Vorstellungen 2010

Der Bergfürst (Deutschland 2010, Philip Vogt, DOK.international). Once the clan chiefs of the north Albanian mountains held the position of undisputed leaders. But times change. A sincere portrait of a family torn between tradition and modernity. – Albanian with English subtitles

Kinshasa Symphony – Kinshasa Symphony (Deutschland 2010, Claus Wischmann, DOK.guest). An open-air performance of Beethoven’s Ninth in the heart of Kinshasa. Musicians on folding chairs are accompanied by a droning generator. Meanwhile the everyday life of the members of this amateur orchestra is marked by a struggle outside the realm of high culture. – French with German subtitles

Kings of Pastry – Kings of Pastry (USA/England 2009, Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker, DOK.forum). 16 obsessed, perfectionist confectioners compete to create the pastry of all pastries and win the coveted “Meilleur Ouvrier de France“ title. – French and English with English subtitles

David Wants To Fly – David Wants To Fly (Deutschland / Österreich / Schweiz 2010, David Sieveking, DOK.forum). Wouldn’t we all like to know where David Lynch gets his creative energy from? David Sieveking follows his idol’s lead and ends up at the heart of an influential worldwide sect. – German version

La casa (The House) – The House (Kolumbien / Spanien 2009, Tayo Cortés, DOK.horizon). Like Sisyphus, the Mendez family go out every day collecting the rubbish of Bogota just to get one step closer to their dream of having their own house. A hopeful insight into a world of social tensions and existential helplessness on the outskirts of the Columbian capital. – Spanish with English subtitles

Das Leben ist wie ein Schwert (Deutschland 2009, Caroline Picker, DOK.deutsch). The Bunker, a high-density housing estate in Hamburg, is more than just an experimental ground for multi-cultural living. Day by day the youth must negotiate the tricky path between dreams and reality. – German version

Lieux saints (Sacred Places) – Sacred Places (Kamerun 2009, Jean-Marie Teno, DOK.guest). The owner of a small video-based cinema in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, and a public letter writer are the heroes of this story. An astute filmic reflection on self-reliance and the meaning of art in Africa. – French with English subtitles

Shanghai Fiction (Deutschland 2009, Julia Albrecht, DOK.forum). The Utopia of collective happiness seems to have got lost in the unending sea of buildings in Shanghai. Today everyone here is chasing their own dreams, or seeing them fall apart. – German, English, Chinese with German subtitles

Yes, Miss Commander (Ken amefakdet) (Israel 2009, Itzik Lerner, DOK.forum). The rehabilitation of young offenders through basic military service with a twist - the commanders are all pretty young women. In no time the young men and women descend into a spiral of erotic attraction and aggression. Passionate. – Hebrew with English subtitles

Cooking History (Österreich, Slowakei, Tschechische Republik 2009, Peter Kerekes, DOK.international). Field cooking around the world: 6 wars, 10 recipes and 60,361,024 dead in just 88 minutes. A frivolous, provocative and revealing examination of memories of war and food preparation, that really gets to you. – German, Russian, English with English subtitles

The Living Room of the Nation (Kansakunnan olohuone) – The Living Room of the Nation (Finnland 2009, Jukka Kärkkäinen, DOK.forum). To sleep in your own bed or a double bed? To be or not to be? This glimpse inside six Finnish living rooms, where ordinary and not quite so ordinary people contemplate life, is a tragicomic insight into Finnishness. – Finnish with English subtitles

Es wird einmal gewesen sein (Deutschland 2009, Anca Lazarescu, DOK.special). Avant-garde composer John Cage’s pipe organ piece “Organ²/ASLSP” is set to last for no less than 639 years. Transcendence and infiniteness, recounted through the long drawn-out breath of an organ. – German with English subtitles

Qassam – Qassam (Deutschland, Israel 2009, Ya'ir G. Magall, DOK.special). The absurdities and challenges of life in the Gaza Strip. The rockets rain down; the houses are rebuilt. Policies are made elsewhere; here the war goes on. – Hebrew with English subtitles

The Wildest Guy – The Wildest Guy (Deutschland 2009, Sebastian Sorg, DOK.special). A man alone in the wilderness. After his best friend’s suicide Greg sees his life through new eyes. THE WILDEST GUY is a snapshot of American society during the financial crisis. – English with German subtitles

Das unbewachte Atelier - Der Maler Peter Tomschiczek (Deutschland 2009, Boris Tomschiczek, DOK.special). A father and his son: a painter and a young filmmaker. A lesson about how difficult it is to discuss the essence of art, even when two people know each other very well. The coming together of two masters of their trade. – German version

Like in Old Glorious Times (Finnland 2009, Johannes Östergård & Kaspar Kaven, DOK.special). A Russian expat in Finland is fighting to resist the digitalisation of the world. It is not an easy task, especially for him as he is a musician and record producer. A modern Don Quixote in a seemingly futile battle against bits and bytes. – English with German subtitles

Berlin-Stettin (Deutschland 2009, Volker Koepp, Dok.retro). Volker Koepp visits the people of his earlier films and travels through their landscapes. He is on a search for new encounters and his own history. An autobiographical journey from Stettin to Berlin. – German version

Sombras – Letters from the Shadows (Frankreich, Spanien 2009, Oriol Canals, DOK.guest). Stepping out of the shadows into the light. In moving video messages illegal immigrants from Africa tell their families for the first time ever of their frustrated dreams and their undignified lives in Europe. – Spanish, French, Wolof and Others with English subtitles and German translation

