Press Releases 2026

Iranian composer Atena Eshtiaghi wins the German Documentary Film Music Award for the second time

Iranian composer Atena Eshtiaghi has won the 2026 German Documentary Film Music Award for MATERIA PRIMA. This is her second win, following her 2024 award for MY STOLEN PLANET. The German Documentary Film Music Award is sponsored by the Versicherungskammer Kulturstiftung and comes with a prize of 5,000 euros. With this award, which is unique in Germany, the festival honors the artistic significance of music in documentary films. This year’s winning film, MATERIA PRIMA by director Jens Schanze, celebrates its German premiere at the 41st DOK.fest Munich (in theaters: May 6–18, online: May 11–25).

Film education takes centre stage at DOK.fest Munich

DOK.education, the film education programme of DOK.fest Munich, has been teaching school pupils how to interpret documentary films for over ten years. The successful school workshops run by the Schule des Sehens combine media literacy, empathy training and cultural education into a holistic learning experience. Two significant additions to this year’s programme are the ‘Gern gesehen!’ ticket, which enables pupils facing particular financial challenges to attend the cinema free of charge, and the ‘Schule des Hörens’ initiative.

The 41th DOK.fest Munich opens with INGEBORG BACHMANN – SOMEONE WHO WAS ONCE ME

The 41st DOK.fest Munich will open on 6 May at the Deutsches Theater with INGEBORG BACHMANN – SOMEONE WHO WAS ONCE ME. Regina Schilling's hybrid film combines dramatised scenes with documentary elements. The multi-award-winning actress Sandra Hüller plays the writer Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973). The film will celebrate its world premiere at DOK.fest Munich. It will be released in cinemas across Germany on 25 June, Ingeborg Bachmann's 100th birthday.