Call for Entries for DOK.fest München 2026
The submission for the 41st DOK.fest München is now open!
We are looking for stirring, moving, curious, impressive and relevant documentary films. From now on, filmmakers, producers, distributors and composers are cordially invited to submit their latest films for the various programme sections of DOK.fest München.
The 41st DOK.fest München will again combine the best of both worlds to provide a dual festival experience: from 6 to 17 May 2026, the selected documentary films will be presented in Munich cinemas and our special venues, and from 11 to 24 May 2026, they will be shown exclusively @home on our digital screen throughout Germany.
DOK.fest München Film Programme
For the 41st 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 2025 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.
Sumbission deadline: 15 December 2025
Regulations, further information and film submission
DOK.education Film Literacy Programme
For the school programme of DOK.education we are looking for films by professional filmmakers (10–30 minutes) 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.
Sumbission deadline: 15 December 2025
Regulations and further information
Here you find the call for the documentary film competition for young people 2026.
Student Award (by invitation only)
The 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 megaherz Student Award, endowed with 3.000 euros. In addition to classic formats, the Student Award is also looking forward to submissions of innovative, experimental and hybrid formats of any length. Submission for students is free of charge.
Sumbission deadline: 15 December 2025
Regulations and further information
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: 2 February 2026
Regulations and further information
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: 2 February 2026
Regulations and further information
FAQ for the VFF Documentary Film Production Award
VFF Documentary Production Talent Award
This unique award recognises the role of production in the creation of current documentary feature films. The award is donated by the VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film- und Fernsehproduzenten mbH and is endowed with prize money of 3.000 euros. Emerging producers are cordially invited to submit their current documentary films! Submission for the VFF Documentary Production Talent Award is free of charge.
Sumbission deadline: 2 February 2026
Regulations and further information
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: 2 February 2026
Regulations and further information
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 Education Programme
Veronica Loebner, loebner@dokfest-muenchen.de
Student Award
Jan Sebening, filmschulfestival@dokfest-
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
DOK.forum Marketplace
By applying to the Marketplace, projects can be eligible for various pitch formats. In addition to the public DOK.forum Pitch, the Roundtables and One-to-One Meetings, the Marketplace offers four donated pitch events:
- DOK.archive Award, sponsored by British Pathé, endowed with 2,500 euros or archive material worth 22,500 euros: projects in development or early production, with a relevant proportion of archive material.
- DOK.composition Award, sponsored by Sonoton Music and Deutscher Komponist:innen Verband, endowed with 2,500 euros: projects in all stages of development by a production company from the German-speaking countries (DACH) with a solid compositional concept.
- DOK.digital Award, sponsored by the Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM), endowed with 2,500 euros: completed or published new media projects, including projects in the final prototype phase from the German-speaking countries (DACH).
- DOK.talent Award, sponsored by SÜDKINO Filmproduktion, endowed with 2,500 euros: projects in pre-production by students from our partner film universities.
All information for the DOK.forum Marketplace submission
Contact
Alina Götzlich und Camila Reuss
Coordination DOK.forum Marketplace
marktplatz@dokfest-muenchen.de
DOK.fest München
Dachauer Straße 116
80636 Munich
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 51 51 97 86
