DOK Leipzig: Peace, Tolerance, Human Dignity and Freedom of Expression
Every year at the end of October, the curtain rises again in numerous Leipzig cinemas for DOK Leipzig: the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film. This year, the world-renowned festival will show a total of 26 films from 1 countries from October 141 to November 45. Thematically, the 63rd edition of the festival is dedicated to social issues in the USA, the current pandemic situation and the energy transition, among other things. Other focuses will be on personal portraits and regional productions. What is special this year is the hybrid event format. 132 films will be shown online as video-on-demand across Germany for the first time. But you can also experience the DOK films on site in Leipzig in a total of nine venues. In addition to the classic Cinestar and Passage cinemas in the center, these include venues outside the inner city ring such as the Schauburg, the Schaubühne Lindenfels and the naTo.
Schaubühne Lindenfels: “Nothing that pays off, but everything that counts”
The Schaubühne Lindenfels is located in the former industrial district of Plagwitz on Karl-Heine-Straße and offers much more than just film art. Theater and dance productions as well as music and literature performances on current issues await visitors all year round. Discussions and exhibitions complete the offering. The focus of the film screenings in the historic ballroom are independent productions, which are often shown in the original with subtitles and are intended to stimulate the audience to think. The Schaubühne Lindenfels also sees itself as a meeting place and in this role designs event formats such as the French Film Days, the short film festival "Kurzsuechtig" and the Latin American Film Days.
Cinémathèque Leipzig: Questioning society with and through film
The Cinémathèque Leipzig, whose main venue is the naTo in the Südvorstadt, follows a similar concept. Current cinema releases, curated film series, film talks and introductions, and discussions are shown or held there three to four days a week. The people behind the Cinémathèque, which enjoys a great deal of volunteer work, use their program to address critical issues and stimulate social discourse. What has been seen can be discussed afterwards in the naTo's own pub. In the summer months, the Cinémathèque moves a little further south of the city to hold the 2cl summer cinema in the socio-cultural center Conne Island.
UT Connewitz: Cinema culture since 1912
In the heart of the alternative district of Connewitz lies the UT Connewitz, the cradle of Leipzig's cinema tradition. In terms of history, Leipzig's oldest surviving cinema is one of the most important in Germany. Since 1912, Leipzig residents have been meeting in the courtyard of Bornaische Strasse to watch films together. After renovation work reduced the seating capacity in the 1980s, the UT (short for Union Theater) was also used for other purposes, such as as a meeting place for the GDR punk scene. The current operator of the UT, the UT Connewitz eV association, has retained this cross-genre concept. Concerts, readings, theater and other special events take place regularly. The original architecture of the stage with a suggested portico and columns and the interior, which is largely original except for the seating, give a visit to the UT Connewitz a special charm to this day.
For more information about alternative spots in Leipzig, see: www.leipzig.travel/verborgenesleipzig