Still: Flophouse America - Monica Strømdahl

Flophouse America* by Monica Strømdahl, a Dutch co-production with Basalt Film, is selected for the Doc Alliance Award program. The film follows Mikal as he navigates a childhood marked by poverty, substance abuse, and instability. The documentary had its world premiere at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, where it received a Special Mention.

Selected for the DOK Neuland program, Revival Roadshow* by Anne Fehres & Luke Conroy offers a unique VR experience that interrogates historical narratives. A VR experience critiquing colonial legacies through the resurrection of a 17th-century Dutch explorer in a speculative future. Premiered at IFFR 2025.

Moving Moments (6 Moments, 19 Fragments) by Gwendolyn Lootens appears in the Punto y Raya homage program. The visual work of Gwendolyn Lootens consists of drawings, videos, performances and installations. They function as moments, fragments and situations created with high productivity.

In the animated realm, Zwermen (Murmuration) by Janneke Swinkels and Tim Frijsinger, produced by Spotted Bird, competes in the International Animation Competition. Piet, an elderly man in a care home, is restricted in his actions when he realizes he is turning into a bird. Even though he is still accepted within the group, Piet feels it is time to join a new flock. The film previously won the Jean-Luc Xiberras Award for a First Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. We spoke to the creators before Annecy, read the interview here.

In Welded Together* by Anastasiya Miroshnichenko (NL co-prod. Witfilm), Katya is a young woman who works as a welder. Abandoned as a little girl, she embarks on a personal journey to reunite with her lost family – to weld it back together, just like she welds metal at work. The film world premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival and went on to win the International Competition at Sheffield DocFest 2025.

The Lions by the River Tigris by Zaradasht Ahmed, co-produced by DOXY and NTR (sales by Illumina Films), offers a haunting portrait of resilience. The ancient city of Mosul was conquered by ISIS and left in ruins in the war for liberation. Can its people rise again and heal their broken souls? The film debuted at CPH:DOX.

In the Young Eyes program, Fantastique by Marjolijn Prins (NL co-prod. The Film Kitchen) follows a coming-of-age story set in Guinea. Director Marjolijn Prins follows 14-year-old Fanta in Guinea-Conakry as she balances school, caring for her sick mother, and her dream of becoming an acrobat in the Amoukanama Circus, navigating gender roles. The film premiered at the 2025 Locarno Festival.

XR Industry Event at DOK Leipzig
Throughout the festival, DOK Leipzig encourages professionals to join the daily Get Togethers hosted by partners, offering the perfect opportunity to connect with peers and collaborators in an informal setting. Whether you're coming for the films, masterclasses, or the next creative spark — the festival promises both inspiration and connection.

SEE NL will co-host an XR-Industry Get Together on Friday, 31 October, during DOK Leipzig. Co-organisers include AG Animationsfilm and the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film. Click here for more info.

For more information on DOK Leipzig, click here.