Documentary film competition for young people 2026
with prizes donated by BLLV – Bavarian Teachers' Association e.V. and MLLV – Munich Teachers' Association e.V.
Call for entries for the documentary film competition
For the 12th time, DOK.education, the educational programme of the DOK.fest München is organising the documentary film competition for young people together with the Bayerischer Lehrer- und Lehrerinnenverband e.V. and Münchner Lehrer- und Lehrerinnenverband e.V..
Are you a student, trainee or apprentice and can handle a camera? Are you a school class or group and want to make a documentary film together? Then tell us your real-life story! What is close to your heart? What is happening in your family, neighbourhood or circle of friends? Do you have the courage and openness to look? Grab your camera, smartphone or iPad and show us your view of LIFE!
How to submit your film
Your story about LIFE! We are looking forward to it. In the Bavaria-wide film competition for young people, we are looking for short film stories (3-15 min.) that show us life: People, hobbies, experiences, observations, wishes. It is important that the story told comes from real life.
Closing date for entries is 01 April 2026.
Who can take part
The competition is open to all pupils (from primary school to vocational secondary school), trainees and FSJ students from Bavaria - as a group or individually. The film does not have to have been made in a school context.
What we need from you
As the award is a documentary film award, pure feature films and fictional ideas are not permitted. Accompanying the film (file format .MOV or .mp4 with max. 2 GB), please send us your CV and a short text (max. 1 A4 page) on the idea and realisation of the film. Please don't forget to include your age, school, address and telephone number.
Music in the film
If you want to use music in your film, there are a few things to bear in mind. You can only use music in a film if you have the appropriate usage rights. This means that you need the right to use the music or song in your film. This right usually lies with the record company. You also need the right to perform the music in public. This right usually has to be cleared through GEMA. This also applies to music that only plays in the background. Incorporating your current favourite song into your film will therefore be quite complicated. As a general rule, you should only use copyright-free music or music that you have composed and recorded yourself. Here you can find links to copyright-free music licensed under Creative Commons.
Image rights
You must first clarify the image rights for yourself and all other people who appear in the film: You need a declaration of consent that you are allowed to film other people and a filming permit for the locations where you are filming (e.g. school grounds, a café). You can easily create a document that briefly describes what you are filming and why. You must have this document signed and keep it in a safe place. You can download a template here and adapt it for your film project.
We also need permission from you as the filmmaker to show your film at the festival and on our website. If you are under the age of 18, please obtain the consent of a parent or guide. Get the docuemnts in German language:
- Einverständniserklärung für Protagonist*innen über 18 Jahren
- Einverständniserklärung für Protagonist*innen unter 18 Jahren
- Drehgenehmigung für Drehorte
Guide lines for your documentary in German language
Send everything by email to:
Kathi Seemann, education@dokfest-muenchen.de
or by post (e.g. on a USB stick) to:
Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival München
DOK.education Jugendfilmwettbewerb
Dachauerstr. 116
80636 München
Documentary film Workshops
In addition to the competition, we offer documentary film workshops on the topic of ‘Storytelling with reality’ in various Bavarian cities and online. If you are currently planning your film, have questions about editing, or even if you just want to learn more about the documentary film genre, this workshop is just right for you. The workshops will be conduct in German. All information and dates for the workshops can be found here.
Prizes and award winners
The 12th edition of the documentary film competition with the theme LIFE! will be awarded by DOK.education, the educational programme of the Munich International Documentary Film Festival, as part of a grand award ceremony at Sunday 17th of May 2026. Thanks to the main prize sponsors Bayerischen Lehrer- und Lehrerinnenverband e.V. and Münchner Lehrer- und Lehrerinnenverband BLLV e.V. four prizes totalling 1.100 euros will be awarded:
1st prize main category, endowed with 400 euros - donated by BLLV e.V.
2nd prize main category, endowed with 300 euros - donated by BLLV e.V.
3rd prize main category, endowed with 200 euros - donated by BLLV e.V.
1st prize category 6- to 11-year-olds, endowed with 200 euros - donated by BLLV e.V.
In recent years, great documentary films by young students have won. Here you can find the films and the winners of the past edition 2025–2015.
Partner and sponsor
Bayerischer Lehrer- und Lehrerinnenverband BLLV e.V., Münchner Lehrer- und Lehrerinnenverband MLLV e.V.
