with their art. Dokumentale will offer a diverse selection of documentaries covering topics such as history, identity, activism, and science, as well as educational initiatives for school classes from the 7th grade onwards.
One of the highlights of the festival will be the screening of Tilda Swinton and Bartek Dziadosz's film "The Hexagonal Hive and a Mouse in a Maze," which questions the effect of education systems on children. The performance will be combined with a book on critical game theory, providing a unique and thought-provoking experience.
Another must-see film at the festival will be "Uncropped," a documentary about iconic NYC photographer James Hamilton's work. Hamilton will be present for a discussion following the screening.
Roxanne de Bastion's book "The Piano Player of Budapest: A True Story of Holocaust Survival, Music and Hope" will also be discussed, and the festival's protagonist, Peter Perez, will be in conversation with de Bastion.
Impact campaigns will be a key feature of the festival, with films being used to create a sustainable journey for increased awareness on their themes. One such campaign will be the live performance by Total Refusal, an Austrian pseudo-Marxist collective, using Red Dead Redemption as a social critique on violence.
The festival will also include a live performance by the all-women crew behind "Sisterqueens," a film about a young migrant female rap collective in Berlin, which will be the opening film.
In addition to film screenings, Dokumentale will offer print, VR, podcasts, and installations to create a fully immersive experience for the audience. An exhibition centre with nine VR projects and two multimedia installations will be open, with voluntary donations.
The festival will also host a film lab and pitch day to support six film projects in developing an impact campaign.
Podcasts that connect to the film programme will also be a part of the festival, providing additional opportunities for discussion and reflection.
Overall, Dokumentale aims to show a mixture of documentaries that confront reality and those that show beauty and hope in stories, creating a varied and thought-provoking programme for audiences in Berlin.
- The festival, Dokumentale, scheduled from October 10th to 20th, will feature a diverse selection of documentaries covering various topics such as history, identity, activism, science, education, and more.
- A unique experience awaits festival-goers with the screening of Tilda Swinton and Bartek Dziadosz's film "The Hexagonal Hive and a Mouse in a Maze," which explores the impact of education systems on children, combined with a book on critical game theory.
- besides films, Dokumentale will offer a range of additional experiences, including print media, virtual reality (VR), podcasts, and installations, aimed at creating a fully immersive experience for the audience.
- The festival will also host a film lab and pitch day to support six film projects in developing an impact campaign, and podcasts connecting to the film programme will provide additional opportunities for discussion and reflection.
