With tonight’s opening, Berlin’s festival for documentary storytelling launches its second edition – and at the same time says goodbye to the letter K in its name.
The name Dokumentale stood for a passionate engagement with documentary formats – derived from the German word dokumentarisch and paired with the common festival suffix “-ale.” However, a major player in Germany’s cultural sector saw the name as too closely resembling its own brand. Despite the Dokumentale team’s extensive efforts to reach a constructive agreement, no resolution could be found. In order to avoid a lengthy legal dispute, the festival directors have decided to change the name – even though, in their view, no trademark infringement has taken place. Festival materials and publications will now be gradually updated to reflect this change.
The new dox is more than just a pragmatic solution: it’s a tribute to the international documentary community, where dox is already a well-established shorthand for documentary. “Doxumentale is a love letter – to our former name, to documentary media, and to the power of constructive dialogue,” say festival directors Vivian Schröder and Anna Ramskogler-Witt. “In a field already facing structural challenges, we see no benefit in investing our energy into disputes. We’d instead like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all funders, partners, and friends who have stood by us unconditionally during this challenging time.”
The 2nd edition of Doxumentale (June 12–22) opened this evening at its festival center in the Atelier Gardens with the ballet performance Glanz & Widerstand (“Glamour & Resistance”) by the Berlin Ballet Company – a work that moves between research and documentation – and in the presence of numerous filmmakers and media professionals. Until June 22, the festival will present over 40 documentary films, 10 live podcasts, 9 non-fiction book readings, a family-friendly children’s and youth program, and three showcases featuring photography and video work. In addition, from June 12–15, Doxumentale will host D’Hub, its industry platform.
About Doxumentale
Doxumentale (June 12–22, 2025) is a Berlin-based festival for documentary formats, supporting film, new media, non-fiction literature, and podcasts. It creates an interdisciplinary platform for exchange between filmmakers, journalists, authors, artists, scientists, and the public.
From June 12–15, the professional program D’Hub runs in parallel, offering panels, workshops, and networking opportunities that provide fresh impulses to the field. A highlight is The Good Media Pitch, Germany’s first film and impact program, which connects selected projects with civil society experts to explore potential partnerships.
The festival and its industry program are made possible through generous support from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
Press Contact
For questions, materials, or interview requests, please contact:
ketzscher@posteo.de or +49 176 2073 0333
About The Good Media Network
Doxumentale is organized by The Good Media Network, an initiative dedicated to promoting outstanding films and media projects that work toward a more just, sustainable, and inspiring world.
