DOK Leipzig is introducing a new award for feature-length animated films in time for the 66th edition of the festival this autumn. In doing so, festival director Christoph Terhechte is fulfilling his intention of giving greater prominence to feature-length animated films at the festival. Though announced in 2020, the introduction of a distinct competition for feature-length animated films had to be postponed repeatedly due to the pandemic.

“Every year we’ve been seeing feature-length animated films of very high artistic quality. In recent years, these animated films have been competing alongside documentaries for the Golden and Silver Doves. We now intend to change that and award a Golden Dove for a feature-length international documentary as well as a separate one for a feature-length animated film – as we’ve been doing with the short films,” explains Christoph Terhechte.

The Golden Dove for a feature-length animated film will include at least €3,000 in prize money. The exact amount this year will depend on a potential award sponsor and will be announced later on.

In adding the Golden Dove for a feature-length animated film, DOK Leipzig is also revamping the entire framework of its competitions. The six existing competitions are being consolidated into four. The number of awards, however, will remain the same.

The previous International Competitions are being split into the International Competition Documentary Film and the International Competition Animated Film.

The German Competitions will be replaced by the German Competition Documentary Film. German animated film productions will henceforth be screened in the International Competition Animated Film. The competitions for the Audience Award are being merged into the Audience Competition.

Until 2015, DOK Leipzig had had an international competition for animated films for many years. However, only short animated films ended up competing in it.

The new competition framework no longer distinguishes between short and feature-length films. With the exception of the Audience Competition, the competitions are thus open to films of any length. Separate awards will nonetheless be presented for long and short films, with the threshold at DOK Leipzig remaining at 40 minutes.

The films that earn the Golden Dove for a short animated film and both Golden Doves in the International Competition Documentary Film qualify for nomination for the annual Academy Awards, provided they meet the Academy’s requirements.

Outside of the competitions, DOK Leipzig continues to screen current documentary and animated films in its Camera Lucida and Panorama sections. These films are not in the running for the Golden and Silver Doves, but may be nominated for Partnership Awards.

This year, DOK Leipzig takes place 8 to 15 October. The call for films will open on 15 February. XR works can be submitted from 15 March.

Overview of the competitions and awards at DOK Leipzig 2023:

International Competition Documentary Film

A five-member jury presents the following awards:

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary film
• Golden Dove for a short documentary film
• Silver Dove for a feature-length documentary film by an up-and-coming director
• Silver Dove for a short documentary film by an up-and-coming director

International Competition Animated Film

A three-member jury presents the following awards:

• Golden Dove for a feature-length animated film
• Golden Dove for a short animated film

German Competition Documentary Film

A three-member jury presents the following awards:

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary film
• Golden Dove for a short documentary film

Audience Competition

A jury of five local film enthusiasts awards:

• a Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary or animated film

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