New chapter for DOK Leipzig: Ola Staszel becomes festival director!

New chapter for DOK Leipzig: Ola Staszel becomes festival director!

Will Leipzig soon be under new festival sun? From January 2026, Ola Staszel will take over the management of the traditional DOK Leipzig. The trade fair city's city council unanimously confirmed her appointment, marking a change that could bring a breath of fresh air to the world's oldest documentary film festival. Staszel succeeds Christoph Terhechte, who is resigning from his position early. His time as festival director began in 2020 and was marked by the stabilization of the festival in times of the corona pandemic.

Staszel's appointment was a decision made by a selection committee led by Cultural Mayor Skadi Jennicke. Staszel, an experienced literary and film scholar from Poland, has already shown at the Neisse Film Festival that she has a good hand for culture. Her work at the German Film and Media Assessment (FBW), where she served as a jury member until 2025, brings additional expertise to the new role. Jennicke particularly highlights Staszel's experience and her connection to Eastern European documentary film, which is of great importance in today's political landscape.

An exciting festival in sight

The current edition of DOK Leipzig, which opened on October 27, 2025, is the last under Terhechte. Until November 2nd, visitors can experience 252 films and extended reality works from more than 55 countries. The festival opens with the film “Writing Life: Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students” by Claire Simon. Given the large number of works shown and the top-class competitions, which include 73 films, the festival is expecting a great response.

What is particularly exciting is the fact that many films are tackling external topics more intensively after the corona pandemic. Terhechte, who has strengthened animated film during his tenure, expressed concerns about financial challenges that await the 2025 festival as funding for accessible film versions has been cut.

A look behind the scenes

The DOK Leipzig has a long tradition and is not only the oldest documentary film festival in the world, but also an important platform in the German film landscape. In recent years the festival has broken records; In 2024 there were over 55,000 visitors and thus a new success with the public. Nevertheless, many festivals, including DOK Leipzig, are facing financial challenges. Support measures for filmmakers traveling to Leipzig have also been cut, something Terhechte criticized in his last term in office.

Amidst these developments lies an interesting context for the future direction of the festival. The German film production industry is always on the move. According to current statistics, there were 774 active film production companies in Germany in 2022, although their number has declined in recent years. A quarter of the films on the German cinema market in 2023 were German in nature - a sign of the constant change in the industry.

A new chapter begins with Ola Staszel at the helm of DOK Leipzig. Her knowledge of Eastern Europe and her enthusiasm for documentary film could pave the way for exciting new developments. The upcoming DOK Talk with Christoph Terhechte and Staszel on October 30th could provide initial insights into what visitors can expect in the coming years. It will be exciting to see what the future holds for this esteemed festival.

For further information on the management of DOK Leipzig and the current challenges in the film sector, it is worth taking a look at the news from MDR as well as the reports from daily news and the industry analyses Statista.