"Nowhere Is Only Somewhere" - under this title DOK Neuland invites you to join us again this year at the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig to face the pressing questions of our time with extended reality works. The ten selected works reflect many themes that also characterize this year's documentaries and animated films at the festival. They address war, colonialism and repression, also as patriarchal and heteronormative abuses of power. Many of the works also lead deep into discriminatory and racist narratives that – consciously or unconsciously – are still being reproduced

Against the gravity of such structures, DOK Neuland presents works that are an invitation to open up to others, to share thoughts and to form collective identity. Their immersive nature allows for experiences without the distance to the screen. After DOK Neuland 2021 encountered chaos as an opportunity ("Chaos Is a Condition") and 2022 was under the sign of militant refusal ("THX 4 Nothing"), this year's exhibition throws down the gauntlet once again with "Nowhere Is Only Somewhere" in the knowledge of the feat of strength that every utopia requires. The audience is invited to witness, to feel community, and to take collective responsibility for ensuring that no fate is forgotten. "DOK Neuland does not offer to contemplate in immersive worlds. Instead, we call for exiting the matrix in our minds," says Rummel. "In the end, despite everything and perhaps because we have little left to stand on, we remain hopeful."

DOK Neuland is free of charge. The exhibition takes place with thanks to Lars Rummel (curation), Marie Hinkelmann and Johanna Gerlach (production). As with previous years, the scenography was created in collaboration with artist Paula Gehrmann.

New storytelling and exciting projects at industry events DOK Exchange and Prototyping Lab

DOK Exchange XR, DOK Leipzig’s exhilarating programme on interactive and immersive storytelling with a focus on XR works, will take place on Festival Friday, 13 October. The DOK Exchange XR programme, consisting of XR Conference and XR Showcase, this year will explore new explosive possibilities that generative AI unlocks for XR and documentary storytelling. The programme will further focus on the use of AI tools and opportunities and risks associated with it, the topic of AI-user generated content in the context of XR prototyping and AR in the development of site-specific documentary storytelling, among other topics.

At XR Conference (13 October at 11:00 – 14:30, online and onsite at Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst Leipzig), a number of invited speakers will examine various aspects of XR development and new directions for XR storytelling in the context of generative AI. At XR Showcase (invitation only, online), a selection of groundbreaking XR projects in development will be presented in front of an online audience. The presentation, moderated by Brigid O’Shea, will be followed by a session of feedback from some 20 experts across the disciplines. The 2023 XR Showcase project selection will be announced soon.

In collaboration with DOK Leipzig’s DOK Exchange, the European Creators’ Lab is holding its Prototyping Lab on 9 October - 13 October in Leipzig. The 5-day Lab will offer a platform for intensive knowledge exchange, helping producers and creators seeking to propel their immersive projects forward further work on their technical prototypes, and connecting them with creative technologists, digital masters and other talent in immersive production. 

The selected works at DOK Neuland can be found in the PDF file of this press release (see above).