Women Cengjing de Wuchanzhe (Once Upon A Time Proletarian: 12 Tales Of A Country) – Women Cengjing (Once Upon A Time Proletarian: 12 Tales Of A Country) (China, Großbritannien 2009, Xiaolu Guo, DOK.international). “Don’t worry about what has passed, look towards what is coming.” This far-eastern proverb works as a mission statement for Xiaolu Guo’s filmic kaleidoscope. This is a multi-faceted portrait of post Marxist China. – Chinese with English subtitles /German translation

Entre la coupe et l'élection (Between the Cup and the Election) – Between the Cup and the Election (Kongo, Benin, Belgien 2008, Monique Mbeka Phoba, DOK.guest). “The Leopards” were the first black African team to ever take part in a World Cup, back then under Mobutu. This film explores the drama of 1974 and the Congolese society today. – French with English subtitles / German translation

Interieurs du delta (Into the delta) – Into the delta (Kanada 2009, Sylvain L'Esperance, DOK.guest). A journey into the expanse of the Niger Delta in Mali. With intelligence and humour the people speak of their difficult everyday lives, the weariness of the fishermen and complicated family relationships. – French with English subtitles

Im Bazar der Geschlechter (In the Bazaar of Sexes) – In the Bazaar of Sexes (Österreich/Iran 2009, Sudabeh Mortezai, DOK.forum). A bachelor, a single mother and a Mullah offer three perspectives on temporary marriage. Iranian machismo, female realities and religious dogma collide and present us with an intimate insight into the relationship between the sexes. – Farsi with German subtitles

We Don't Care About Music Anyway... – we don't care about music anyway... (Frankreich 2009, Cedric Dupire & Gaspard Kuentz, DOK.forum). A wild symphony of sound reverberates throughout Tokyo - the avant-garde musical onslaught of eight pioneering Japanese musicians. This is not a film about music - it is music! – Japanese with English subtitles / German translation

Fußgängerzone – Pedestrian Zone (Deutschland 2009, Pawel Siczek, DOK.special). The pedestrian zone is the real heart of every German town. Hedonism and escapism both sell their wares here. But what you can find in Munich’s Kaufinger Street if you, for once, just stop and look closely? – German version

Das Summen der Insekten - Bericht einer Mumie – The Sound of Insects - Record of a Mummy (Schweiz 2009, Peter Liechti, DOK.special). The inescapable slide into death. Liechti offers an impressive visual interpretation of the demise of a man who withdrew into the forest and starved himself to death. Based on a true account. – German version

Congo in Four Acts – Congo in Four Acts (Demokratische Republik Kongo, Südafrika 2010, Dieudo Hamadi, Divita Wa Lusala, Kiripi Katembo Siku, DOK.guest). From the labyrinth of Kinshasa’s streets to a maternity ward. Four Congolese directors observe the daily life of their fellow countrymen. A striking study of a crisis-shaken land. – French with English subtitles

Sergej in der Urne (Sergej in the Urne) (Deutschland 2009, Boris Hars-Tschachotin, DOK.deutsch). Russian Revolution, “Iron Front,” five wives, eight sons. The fascinating life history of the intellectual live wire, Sergej Tschachotin, leads us directly into the labyrinth of the 20th Century. – Russian, French and German with English subtitles

Alamar (Mexiko 2009, Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio, DOK.international). 5-year-old Natan is spending the summer with his father off the coral reef of Banco Chinchorro, one of the last intact ecosystems on the earth. This is a sensual film about life in tune with nature. – Spanish with English subtitles

Meerkampf. Watt? (Deutschland 2009, Frank D. Müller, DOK.deutsch). Playing dirty for a good cause. The Mud Flat Olympics is a fund-raiser for cancer charities. A film about land, people and recovering from illness - humorous, reflective, life-affirming. – German with English subtitles

At My Doorstep – At My Doorstep (Indien 2009, Nishtha Jain, DOK.horizon). From the security guard to the rubbish collector, a glimpse into the lives of the unseen and underpaid workers of the director’s own housing estate in Mumbai whose hard work enables others to live their nice, comfortable lives. – Hindi with English subtitles

Un conte de faits (Once upon our time) – Once upon our time (Tunesien 2009, Hichem Ben Ammar, DOK.horizon). This classic rags to riches tale follows ten-year-old violin protégé Annas from Tunisia to the renowned Yehudi Menuhin Music School in London. – French, English, Arabian with English subtitles

Hoffenheim - Das Leben ist kein Heimspiel (Deutschland 2010, Rouven Rech & Frank Pfeiffer, DOK.deutsch). Football rules the world! The boss of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and the Chairman of the former small-town club’s first Supporters Association are the heroes of a remarkable story, the like of which you will only find in sport. – German version

Plug & Pray – Plug & Pray (Deutschland 2009, Jens Schanze, DOK.deutsch). What makes us human and how much of this can be simulated by machines? Schanze offers an ambivalent insight into the world of artificial intelligence. – Japan, Italian, English and German with German subtitles

La terre de la folie (Land of Madness) – Land of Madness (Frankreich 2009, Luc Moullet, DOK.international). Nouvelle Vague director Luc Moullet looks into the suspicious accumulation of personality disorders and religious excesses in his homeland. Is he himself one of the afflicted? – French with English subtiles

