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The Festival

FOTODOKS is an international festival for contemporary documentary photography that has established itself as the largest festival of its kind in Germany since 2008 and takes place every two years in Munich.
Focusing on a different partner country and festival theme, a central group exhibition in the urban art space Lothringer13 Halle presents photographic works from the respective partner region and the German-speaking countries.
During the 5-day festival, a series of supporting events in a lively and personal atmosphere will offer lectures, artist talks and panel discussions with the exhibiting photographers, other experts and dialogue partners.
The exhibition can be seen beyond the festival period and is accompanied by regular guided tours. The independent festival is curated collectively by photographers and aims to look at a broader field of positions in documentary photography and the environments it illuminates.

  • At a glance→

  • 2019: Mathieu Asselin in conversation with Florian Schairer and the audience. Picture: Gina Bolle
    2019: Mathieu Asselin in conversation with Florian Schairer and the audience. Picture: Gina Bolle
  • At the festival in 2011 three Magnum-Workshops with the photographers Christopher Anderson, Thomas Dworzak and Moises Saman took place. Picture: Stefan Becker
    At the festival in 2011 three Magnum-Workshops with the photographers Christopher Anderson, Thomas Dworzak and Moises Saman took place. Picture: Stefan Becker
  • 92

    Photographers from 16 countries

  • 2008

    FOTODOKS happens for the first time

  • 2019: Framed prints from Laurence Rastis work
    2019: Framed prints from Laurence Rastis work "There are no homosexuals in Iran" about to be mounted for the exhibition. Picture: Jana-Theresa Islinger
  • 2019: An impressive surprise performance by a member of Rainbow Refugees left the audience stunned and cheering for more. Picture: Gina Bolle
    2019: An impressive surprise performance by a member of Rainbow Refugees left the audience stunned and cheering for more. Picture: Gina Bolle
  • 2019: The exhibition catalogue was a massive sucess. Picture: Gina Bolle
    2019: The exhibition catalogue was a massive sucess. Picture: Gina Bolle
  • Katja Bürkle (Actress, Munich) reading an excerpt from the book
    Katja Bürkle (Actress, Munich) reading an excerpt from the book "Yes means yes and…“ written by Carolin Emcke. Picture: Gina Bolle
  • Fotodoks bows to our guest Anders Petersen at the 2010 festival.
    Fotodoks bows to our guest Anders Petersen at the 2010 festival.

  • Meet the FOTODOKS team

Exchange, Discourse and Inspiration

During the festival days Fotodoks creates a versatile platform for encounters in which photographic positions and contents are discussed and experienced. Participating artists, experts and audiences are invited to exchange ideas in a lively and familiar atmosphere.
By examining the exhibited works, viewing habits can be expanded, existing value systems questioned and the limits of documentary photography explored.
Pictures, books, installations and projections offer opportunities and space for inspiration.

The FOTODOKS Catalogue

Inspired by the respective topic and the partner region, together with our designers we create an individual and high-quality publication that brings together supplementary texts and thoughts from various authors and the exhibiting photographers.