African Encounters
Since 2013, the African continent has been a thematic focus of DOK.fest München. In 2025, the African Encounters format, which is unique in Germany, is focussing on climate change. With three films from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, unresolved questions about climate justice between the Global South and North, between Africa and Europe are put on the agenda. Under the motto LET`S TALK CLIMATE!, the filmic perspective will be expanded through personal encounters: filmmakers, experts and the audience enter into dialogue with each other in talks and a panel discussion.
African Encounters at DOK.fest München 2025: LET`S TALK CLIMATE
The films
Through three films of African Encounters 2025 we aim to illuminate the current debates and perspectives on colonialism in Africa and to enter into a dialogue with filmmakers.
Panel discussion
Following the film screening of THE BATTLE FOR LAIKIPIA, we will be discussing the issues of climate change with filmmakers, researchers and activists.
About African Encounters
About Us
As part of DOK.network Africa, African Encounters focuses on African documentaries and current film-aesthetic and social debates every year at the festival in May.
The Network
DOK.network Africa works closely with its African partner festivals throughout the year.
Texts Across Ten Years
Over the past ten years, we have been able to collect a wide variety of great essays and texts related to our DOK.network Africa focus.
We thank our sponsors, patrons, supporters and partners:
Sponsored by:
With funding by:
Sponsored by:
Review since 2017
The films 2024
Through four films we aim to illuminate the current debates and perspectives on colonialism in Africa and to enter into a dialogue with filmmakers.
African Encounters: Panel Discussion 2024
In a panel discussion following the film THE EMPTY GRAVE, we brought together the common threads of the four African Encounters films on Sunday 5 May. Further information on the African Encounters panel discussion 2024
African Encounters meets DOK.forum
Are collaborative efforts the future of filmmaking? In an interactive session guest filmmakers entered into dialogue with the participants and reported on their experiences.
The films of the retrospective
In six films 2023 we presented a range from the last decades of African cinema in 2023 – from the 1970s to the 2020s.
Honouring the Past to Inspire the Future
DOK.network Africa director Barbara Off discussed with guests what the future holds for filmmakers, audiences and festivals on the continent and abroad in 2023 – watch the video recording here.
The curators
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of DOK.network Africa at DOK.fest München, six African film professionals were invited to select important African documentaries.
African Encounters 2022: Programme
Four films from the documentary film series Generation Africa were shown on May 06 and 07 2022 as part of African Encounters: The focus is on encounters and exchange with filmmakers from the African continent.
Tiny Mungwe and Don Edkins about Generation Africa
We met Don Edkins and Tiny Mungwe from the South African non-profit media company STEPS, to talk about the Generation Africa documentary film project.
Generation Africa Shifting the Narrative
Watch two recorded panel discussions with guest filmmakers here – on film production and on migration, moderated by Josey Mahachi.
Africa Day @home 2021: Beyond Diversity
We presented the eighth Africa Day online and live at home – with three films from and about Africa. We also continued the panel discussion in digital format with the topic: Moving Beyond Diversity.
FOLLOW THE NILE Fellowship Programme 2021
Again in 2021, DOK.network Africa proudly presented the fellowship program "Follow the Nile", which offers training in story and treatment development, financing and pitching.
Africa Day 2020 @home
We presented the seventh Africa Day online and live at home – with three films from and about Africa. We continued the panel discussion in digital format with the theme: Stronger together – translating panafricanism into documentary filmmaking.
New: FOLLOW THE NILE Fellowship Programme
We are proud to present our new Fellowship Programme "Follow the Nile" accompanied by training in story and treatment development, financing and pitching.
Africa Day 2019
Under the motto "East Africa – A Region in Transition?" we looked at modern East Africa beyond exotic colonial romanticism on Africa Day 2019.
Our scholarship holders visit a Munich school
In exchange with international filmmakers: The DOK.network Africa Redicency Scholarship holders are guests at a Munich school.
Africa Day 2018
Under the heading "What's next: young African Documentary filmmaking" the Africa Day 2018 gazed into the future of African documentary – with three forward-looking debutfilms and a panel discussion.
DOK.special im Museum Fünf Kontinente
Together with Museum Fünf Kontinente DOK.fest presented two outstanding portraits of women from Cameroon and Burkina Faso and a discussion.
Interview with young talents
We ask the two scholarship holders of the DOK.network Africa Residency in an interview (German) to what extent the new artistic movement of Afrofuturism marks a turning point for African (documentary) film.
Africa Day 2017
Under the heading "The future is female? Women's perspectives in African societies" the Africa Day 2017 focused on the image of women in African societies.
Masterclass Africa
The DOK.forum Masterclass Africa 2017 discussed questions concerning different cultural practices of writing history and their value in modern times.
ANGOLA CINEMAS
In cooperation with the Goethe-Institute and the Steidl Verlag DOK.network Africa presented 2017 a photo exhibition about cinemas in Angola.
