talk
Documentaries as a political weapon – between entertainment and activism
Talk with Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian and Paul Poet
Moderation: Julia Weigl
03.04.2025, 18:00 Theater preasent Free Entry • Talk in english (60min)
Documentary is one of the most popular film formats. They are entertaining and informative. There is hardly any topic that is not presented in a documentary format, but to what end? What can be the motivations and needs of documentary filmmakers that go beyond mere entertainment? What political interests, ideas, and influences are involved? Whether as means of empowerment to strengthen marginalized voices or as a tool of repression and manipulation – documentaries are a medium to participate in social debates.
This evening, we have invited two filmmakers who are represented at this year’s Diametrale with their documentaries. Together with our guests Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian ( Doppelgängers³ ) and Paul Poet ( Der Soldat Monika ), we want to explore these questions.
Film Still: ‘Ausländer raus! Schlingensiefs Container’ (A 2002), Regie: Paul Poet © Filmgalerie 451
© Aaron Wojack
Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian is the author of five feature documentary investigating topics such as the origins of knowledge and totalitarian regimes but also the next phase of humanity in space. Her films work to platform diasporic and queer ecofeminist visions.
An advocate for plurality, Nelly documents and builds platforms that support freedom of thinking, the creation of organised communities and public events, expeditions and projects with socio-political impacts.
She is the founder of the tuition-free University of the Underground, which includes board members and activists like Prof. Noam Chomsky, Pussy Riot and Prof. Arjun Appadurai.
Screening Note: ( Doppelgängers³ ) (UK/US 2024) by Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian will be screened after the talk, 20.00 at LEOKINO.
Paul Poet is an award-winning Austrian director and author for cinema, TV and theater. His documentary Ausländer raus! Schlingensiefs Container (2002) was included in a canon of political cinema.
In 2019, Poet was voted one of the »64 most inspiring European artists, thinkers and speakers« by the cultural festival platform and was appointed Austrian ambassador for the EU cultural funding platform Creative Europe.
The US medium IndieWire has described Poet as one of the greatest genre cinema experts from Austria for his curatorial work for Filmarchiv Austria, Viennale & Co, including the multi-year retrospective »Austrian Pulp«.
Screening Note: ( Der Soldat Monika ) (AT 2024) by Paul Poet will be screened on Sun April 06, 17.15 at LEOKINO.
© Bojan Ritan
Julia Weigl studied literature at LMU Munich and theater, film, and television criticism at HFF Munich and the Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding. Through study and practical stays at the University of Oxford and New York University, she deepened her experience in cultural mediation.
Since 2014, she has worked as a freelance journalist, author, translator, and presenter. From 2015 to 2019, she was active in the press department and editorial team of Filmfest München.
From 2019 to 2023, she curated the international film program with a focus on the English-speaking world, American Indies, Scandinavia, and international TV series, as well as numerous cooperative programs with other cultural institutions. Since 2023, she has been the Artistic Co-Director of Filmfest München.
Feature Foto © Filmgalerie 451