FIRST ANOTHER STORY EVENTS IN BERLIN

Doxumentale is a Berlin’s non fiction festival that starts on May 27 until June 7th. Organised by one of ANOTHER STORY’s partners, The Good Media Network, presents and amplifies the visibility of documentary films in Germany’s capital. 

During the Festival, two films from ANOTHER STORY curated program will be presented: I often Think of Hawaii, dir. Elfi Msikesch and The Woman’s Greatest Value Is Her Silence, dir. Gertrud Pinkus. 

We are also pleased to announce a new series of Another Story critics’ labs, co-organized by another partner of the project, Cineuropa, from 28 to 31 May. 

I often Think of Hawai

dir. Elfi Mikesch
Germany / 1978 / 85 min

Carmen, 16, lives on the outskirts of Berlin with her mother Ruth and her brother Tito. Her father, a Puerto Rican soldier, is long gone, leaving behind only music records and postcards. Within her monotonous daily routine amid gray housing blocks, she dreams of becoming a dancer. In bold makeup and flowing robes, she stages her fantasies for the camera, conjuring fleeting moments of love and escape. The film observes her with quiet intimacy, where reality and imagination merge into a vivid counterworld—one in which desire briefly transcends the limits of her everyday life.

Screenings: 

• 3/06, 7:00 p.m. at IL KINO
• 6/06, 8:00 p.m. at KLICK Kino

The Woman’s Greatest Value Is Her Silence

dir. Gertrud Pinkus
Gertrud Pinkus / Germany, Switzerland / 1980 / 90 min
+ meeting with the director

Maria, a young migrant from southern Italy, reflects on her life in Frankfurt alongside Giacomo, whom she married against her parents’ wishes. In keeping with the code of silence of her home region, her story is interpreted on camera by other immigrant protagonists. What began as a documentary portrait evolves into a hybrid work that is ambiguous and humorous, blending reality and fiction, as well as minor and major histories. Through reenactments that merge Maria’s life with the experiences of those portraying her, the film explores themes of uprooting, integration, and resignation. Observational sequences intertwine with subtly staged scenes that evoke Maria’s inner world.

Screenings: 

• 4/06, 9:00 p.m. at Sputnik Kino
• 6/06, 5:30 p.m. at KLICK Kino

Building on its role as the leading European platform dedicated to cinema and its strong track record in training emerging film critics and journalists, Cineuropa will organise a series of Another Story critics’ labs across partner festivals, starting with the first edition at Doxumentale in Berlin (28-31 May – see the news).

The lab builds on this experience, particularly the GoCritic! programme, the first pan-European training initiative for young film journalists, as well as collaborations such as the Moving Images – Open Borders (MIOB). These initiatives share a common goal: to strengthen critical voices in European cinema by combining practical writing exercises with direct exposure to the festival environment and the film industry.

The Berlin lab will select seven participants, offering them an intensive, workshop-based experience focused on film criticism. The programme will cover hospitality costs, while participants will engage in daily writing assignments, editorial discussions and mentoring sessions. Their work will be guided and potentially published through the Another Story website, ensuring both visibility and professional development opportunities.

In line with the editorial vision of Another Story, the lab will place a strong emphasis on writing about films by women and on women’s representation in cinema. Participants will be encouraged to engage critically with the historical and social contexts in which women filmmakers have worked, exploring how their perspectives have been shaped, and often constrained, by broader industry structures. Researching how women directors worked in the past and contributed on their own terms to filmmaking can inspire today’s viewers in a refreshed way of reviewing films. 

The lab will therefore not only focus on strengthening writing skills, but also on developing a more nuanced and historically informed critical approach. Participants will reflect on issues of visibility, authorship and narrative power, contributing to a broader rethinking of film criticism and its role in shaping cultural discourse.

The lab will cover the fundamentals of film journalism, including how to structure an article, define tone and adapt writing to different types of media. The practical component will invite participants to write articles during the festival, which will be discussed both in one-on-one mentoring sessions and in group feedback meetings, fostering a collaborative and hands-on learning environment.

FILM CRITICS WORKSHOP:
29/05, 11.00 a.m. 
at Festival Centre: Atrium Tower

FILM SCREENING: I often think of Hawai, dir. Elfi Mikesch
3/06, 7:00 p.m.
at IL KINO
6/06, 8:00 p.m.
at KLICK Kino

FILM SCREENING: The Woman’s Greatest Value Is Her Silence, dir. Gertrud Pinkus + meeting with the director
4/06, 9:00 p.m.
at Sputnik Kino
6/06, 5:30 p.m.
at KLICK Kino