Der Bergfürst (Deutschland 2010, Philip Vogt, DOK.international). Once the clan chiefs of the north Albanian mountains held the position of undisputed leaders. But times change. A sincere portrait of a family torn between tradition and modernity. – Albanian with English subtitles

Kurische Nehrung (Deutschland 2001, Volker Koepp, Dok.retro). There where the Neman River meets the Baltic Sea, the wind and the waves have created a landscape: The Courland Spit. A filmic journey into a mystical swathe of land where people search for their little bit of happiness. – German version

El Ambulante (The Peddler) – The Peddler (Argentinien 2009, Adriana Yurcovich, Eduardo de la Serna, Lucas Marcheggiano, DOK.horizon). An old man travels through Argentinean villages making films with the locals under adventurous conditions. Thereby he makes himself and other people happy. – Spanish with English subtitles

Daniel Schmid - le chat qui pense – Daniel Schmid (Schweiz 2010, Pascal Hofmann Benny Jaberg, DOK.deutsch). An aria replayed in the mountains, costume kitsch and natural spectacle. Daniel Schmid is not only the most famous Swiss director; in his films he represented with virtuosity all the contradictions of his homeland and of his time. – German version

On The Other Side Of Life – On The Other Side Of Life (Deutschland, Südafrika 2009, Stefanie Brockhaus & Andy Wolff, DOK.guest). Two young brothers under suspicion of murder in a township of Cape Town, caught between the harsh realities of their environment and the traditional initiation rituals of their forefathers. Between modernity and tradition in South Africa. – English version

Molf-e Gand (Iran 2008, Mahmood Rahmani, DOK.horizon). With a unique power of gestural and vocal expression Mohammad recounts his childhood memories of the Iran-Iraq War. A homage to the beauty and pain of the enduring traumas of a generation. – Persian with English subtitles / German translation

Last Words (Niederlande 2009, Erik Lieshout, Arno Hagers, Reinier van Brummelen, DOK.forum). The camera observes Michel Houellebecq as he works on his first film. This is a fascinating encounter with a radical thinker. Such a denial of everything comfortable you might only expect to find in the work of Pessoa, but Houellebecq brings it out in the open. – French with English subtitles / German translation

Lieux saints (Sacred Places) – Sacred Places (Kamerun 2009, Jean-Marie Teno, DOK.guest). The owner of a small video-based cinema in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, and a public letter writer are the heroes of this story. An astute filmic reflection on self-reliance and the meaning of art in Africa. – French with English subtitles

Schwester Dorothea – Nun Dorothea (Deutschland 2009, Maya Reichert, DOK.special). Convent life. What stands in the way of a fun-loving nun’s path to god? Sister Dorothea is the youngest of 20 Cistercian nuns in a contemplative order. – German version

Fußgängerzone – Pedestrian Zone (Deutschland 2009, Pawel Siczek, DOK.special). The pedestrian zone is the real heart of every German town. Hedonism and escapism both sell their wares here. But what you can find in Munich’s Kaufinger Street if you, for once, just stop and look closely? – German version

Herbstgold - Wettlauf gegen die Zeit – Autumn Gold (Deutschland, Finnland, Tschechien, Österreich, Schweden, Slowenien 2009, Jan Tenhaven, DOK.deutsch). World Champion at the age of 100! A portrait of five sports-mad pensioners, who have just one goal: the Senior Athletics World Championships. A homage to life and the wonder of age. – German version

La casa (The House) – The House (Kolumbien / Spanien 2009, Tayo Cortés, DOK.horizon). Like Sisyphus, the Mendez family go out every day collecting the rubbish of Bogota just to get one step closer to their dream of having their own house. A hopeful insight into a world of social tensions and existential helplessness on the outskirts of the Columbian capital. – Spanish with English Subtitles

Kinshasa Symphony – Kinshasa Symphony (Deutschland 2010, Claus Wischmann, DOK.guest). An open-air performance of Beethoven’s Ninth in the heart of Kinshasa. Musicians on folding chairs are accompanied by a droning generator. Meanwhile the everyday life of the members of this amateur orchestra is marked by a struggle outside the realm of high culture. – French/German with German subtitles

State of Mind – State of Mind (Demokratische Republik Kongo 2009, Djo Tunda Wa Munga, DOK.guest). The renowned trauma therapist Albert Pesso tries to help people affected by the Congolese civil war to process their experiences. That which words ultimately cannot express can be seen in the film’s gentle images of a traumatised land. – French/English with English subtitles

Women Cengjing de Wuchanzhe (Once Upon A Time Proletarian: 12 Tales Of A Country) – Women Cengjing (Once Upon A Time Proletarian: 12 Tales Of A Country) (China, Großbritannien 2009, Xiaolu Guo, DOK.international). “Don’t worry about what has passed, look towards what is coming.” This far-eastern proverb works as a mission statement for Xiaolu Guo’s filmic kaleidoscope. This is a multi-faceted portrait of post Marxist China. – Chinese with English subtitles

Sombras – Letters from the Shadows (Frankreich, Spanien 2009, Oriol Canals, DOK.guest). Stepping out of the shadows into the light. In moving video messages illegal immigrants from Africa tell their families for the first time ever of their frustrated dreams and their undignified lives in Europe. – Spanish, French, Wolof and Others with English subtitles

