MDR day at DOK Leipzig 2024: Insights in gripping documentaries

Leipzig becomes the epicenter of the documentary! On October 30, 2024, the spectacular MDR day will take place as part of the DOK Leipzig festival. Look forward to an exciting program that includes the finalists of the 13th ARD Topdocs competition and an irresistible special screening. The highlight? The captivating documentary "Nice Ladies" from Ukraine, which will be shown in the impressive east of the Leipzig Central Station!

This special event offers a platform for brilliant heads of documentary storytelling. The top five projects from the ARD Topdocs competition, selected from over 30 entries from an expert jury, are presented. Among the jurors are prominent editors of the MDR and other broadcasters such as BR, NDR, SWR, WDR and RBB, led by ARD editor-in-chief Oliver Köhr.

insights into the ARD Topdocs finalists

The five finalists of the competition have been determined! Your projects will not only inspire a jury, but also the audience. The winning project is chosen in the afternoon and has the chance to be published in the first or in the ARD media library. MDR director Ralf Ludwig emphasizes the importance of documentary storytelling for society: “We have to tackle topics that provide discussions-whether on the Internet, at the dining table or in the flat.”

But that's not all! The MDR also invites you to an exciting speed dating for serial telling. Producers and filmmakers are called to pitch their innovative ideas and stories on October 30 between 11:15 and 1:00 p.m. Creativity and expertise meet here-a unique opportunity to reach the ARD representatives directly!

"Generation Ukraine" and their captivating stories

Another highlight are the presentations as part of the “Generation Ukraine” initiative. From 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., six exceptional projects will be presented here from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. cinema that support Ukrainian filmmakers and illuminate their stories. From December 2024, these films will be shown in the ARTE program, and the MDR brings two long documentaries-"The Blessed" and "Silent Flood".

But the evening special screening also becomes a crowning glory! At 7:30 p.m., the audience is kidnapped into the world by "Nice Ladies", a documentary about a group of Ukrainian cheerleaders over 50, which despite the war capture on their dream. They face incredible challenges, while brutal conflict turns their lives upside down. Will the "Nice Ladies" stay together as a team?

Admission to this emotional film is free and the energy of history is guaranteed to be captivated by every viewer.

don't miss the opportunity to become part of this exciting day full of documentary film art!