DOK.fest München is celebrating its 40th birthday. For the anniversary edition, the festival will present 16 thematic film sections for the first time and show four films from from four decades of the history of DOK.fest in a retrospective. The exhibition "40 years of DOK.fest München: Eyes Wide Open" at Gasteig HP8, and the big anniversary celebration at the Ampere with the live acts Angela Aux, Joasihno and Van Damme 38 are further anniversary specials we can look forward to.

105 of the best international documentary films from 58 countries will provide insights into the most diverse worlds. The festival will open with FRIENDLY FIRE, a film by Klaus Fried, realised by Julia Albrecht about the humanist, peace fighter and language artist Erich Fried from the thematic section "'Never Again' Is Now? – Films about Memory and Resistance". 

Our aim is to maximise participation: We present the films on the big screen in Munich cinemas and accessible on home screens throughout Germany: DOK.fest München stays dual!

The international documentary film industry meets at the DOK.forum; DOK.education offers a special film programme with media education workshops for children, young people and schools.

Festival directors Daniel Sponsel and Adele Kohout on the anniversary edition: 

"40 years of DOK.fest München – is there anything to celebrate? Since the beginning, our programme has been dedicated to all essential topics and stories, including the less beautiful sides of our world. And especially in light of current political and social developments, it is even more important than ever to take unexpected and new perspectives on the world. Documentary film can do just that: look and create empathy. Over the years, our festival has been able to attract an ever-growing audience and – thanks to the great commitment of many dedicated people – has developed into an internationally significant festival. And that is a reason to celebrate."

Programme overview

• 29 April to 25 May Exhibition "40 years of DOK.fest München: Eyes Wide Open" at Gasteig HP8
  
  
• 5 to 18 May VR Pop Up Cinema at Futuro-Haus
  
  
• 7 May Festival opening with FRIENDLY FIRE at Deutsches Theater
  
  
• 7 to 18 May Film programme at the cinema | 6 May to 20 May Film programme @home
  
  
• 7 to 11 May DOK.forum
  
  
• 7 to 18 May DOK.education at the cinema | 1 May to 31 July DOK.education online
  
  
• 10 May Anniversary celebration at Ampere

Information on the entire 2025 film programme can be found under ‘Festival films’.

Advance booking and tickets from 24 April

Ticket options and prices:

• Single ticket cinema / online: 11,00 / 5,00 euros
• Reduced ticket cinema: 9,00 euros
• Festival pass cinema / online: 80,00 / 50,00 euros
• Festival pass dual: 100,00 euros

With the festival pass you get access to all films and events (except the opening). It is only valid in combination with a ticket.

Discounts:

Students, pensioners and people with severe disabilities are eligible for discounts.

In addition: Munich residents with low income can register as KulturGast at KulturRaum München e.V. to receive free tickets.

Accreditation from 7 April

Accreditation open!