Entre la coupe et l'élection (Between the Cup and the Election) – Between the Cup and the Election (Kongo, Benin, Belgien 2008, Monique Mbeka Phoba, DOK.guest). “The Leopards” were the first black African team to ever take part in a World Cup, back then under Mobutu. This film explores the drama of 1974 and the Congolese society today. – French with English subtitles

Interieurs du delta (Into the delta) – Into the delta (Kanada 2009, Sylvain L'Esperance, DOK.guest). A journey into the expanse of the Niger Delta in Mali. With intelligence and humour the people speak of their difficult everyday lives, the weariness of the fishermen and complicated family relationships. – French with English subtitles

The Living Room of the Nation (Kansakunnan olohuone) – The Living Room of the Nation (Finnland 2009, Jukka Kärkkäinen, DOK.forum). To sleep in your own bed or a double bed? To be or not to be? This glimpse inside six Finnish living rooms, where ordinary and not quite so ordinary people contemplate life, is a tragicomic insight into Finnishness. – Finnish with English subtitles

At My Doorstep – At My Doorstep (Indien 2009, Nishtha Jain, DOK.horizon). From the security guard to the rubbish collector, a glimpse into the lives of the unseen and underpaid workers of the director’s own housing estate in Mumbai whose hard work enables others to live their nice, comfortable lives. – Hindi with English subtitles

Kings of Pastry – Kings of Pastry (USA/England 2009, Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker, DOK.forum). 16 obsessed, perfectionist confectioners compete to create the pastry of all pastries and win the coveted “Meilleur Ouvrier de France“ title. – French/English with English subtitles

The Oath – The Oath (USA 2010, Laura Poitras, DOK.forum). Abu Jandal is a taxi driver in Yemen. His brother-in-law is a Guantánamo detainee. But once Abu Jandal was bin Laden’s right hand man while Salim was just his driver. A complex dual portrait about guilt, loyalty and al-Qaida. – Arabic/English with German subtitles

Liebesgeschichten aus Moskau 1993 - 2009 (Deutschland 2010, Christoph Boekel, DOK.special). Does revolution consume its children? In Moscow, Christoph Boekel revisits a group of people that he first filmed in 1993. He finds that it is not only on matters of love that time has left its mark. A generational portrait of modern Russian society. – Russian with German Voice Over

We Don't Care About Music Anyway... – we don't care about music anyway... (Frankreich 2009, Cedric Dupire & Gaspard Kuentz, DOK.forum). A wild symphony of sound reverberates throughout Tokyo - the avant-garde musical onslaught of eight pioneering Japanese musicians. This is not a film about music - it is music! – Japanese with English subtitles

La bocca del lupo (The Mouth of the Wolf) – The Mouth of the Wolf (Italien 2009, Pietro Marcello, DOK.forum). In a powerful montage of poetic associations this film weaves together the history of the labour force’s demise in Genoa with a love story between jailbird Enzo and his transsexual partner Mary. – Italian with English subtitles with German translation

Luanda, Factory Of Music (Luanda, A Fabrica Da Musica) (Angola, Portugal 2009, Kiluanje Liberdade, DOK.guest). A portrait of the young music scene in Luanda, the capital of Angola. Young people on the streets and in the small recording studio of DJ Buda reflect and comment on their attitude to life. Rap is the music and the primal scream of this generation. – Portugese with English subtitles

Herr Zwilling und Frau Zuckermann (Deutschland 1999, Volker Koepp, Dok.retro). Herr Zwilling is a confirmed pessimist. Frau Zuckermann tries to convince him that everything is not as bad as it seems. A filmic tribute to two of the few remaining Jews to have been born in Czernowitz. – German version

Shanghai Fiction (Deutschland 2009, Julia Albrecht, DOK.forum). The Utopia of collective happiness seems to have got lost in the unending sea of buildings in Shanghai. Today everyone here is chasing their own dreams, or seeing them fall apart. – English, German, Chinese with German subtitles

Addicted in Afghanistan – Addicted in Afghanistan (Afghanistan 2009, Jawed Taiman, DOK.horizon). Afghanistan beyond world politics. An intimate and bleak portrait of two young people, Jabar and Zahir, who are among the one million drug addicts in Afghanistan. – Paschtu, Farsi and Dari with English subtitles and German translation

Pianomania – Auf der Suche nach dem perfekten Klang – Pianomania – In Search of the Perfect Sound (Österreich, Deutschland 2009, Lilian Franck Robert Cibis, DOK.deutsch). Nothing is impossible. The Steinway Master Tuner and technician Stefan Knüpfer helps star pianists such as Lang Lang and Pierre-Laurent Aimand elicit the ideal sound from their instrument. An utter devotion that knows no boundaries. – French/German with German subtitles

Space Tourists (Schweiz 2009, Christian Frei, DOK.international). How much would you pay to realise your dreams? People’s attempts to satisfy mankind’s eternal desire for life in outer space are sometimes as unfathomable as the universe itself. – English/German with German subtitles

Hoffenheim - Das Leben ist kein Heimspiel (Deutschland 2010, Rouven Rech & Frank Pfeiffer, DOK.deutsch). Football rules the world! The boss of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and the Chairman of the former small-town club’s first Supporters Association are the heroes of a remarkable story, the like of which you will only find in sport. – German version

