Perfect for warm summer nights: our DOK Leipzig Summer Cinema is back. This year we’re bringing last year’s festival favourites to Leipzig’s open-air cinema season. From 8 July, we’ll be screening a total of three documentaries over four evenings – all featuring empowered female protagonists who stand up for freedom and self-determination. Look forward to three moving, powerful portraits of women who persistantly challenge rigid conventions and take control of their own stories.

“Cutting Through Rocks” on 8 July and 30 July

This Oscar-nominated documentary film, which won the Audience Award at DOK Leipzig 2025, will even be screened at two summer cinema venues: at the 7cl Sommerkino run by the Cinémathèque Leipzig (at HP7) and at the Plagwitzer Markthalle, as part of the Schaubühne Lindenfels summer cinema programme. “Cutting Through Rocks” tells the story of Sara, an Iranian woman who advocates for the women and girls in her community in a rural region of the country.

“Niñxs” on 16 July

During the CSD week, the Luru Kino is screening the film “Niñxs”, in which Karla, a trans teenager, searches and finds her way to tell her own story of growing up and her transition.

“The Woman Who Poked the Leopard” on 27 August

The grand finale of the DOK Leipzig Summer Cinema is “The Woman Who Poked the Leopard”, which features SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing). The documentary follows a feminist and activist from Uganda who stands up to the country’s incumbent head of state.

Tickets are available at the box office or via the websites of our cinema partners: Cinémathèque Leipzig, Luru Kino and Schaubühne Lindenfels.

Find all dates and times