Call for Entries for DOK.fest München 2027

 

The submission for the 42nd DOK.fest München (5 to 17 May 2027 @cinemas, 10 to 23 May 2027 @home) is open!

We are looking for stirring, moving, curious, impressive and relevant documentary films that engage in a dialogue on a social, personal and artistic level. Filmmakers, (emerging) producers, distributors, students and composers are now cordially invited to submit recent films for the various programme sections of DOK.fest München 2027. In addition to our VIKTORIAs, we award prizes for music, production and inclusive team achievement.

As a festival for outstanding international artistic and socially relevant documentary films, DOK.fest München is the largest of its kind in Germany and an important platform for documentary film in Europe.

The 42nd DOK.fest München will again combine the best of both worlds to provide a dual festival experience: from 5 to 17 May 2027, the selected documentary films will be presented in Munich cinemas and our special venues, and from 10 to 23 May 2027, they will be shown exclusively @home on our digital screen throughout Germany.

 

DOK.fest München Film Programme

For the 42nd DOK.fest München we are looking for outstanding national and international documentary films with a minimum length of 52 minutes which were completed after 1 January 2026 and have neither been shown regularly in cinemas in Germany, nor broadcast on German television, nor made freely available on any streaming provider. Preference will be given to premieres.

 

DOK.spotlights megaherz Award

The DOK.spotlights (formerly Student Award) presents outstanding documentary films by students from German-speaking film schools and academies. All students from our partner universities are invited to submit their films. The films selected for the competition are nominated for the DOK.spotlights megaherz Award, which carries a prize of 3,000 euros. As well as traditional formats, submissions in innovative, experimental and hybrid formats are also welcome. Short films may also be submitted. Submission is free of charge for students.

 

DOK.education Film Literacy Programme

For the school programme of DOK.education we are looking for films by professional filmmakers (15–35 min.) that tell strong stories for and about children and young people (aged 6 to 19) in an artistic and creative way. The films may already have been broadcast and shown on other platforms. Submission for DOK.education is free of charge.

 

German Documentary Film Music Award

The German Documentary Film Music Award, endowed with 5.000 euros, honours film compositions that connect with the documentary narrative in a special way. Composers and filmmakers are invited to submit their original compositions for a current feature-length documentary film from the German-speaking countries. Submission for the German Documentary Film Music Award is free of charge.

Submission deadline: 22 January 2027

 

VFF Documentary Production Award

Unique in Germany, the VFF Documentary Production Award, endowed with 7.500 euros, honours the role of production in the creation of documentary feature films. Producers are cordially invited to submit their current documentary films. The award is donated by the VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film und Fernsehproduzenten mbH. Submission for the VFF Documentary Production Award is free of charge.

Sumbission deadline: 22 January 2027

 

VFF Documentary Production Talent Award

Now in its second year, this award recognises the central role of production in the creation of current university documentary film projects. The award is donated by VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film- und Fernsehproduzenten mbH and is endowed with prize money of 3,000 euros. Emerging producers are warmly invited to submit their current documentary films! Submission for the VFF Emerging Documentary Production Award is free of charge.

Sumbission deadline: 22 January 2027

 

all inclusive Documentary Film Award

The award, endowed with 5,000 euros, honours documentary film productions in which filmmakers with disabilities play a leading role. The prize is awarded for the inclusive team effort in the realisation of the film. Award donor is the Werksviertel-Mitte Stiftung. Submission for the all inclusive Award is free of charge.

Sumbission deadline: 22 January 2027

 

All calls at a glance

Competitions and Awards

Find out here about the competitions and awards of DOK.fest München.

Contact

DOK.fest München Film Programme and DOK.education Film Literacy Programme
Veronica Loebner, loebner@dokfest-muenchen.de

DOK.spotlights megaherz Award
Jan Sebening, sebening@dokfest-muenchen.de

German Documentary Film Music Award
Johanna von Websky, websky@dokfest-muenchen.de

VFF Documentary Film Production Award and VFF Documentary Film Production Talent Award
Elena Lanzinger, lanzinger@dokfest-muenchen.de

all inclusive Documentary Film Award
Kathi Seemann, seemann@dokfest-muenchen.de


DOK.fest München
Dachauer Straße 116
80636 Munich
Germany
Phone: +49 89 51 39 97 88