Congo in Four Acts – Congo in Four Acts (Demokratische Republik Kongo, Südafrika 2010, Dieudo Hamadi, Divita Wa Lusala, Kiripi Katembo Siku, DOK.guest). From the labyrinth of Kinshasa’s streets to a maternity ward. Four Congolese directors observe the daily life of their fellow countrymen. A striking study of a crisis-shaken land. – French with English subtitles

Un conte de faits (Once upon our time) – Once upon our time (Tunesien 2009, Hichem Ben Ammar, DOK.horizon). This classic rags to riches tale follows ten-year-old violin protégé Annas from Tunisia to the renowned Yehudi Menuhin Music School in London. – French, English, Arabic with English subtitles

Les arrivants (The Arrivals) – The Arrivals (France 2009, Claudine Bories, DOK.international). Caroline and Colette work in a modest office somewhere in Paris where the fate of asylum seekers is decided. This is big cinema in the smallest of spaces. – French with English subtitles

Sergej in der Urne (Sergej in the Urne) (Deutschland 2009, Boris Hars-Tschachotin, DOK.deutsch). Russian Revolution, “Iron Front,” five wives, eight sons. The fascinating life history of the intellectual live wire, Sergej Tschachotin, leads us directly into the labyrinth of the 20th Century. – Russian, French, German with English subtitles

State of Mind – State of Mind (Demokratische Republik Kongo 2009, Djo Tunda Wa Munga, DOK.guest). The renowned trauma therapist Albert Pesso tries to help people affected by the Congolese civil war to process their experiences. That which words ultimately cannot express can be seen in the film’s gentle images of a traumatised land. – French with English subtitles

The Other Song – The Other Song (Indien 2009, Saba Dewan, DOK.horizon). “My heart is wounded, throw no flowers at me.” A fascinating quest to find what remains of the ostracised art of the Indian courtesans. The erotic poetry and musical complexity of their songs have a timeless beauty. – Urdu, Hindi, Englisch with English subtitles

As The Poet Said (Kama Kkala Ashair) – As The Poet Said (Palästina 2009, Nasri Hajjaj, DOK.horizon). An unusual homage to the successful Palestinian lyrical poet and political activist, Mahmoud Darwish. The history of the artist is told through the recital of his works in various locations from his life. In this film the “poetic voice of the Palestinian people” has his say one last time. – Portuguese, Kurdish, Hebrew and others with English subtitles

Herbstgold - Wettlauf gegen die Zeit – Autumn Gold (Deutschland, Finnland, Tschechien, Österreich, Schweden, Slowenien 2009, Jan Tenhaven, DOK.deutsch). World Champion at the age of 100! A portrait of five sports-mad pensioners, who have just one goal: the Senior Athletics World Championships. A homage to life and the wonder of age. – German version

War Games and the Man who Stopped Them – War Games and the Man who Stopped Them (Polen 2009, Dariusz Jablonski, DOK.international). A political thriller. During the Cold War, Ryszard Kuklinsky was a colonel in the Polish army and a top-class spy for the USA. He made history alongside General Jaruzelski and Solidarność icon Lech Wałęsa. Did he save humanity from a Third World War? – Polish/English with English subtitles

Pianomania – Auf der Suche nach dem perfekten Klang – Pianomania – In Search of the Perfect Sound (Österreich, Deutschland 2009, Lilian Franck Robert Cibis, DOK.deutsch). Nothing is impossible. The Steinway Master Tuner and technician Stefan Knüpfer helps star pianists such as Lang Lang and Pierre-Laurent Aimand elicit the ideal sound from their instrument. An utter devotion that knows no boundaries. – French/German with German subtitles

Alamar (Mexiko 2009, Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio, DOK.international). 5-year-old Natan is spending the summer with his father off the coral reef of Banco Chinchorro, one of the last intact ecosystems on the earth. This is a sensual film about life in tune with nature. – Spanish with English subtitles

Daniel Schmid - le chat qui pense – Daniel Schmid (Schweiz 2010, Pascal Hofmann Benny Jaberg, DOK.deutsch). An aria replayed in the mountains, costume kitsch and natural spectacle. Daniel Schmid is not only the most famous Swiss director; in his films he represented with virtuosity all the contradictions of his homeland and of his time. – German version

On The Other Side Of Life – On The Other Side Of Life (Deutschland, Südafrika 2009, Stefanie Brockhaus & Andy Wolff, DOK.guest). Two young brothers under suspicion of murder in a township of Cape Town, caught between the harsh realities of their environment and the traditional initiation rituals of their forefathers. Between modernity and tradition in South Africa. – English version

Kabarett, Kabarett (Deutschland 2010, Josef Rödl, DOK.special). Is political cabaret outdated? Prominent cabaret artists reflect on the method and value of their art in a world of inflated opinion. Censorship doesn’t exist any more - or does it? And, if so, then how? – Geman version

Missing Allen (Deutschland 2001, Christian Bauer, DOK.special). This film is a declaration of love and a tribute to a valued friend. Allen Ross was Christian Bauer's camerman. He disappeared in 1995 without a trace. The search to find out what happened to him becomes a documentary detective puzzle in the expanse of America. – English with German subtitles

