YouTube for Documentary: Reach, Formats, Visibility

DCampus Exchange Munich in cooperation with DOK.forum @ DOK.fest Munich 2026

YouTube has become impossible to ignore—but how important is it really for producers, distributors and documentary filmmakers? This session explores what kinds of factual formats thrive on the platform, and how visibility and discoverability can make or break a project. Filmmakers will gain insights into what works in terms of channel strategy, audience engagement and content optimisation, while also learning about the challenges of building and sustaining factual channels in a crowded digital space. By bringing together creatives, platforms and broadcasters, the discussion offers practical guidance on navigating YouTube’s ecosystem and turning online presence into real impact for documentaries.

Speakers: Nils Franck (Little Dot Studios), Maximilian von Perfall (YouTube), Tim Klimeš (Deutsche Welle), Lennard Obermeyer-Herdt (Quintus Studios)

Event information and tickets

The event will end at approx. 15.30 pm.
The event will be held in English.
The event will be held on site.
The event is open to the public (with ticket purchase, valid for all events within DCampus Exchange).
The event is open to all accreditation types (DOK.fest professionals, DOK.forum Marketplace Observer (Plus) and Marketplace guests) for free (except DOK.forum accreditation, need to purchase ticket).

Our partners

Fri, 5/8/26
14.30
HFF - Audimax

Ticket

Fri, 5/8/26
14.30
HFF - Audimax

Ticket

Adam Gee
Documentary Campus Masterschool & Doc Hearts (Documentary Campus Masterschool & Doc Hearts)

Adam is Head of Documentary Campus Masterschool, the Berlin-based documentary incubator. He is also Head of Content at Doc Hearts, the award-winning UK indie production company. Prior to these, he was a Commissioning Editor at CAA, a long-time Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 and the first Commissioning Editor of original programming at Little Dot Studios (on ‘Real Stories’ documentary channel). He has also commissioned at Red Bull Media House and consulted for Ridley Scott Creative Group on digital content. He specialises in documentary, short form & online video, multiplatform TV, digital interactivity and diverse talent development. He has won over 90 international awards for his productions, including 6 BAFTAs, an Emmy, 3 Royal Television Society awards and the Grand Award at the New York International Film & Television Festival.

Tim Klimes
Head of Documentaries (DW (Deutsche Welle))

Tim Klimeš is the Head of Documentaries at DW (Deutsche Welle), Germany’s international broadcaster. He was born in 1986 near Frankfurt/Main, Germany and graduated from the Journalism School in Munich. After several years in different positions at AVE Publishing, the TV and documentary unit within the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, he joined DW in early 2021. Together with his team he is responsible for all documentary strands at DW, ranging from 28min to 90min-slots. DW Documentaries broadcasts 365 documentaries a year and reaches a monthly audience of up to 50 million via their six VoD channels.