The 2025 edition of the DOK Industry Awards has its winners. A total of twelve prizes were presented to outstanding projects across the festival’s three main industry categories, once again confirming DOK Leipzig as one of the most important platforms for international documentary cinema. The organization celebrated the talent, diversity, and innovation of the winning teams, while extending its gratitude to the festival’s partners and sponsors.

In the DOK Co-Pro Market, the top honor, the Saxon Award for the Best Documentary Project by a Female Director —endowed with €5,000 and sponsored by the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism— went to “nava mamă” by director Ana Vijdea. The Deutsche Welle Award, worth €1,500, was presented to “Between Three Waters” by Olivia Yao. Meanwhile, “The Chef Suffragette” by Magdalena Szymków received the IMAGO Archive Award, which includes €1,500 and additional archive material valued at €500.

The Jacob Burns Film Centre Residency Award went to “Sense and Sensibility” by Hanna Nordenswan, which includes a two- to four-week artistic residency with a weekly stipend, accommodation, and access to the JBFC’s production and screening facilities in the United States. “My Aunties” by Hazal Hanquet received the No Nation Films Fellowship Award, a six-month mentorship program aimed at filmmakers working under vulnerable or challenging conditions.

The Unifrance Doc Award was granted to “Akal” by Basma Rkioui, which will benefit from subtitling services provided by TitraFilm and a Unifrance membership for its French producer. Finally, “Speak Image, Speak” by Pary El-Qalqili earned the Willow Avocats Consultations Award, which offers specialized legal consultations on international co-productions.

In the DOK Short n’ Sweet category, dedicated to short documentaries, “LOVEBIRD” by Ferdinand Ehrhardt was one of the major winners, taking home both the Square Eyes Festival Consultation Award —a customized consultation on festival strategy— and the Ohrfilm Award, which provides comprehensive music support for the short. “Limits to Our Pain” by Kvet Nguyễn received the Cut Through the NOISE Award, offering mentorship for festival and premiere preparation, as well as the DAE Talent Encouragement Award from the Documentary Association of Europe (DAE), which includes a personalized professional advisory session.

Lastly, in DOK Preview Germany, the D-Facto Motion Works-in-Progress Prize was awarded to “Finding Connection” by Florian Karner, which comes with post-production services valued at €10,000.