Last Words (Niederlande 2009, Erik Lieshout, Arno Hagers, Reinier van Brummelen, DOK.forum). The camera observes Michel Houellebecq as he works on his first film. This is a fascinating encounter with a radical thinker. Such a denial of everything comfortable you might only expect to find in the work of Pessoa, but Houellebecq brings it out in the open. – French with English subtitles / German translation

Diplomat – Diplomat (Israel 2009, Dana Goren, DOK.forum). 600 residents, 8 storeys, 700 rooms. Once a 5-Star Hotel, today the Diplomat in Jerusalem offers a haven for immigrants from the former Soviet Union. – Russian with English Subtitles / German Translation

Märkische Gesellschaft mbH (Deutschland 1991, Volker Koepp, Dok.retro). The political upheavals of German reunification hit the provinces. Volker Koepp observes the people and the situation in the town of Zehdenick in Brandenburg. The Russians are moving out; the Deutschmark is coming. This is both an end and an uncertain new beginning. – German version

Cooking History (Österreich, Slowakei, Tschechische Republik 2009, Peter Kerekes, DOK.international). Field cooking around the world: 6 wars, 10 recipes and 60,361,024 dead in just 88 minutes. A frivolous, provocative and revealing examination of memories of war and food preparation, that really gets to you. – German, Russian, English with English subtitles

Plug & Pray – Plug & Pray (Deutschland 2009, Jens Schanze, DOK.deutsch). What makes us human and how much of this can be simulated by machines? Schanze offers an ambivalent insight into the world of artificial intelligence. – Japanese, Italian, English with German subtitles

Shosholoza Express (Deutschland 2009, Beatrice Möller, DOK.guest). In the Shosholoza Express between Johannesburg and Cape Town, black people and white people encounter each other and share their personal experiences of Apartheid. A multi-facetted picture of today’s South Africa that sheds new light on issues of racial segregation and cultural identity. – Diverse Languages with German subtitles

Chemia (Chemo) – Chemo (Polen 2009, Paweł Łoziński, DOK.forum). Laughter, anxious small talk, reflective glances. An intensive and touching film about cancer patients - not overly sad, but like life: fateful. – Polish with English subtitles

Vienen por el oro, vienen por todo (They come for the gold, they come for it all) – They Come For the Gold, They Come For it All (Argentinien 2009, Cristián Harbaruk, DOK.horizon). “Gold, a child that is born of nature’s desire” The inhabitants of Esquel in the Argentine Patagonia are faced with an existential decision. A Canadian global corporation has gained the rights to the excavation of gold and silver in a nearby mine. – Spanish with English subtitles

La bocca del lupo (The Mouth of the Wolf) – The Mouth of the Wolf (Italien 2009, Pietro Marcello, DOK.forum). In a powerful montage of poetic associations this film weaves together the history of the labour force’s demise in Genoa with a love story between jailbird Enzo and his transsexual partner Mary. – Italian with English subtitles

Meerkampf. Watt? (Deutschland 2009, Frank D. Müller, DOK.deutsch). Playing dirty for a good cause. The Mud Flat Olympics is a fund-raiser for cancer charities. A film about land, people and recovering from illness - humorous, reflective, life-affirming. – German with English subtitles

Im Bazar der Geschlechter (In the Bazaar of Sexes) – In the Bazaar of Sexes (Österreich/Iran 2009, Sudabeh Mortezai, DOK.forum). A bachelor, a single mother and a Mullah offer three perspectives on temporary marriage. Iranian machismo, female realities and religious dogma collide and present us with an intimate insight into the relationship between the sexes. – Persian with German subtitles

I Shot my Love – I Shot my Love (Israel, Deutschland 2010, Tomer Heymann, DOK.forum). It happened during the Berlin Film Festival after the successful premiere of his film: the director fell in love with the dancer Andreas Merk. This touching and endearing Isreali-German love story transcends time and space. – Hebru, English and German with English subtitles

Le collier et la perle (Senegal, Frankreich 2008, Mamadou Sellou Diallo, DOK.guest). From pregnant female body to new life. With sensitive camerawork and tender thoughts the director Mamadou Sellou Diallo accompanies his wife through the experience of birth. A magnificent filmic essay from Senegal. – French with English subtitles

Molf-e Gand (Iran 2008, Mahmood Rahmani, DOK.horizon). With a unique power of gestural and vocal expression Mohammad recounts his childhood memories of the Iran-Iraq War. A homage to the beauty and pain of the enduring traumas of a generation. – Persian with English subtitles

Das Leben ist wie ein Schwert (Deutschland 2009, Caroline Picker, DOK.deutsch). The Bunker, a high-density housing estate in Hamburg, is more than just an experimental ground for multi-cultural living. Day by day the youth must negotiate the tricky path between dreams and reality. – German version

Les arrivants (The Arrivals) – The Arrivals (France 2009, Claudine Bories, DOK.international). Caroline and Colette work in a modest office somewhere in Paris where the fate of asylum seekers is decided. This is big cinema in the smallest of spaces. – French with English subtitels

Zwischen Welten – Between Worlds (Deutschland 2010, Marc Haenecke, DOK.special). Two people struggle to rebuild their lives after waking up from comas. For more than a year this film follows the patients and their families’ difficult road to recovery. A moving testimony to the surprising potency of life. – German version

La isla - Archivos de una tragedia (La isla - Archives of a tragedy) – La isla - Archives of a tragedy (Guatemala, Deutschland 2009, Uli Stelzner, DOK.forum). “La Isla” is the name given to the former prison of the military police in Guatemala City. An extremely sensitive and artistic film about a horrific chapter in Latin American history. – Spanish with German subtitles

