– Berlin’s non-fiction festival returns to Potsdamer Platz in May and June with a wide-ranging programme spanning film, literature, podcasts and immersive media
Miss Jobson by Amanda Sans Pantling
Berlin-based documentary festival Doxumentale has revealed the full programme for its upcoming edition, set to run from 27 May-7 June, while simultaneously opening ticket sales. Centred around a dynamic hub at Potsdamer Platz, spanning the Atrium and The Playce, the festival will stretch across multiple cinemas, open-air venues and cultural locations throughout the city.
This year’s line-up includes 46 international documentary features and 12 short films, complemented by non-fiction book readings, live podcasts and a virtual reality exhibition. The programme is organised into five thematic strands: Art, Change, Female Lens, Nature and Together. These themes reflect the festival’s ambition to explore contemporary realities through diverse narrative forms.
Among the highlights in the Art section is Loot: A Story of Crime and Redemption by Don Millar, which tackles pressing issues surrounding looted cultural heritage. In the Nature strand, Trade Secret by Abraham Joffe follows investigations into the controversial world of trophy hunting.
The Female Lens section foregrounds women’s lived experiences, notably with Miss Jobson by Amanda Sans Pantling, portraying the life of Jamaican activist Diane Jobson. Meanwhile, the Together strand features The Stolen Children of Aotearoa by Julian Arahanga, addressing the forced separation of indigenous children from their families in New Zealand.
A key component of the programme is Another Story, a Creative Europe – MEDIA-supported initiative implemented in partnership with Cineuropa, aimed at highlighting the often-overlooked contribution of women documentary filmmakers. The selection includes landmark works such as Ich denke oft an Hawaii by Elfi Mikesch, Road of Brotherhood and Unity by Maja Weiss, and The Woman’s Greatest Value Is Her Silence by Gertrud Pinkus, accompanied by discussions and workshops.
Industry activities will take place within the Dx’Hub (28-31 May), bringing together professionals from film, media, academia and civil society. The programme includes panels, networking events and The Good Media Pitch, an initiative designed to connect documentary projects with impact partners.
Tickets are now available online, with single entries priced at €12 (€9 reduced), and discounted festival passes are offered until 10 May.
The full programme can be consulted here.
