German Documentary Film Music Award 2026

The nominees for the 14th German Documentary Film Music Award have been selected.

An award for outstanding documentary film compositions

Unique in the German-speaking region, the German Documentary Film Music Award recognises a composition for a feature-length cinema documentary that represents the documentary film narrative in a special way. The award sees itself as a platform for the work of composers and for the value of music as a narrative level in documentary films.

The award is endowed with a prize money of 5.000 euros. The award goes to the composer of the film. The award ceremony will take place within the festival programme of DOK.fest München.

Shortlist 2026

FIRST LAP CRASH
CH, 2026, Liam Erlach, 73 Min.
Music: Tobias Preisig

FLUSS
DE, 2025, Timo Grosspietsch, 83 Min.
Music: Vladyslav Sendecki

MATERIA PRIMA
DE, 2026, Jens Schanze, 90 Min.
Music: Atena Eshtiaghi

NICHTS BLEIBT UND NICHTS VERSCHWINDET
DE, 2026, Paul Sonntag, 75 Min.
Music: Fabian Kalker

SCHWARZE HÄUSER
DE, 2026, Katrin Sikora, 90 Min.
Music: Marcus Sander

SIRI HUSTVEDT - DANCE AROUND THE SELF
DE, CH, 2026, Sabine Lidl, 110 Min.
Music: Balz Bachman

WHEN PIGS FLY
DE, 2026, Denise Riedmayr, 80 Min.
Music: Marja Burchard

ZIRKUSKIND
DE, 2025, Julia Lemke and Anna Koch, 86 Min.
Music: Nils Kacirek and Jörg Hochapfel

Award donor and patron