Addicted in Afghanistan – Addicted in Afghanistan (Afghanistan 2009, Jawed Taiman, DOK.horizon). Afghanistan beyond world politics. An intimate and bleak portrait of two young people, Jabar and Zahir, who are among the one million drug addicts in Afghanistan. – Paschtu, Farsi and Darsi with English subtitles

La terre de la folie (Land of Madness) – Land of Madness (Frankreich 2009, Luc Moullet, DOK.international). Nouvelle Vague director Luc Moullet looks into the suspicious accumulation of personality disorders and religious excesses in his homeland. Is he himself one of the afflicted? – French with English subtitels

Leben in Wittstock (Deutschland 1984, Volker Koepp, Dok.retro). Three young female textile workers in a small town of the GDR critically assess their socialistic employment. Long glances into the faces of the women become a metaphor for the inexpressible. – German version

The Other Song – The Other Song (Indien 2009, Saba Dewan, DOK.horizon). “My heart is wounded, throw no flowers at me.” A fascinating quest to find what remains of the ostracised art of the Indian courtesans. The erotic poetry and musical complexity of their songs have a timeless beauty. – Urdu, Hindi and English with English subtitles

Luanda, Factory Of Music (Luanda, A Fabrica Da Musica) (Angola, Portugal 2009, Kiluanje Liberdade, DOK.guest). A portrait of the young music scene in Luanda, the capital of Angola. Young people on the streets and in the small recording studio of DJ Buda reflect and comment on their attitude to life. Rap is the music and the primal scream of this generation. – Portuguese with English subtitles

Der Bergfürst (Deutschland 2010, Philip Vogt, DOK.international). Once the clan chiefs of the north Albanian mountains held the position of undisputed leaders. But times change. A sincere portrait of a family torn between tradition and modernity. – Albanian with English subtitles

Berlin-Stettin (Deutschland 2009, Volker Koepp, Dok.retro). Volker Koepp visits the people of his earlier films and travels through their landscapes. He is on a search for new encounters and his own history. An autobiographical journey from Stettin to Berlin. – German version

Space Tourists (Schweiz 2009, Christian Frei, DOK.international). How much would you pay to realise your dreams? People’s attempts to satisfy mankind’s eternal desire for life in outer space are sometimes as unfathomable as the universe itself. – English and German with German subtitles

Diplomat – Diplomat (Israel 2009, Dana Goren, DOK.forum). 600 residents, 8 storeys, 700 rooms. Once a 5-Star Hotel, today the Diplomat in Jerusalem offers a haven for immigrants from the former Soviet Union. – Russian with English subtitles

Was wird bleiben... – What will remain... (Deutschland 2009, Knut Karger, DOK.special). What will remain when there are no people left on the earth? What will we leave behind and what might another culture learn from this? A philosophical essay about the end of our days. – German and English with German and English subtitles

War Games and the Man who Stopped Them – War Games and the Man who Stopped Them (Polen 2009, Dariusz Jablonski, DOK.international). A political thriller. During the Cold War, Ryszard Kuklinsky was a colonel in the Polish army and a top-class spy for the USA. He made history alongside General Jaruzelski and Solidarność icon Lech Wałęsa. Did he save humanity from a Third World War? – Polish and English with English subtitles

El Ambulante (The Peddler) – The Peddler (Argentinien 2009, Adriana Yurcovich, Eduardo de la Serna, Lucas Marcheggiano, DOK.horizon). An old man travels through Argentinean villages making films with the locals under adventurous conditions. Thereby he makes himself and other people happy. – Spanish with English subtitles

Yes, Miss Commander (Ken amefakdet) (Israel 2009, Itzik Lerner, DOK.forum). The rehabilitation of young offenders through basic military service with a twist - the commanders are all pretty young women. In no time the young men and women descend into a spiral of erotic attraction and aggression. Passionate. – Hebrew with English subtitles

Le collier et la perle (Senegal, Frankreich 2008, Mamadou Sellou Diallo, DOK.guest). From pregnant female body to new life. With sensitive camerawork and tender thoughts the director Mamadou Sellou Diallo accompanies his wife through the experience of birth. A magnificent filmic essay from Senegal. – French and others with English subtitels

Aisheen [Still Alive in Gaza] – Still Alive in Gaza (Schweiz, Katar 2010, Nicolas Wadimoff, DOK.forum). Scenes from the Gaza Strip just after the end of the Israeli military offensive. A denouncement of military violence. A film about the stalemate that follows catastrophe and the wait for a better future. – Arabian with German and French subtitles

As The Poet Said (Kama Kkala Ashair) – As The Poet Said (Palästina 2009, Nasri Hajjaj, DOK.horizon). An unusual homage to the successful Palestinian lyrical poet and political activist, Mahmoud Darwish. The history of the artist is told through the recital of his works in various locations from his life. In this film the “poetic voice of the Palestinian people” has his say one last time. – Portuguese, Kurdish, Hebru and others with English subtitles/German translation

Chemia (Chemo) – Chemo (Polen 2009, Paweł Łoziński, DOK.forum). Laughter, anxious small talk, reflective glances. An intensive and touching film about cancer patients - not overly sad, but like life: fateful. – Polish with English subtitles

