DOK Leipzig, probably Germany's most renowned festival for documentary and animated films, took place from 28 October to 3 November. In addition to the carefully curated film programme, there were numerous networking activities, panels and project presentations for the industry. Five new Ukrainian documentary films took centre stage in the ‘works-in-progress’ presentation. These true-to-life and creative projects impressively convey what it means to live in the constant state of emergency of a war imposed from outside. The emotional, multi-layered and very personal documentary film projects will hopefully soon experience their festival premieres.
Among the guests at DOK Leipzig was director Daniel Abma, whose film IM PRINZIP FAMILIE premiered in Leipzig and will also be shown at FilmFestival Cottbus, where Abma is also a member of the dialogue jury. Ukrainian filmmaker Tetiana Khodakivska, who took part in the Ex Oriente Film Workshop in Leipzig, was also present. Khodakivska will be showing her impressive documentary STORIES FROM THE CELLAR in Cottbus, which deals with the lives of children during the war of aggression against Ukraine.
The film PELIKAN BLUE, which won the award for best long animated film at DOK Leipzig, was a particular success. This film will be shown at the Spectrum of the Cottbus Film Festival. The story revolves around three young people in post-reunification Hungary who embark on a dream journey after the fall of the Iron Curtain - without money, but with fake tickets. What begins as a little trick for their own journey soon expands as demand grows. The film is an entertaining but also melancholy animation about a spirit of optimism and small-time crooks in 1989.
This and much more only at the 34th Cottbus Film Festival!