The 43rd Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival will take place from 17 to 22 November 2026 (available online until 29 November 2026).
The Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival takes place annually over six days in mid-November. It is organised by Filmladen Kassel e.V., which receives annual awards at both national and state level for its dedicated work in cinema.
At the heart of the festival is the film programme, which comprises short and feature-length documentaries as well as artistic and experimental productions, including works from North Hesse. In 2025, a total of 234 films were screened over the six days of the festival. However, the festival’s core concept also includes the cross-media festival sections: ‘Monitoring’, an exhibition of contemporary video and media installations; the ‘interfiction’ symposium; the ‘DokfestConnection’; the ‘junges dokfest’; the ‘DokfestGeneration’, which is aimed at an older audience; and the ‘DokfestForum’.
With the Hessian University Film Day, a presentation by a European film school, and practice-oriented lectures and workshops, the Kassel Dokfest also offers up-and-coming (Hessian) filmmakers opportunities for further training, as well as information on education and access to professional networks.
Numerous contributions from students and lecturers at the Kassel Art Academy are also featured in the Dokfest programme. Information on the individual works can be found in thefestival catalogue.
The programme overview provides an initial insight into the programme of the upcoming festival:
43rd Kassel Dokfest Programme Overview