Shosholoza Express (Deutschland 2009, Beatrice Möller, DOK.guest). In the Shosholoza Express between Johannesburg and Cape Town, black people and white people encounter each other and share their personal experiences of Apartheid. A multi-facetted picture of today’s South Africa that sheds new light on issues of racial segregation and cultural identity. – Cape Dutch and others with German subtitles

Vienen por el oro, vienen por todo (They come for the gold, they come for it all) – They Come For the Gold, They Come For it All (Argentinien 2009, Cristián Harbaruk, DOK.horizon). “Gold, a child that is born of nature’s desire” The inhabitants of Esquel in the Argentine Patagonia are faced with an existential decision. A Canadian global corporation has gained the rights to the excavation of gold and silver in a nearby mine. – Spanish with English subtitles

The Oath – The Oath (USA 2010, Laura Poitras, DOK.forum). Abu Jandal is a taxi driver in Yemen. His brother-in-law is a Guantánamo detainee. But once Abu Jandal was bin Laden’s right hand man while Salim was just his driver. A complex dual portrait about guilt, loyalty and al-Qaida. – Arabian and English with English subtitles

La isla - Archivos de una tragedia (La isla - Archives of a tragedy) – La isla - Archives of a tragedy (Guatemala, Deutschland 2009, Uli Stelzner, DOK.forum). “La Isla” is the name given to the former prison of the military police in Guatemala City. An extremely sensitive and artistic film about a horrific chapter in Latin American history. – Spanish with German subtitles

Space Tourists (Schweiz 2009, Christian Frei, DOK.international). How much would you pay to realise your dreams? People’s attempts to satisfy mankind’s eternal desire for life in outer space are sometimes as unfathomable as the universe itself. – English and German with German subtitles

Anklage Mord: Ein Freund vor Gericht (Deutschland 2009, Daniela Agostini, DOK.special). The infamous murder of a millionairess in Munich. This story focuses on the friends of the suspected murderer, a nephew of the deceased. A film about friendship and love, mistrust and declarations of innocence in the face of a serious accusation. – German version

Aisheen [Still Alive in Gaza] – Still Alive in Gaza (Schweiz, Katar 2010, Nicolas Wadimoff, DOK.forum). Scenes from the Gaza Strip just after the end of the Israeli military offensive. A denouncement of military violence. A film about the stalemate that follows catastrophe and the wait for a better future. – Arabian wirh German and French subtitles

Es wird einmal gewesen sein (Deutschland 2009, Anca Lazarescu, DOK.special). Avant-garde composer John Cage’s pipe organ piece “Organ²/ASLSP” is set to last for no less than 639 years. Transcendence and infiniteness, recounted through the long drawn-out breath of an organ. – German with English subtitles

Qassam – Qassam (Deutschland, Israel 2009, Ya'ir G. Magall, DOK.special). The absurdities and challenges of life in the Gaza Strip. The rockets rain down; the houses are rebuilt. Policies are made elsewhere; here the war goes on. – Hebrew with English subtitles

The Wildest Guy – The Wildest Guy (Deutschland 2009, Sebastian Sorg, DOK.special). A man alone in the wilderness. After his best friend’s suicide Greg sees his life through new eyes. THE WILDEST GUY is a snapshot of American society during the financial crisis. – English with German subtitles

Das unbewachte Atelier - Der Maler Peter Tomschiczek (Deutschland 2009, Boris Tomschiczek, DOK.special). A father and his son: a painter and a young filmmaker. A lesson about how difficult it is to discuss the essence of art, even when two people know each other very well. The coming together of two masters of their trade. – German version

Like in Old Glorious Times (Finnland 2009, Johannes Östergård & Kaspar Kaven, DOK.special). A Russian expat in Finland is fighting to resist the digitalisation of the world. It is not an easy task, especially for him as he is a musician and record producer. A modern Don Quixote in a seemingly futile battle against bits and bytes. – English with German subtitles

Le collier et la perle (Senegal, Frankreich 2008, Mamadou Sellou Diallo, DOK.guest). From pregnant female body to new life. With sensitive camerawork and tender thoughts the director Mamadou Sellou Diallo accompanies his wife through the experience of birth. A magnificent filmic essay from Senegal. – French and others with English subtitles

Entre la coupe et l'élection (Between the Cup and the Election) – Between the Cup and the Election (Kongo, Benin, Belgien 2008, Monique Mbeka Phoba, DOK.guest). “The Leopards” were the first black African team to ever take part in a World Cup, back then under Mobutu. This film explores the drama of 1974 and the Congolese society today. – French with English subtitles

Congo in Four Acts – Congo in Four Acts (Demokratische Republik Kongo, Südafrika 2010, Dieudo Hamadi, Divita Wa Lusala, Kiripi Katembo Siku, DOK.guest). From the labyrinth of Kinshasa’s streets to a maternity ward. Four Congolese directors observe the daily life of their fellow countrymen. A striking study of a crisis-shaken land. – Lingalian and French with English subtitles

Herbstgold - Wettlauf gegen die Zeit – Autumn Gold (Deutschland, Finnland, Tschechien, Österreich, Schweden, Slowenien 2009, Jan Tenhaven, DOK.deutsch). World Champion at the age of 100! A portrait of five sports-mad pensioners, who have just one goal: the Senior Athletics World Championships. A homage to life and the wonder of age. – German version