Talk: Who is actually speaking? A panel discussion on participation in film

Documentary film is many things, but it is not fiction. Or maybe it is? It is tempting to completely strip the documentary material of its original context during the artistic process in order to fit it into one's own idea of a functional story. But what if it is only in these moments that the documentary film comes into its own, as Werner Herzog likes to claim? Is this a glimpse into the hidden depths of reality or are filmmakers ignoring their responsibility towards the protagonists? The question of power takes centre stage here: who is telling a story about whom and how? After all, it is the narrator who determines our perception of the world. In this panel discussion, dok.at, together with selected IFFI filmmakers, will address these questions and take a critical look at the positioning and purpose of documentary film.