Dogma 25 docks in Hamburg

In the course of the project, the renowned production company Zentropa is resuming its work at the Hamburg location. The co-production companies behind DOGMA 25 Germany are Zentropa Hamburg, X Filme Creative Pool and if...Productions.

Two of the five directors already have a close connection to Hamburg as a film location. İlker Çatak has realised his films - including the Golden Bear winner "Yellow Letters" and the Oscar-nominated "The Teachers' Lounge" - in the Hanseatic city. Like Çatak, Nora Fingscheidt has been accompanied and supported by MOIN Film Fund since her debut film "Systemsprenger". The feature films by Kurdwin Ayub ("Mond"), Helene Hegemann ("Axolotl Overkill") and Tom Tykwer ("Babylon Berlin", "Run Lola Run") are also to be written and shot in the coming years - including in the Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein film region.

Helge Albers, CEO of MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein: "For us, DOGMA 25 Germany is more than just a funding decision - it's a statement. Five of the most exciting directors in German-language film have set themselves ten strict rules in order to become more artistically free. That is courageous and consistent. We are delighted that the Hanseatic city is at the centre of this movement - not least because of the return of Zentropa Hamburg."

The High End Committee members Murat Isgüder, Ole Kampovski, Wenka von Mikulicz, Caroline von Senden, Ipek Zübert and Helge Albers made the funding decision for MOIN on 6 May 2026. Albers adds: "We don't yet know which films will be made - and that's exactly right in this context. DOGMA 25 requires the directors to work free of any content restrictions. Our job as MOIN is to create and protect this space."

DOGMA 25 Germany ties in with the movement of the same name, which was launched in Cannes in May 2025 by five Danish directors - May el-Toukhy, Milad Alami, Annika Berg, Isabella Eklöf and Jesper Just. This in turn refers to the legendary DOGMA 95 manifesto: the films that were made under it - such as "The Feast" by Thomas Vinterberg, "Idiots" by Lars von Trier or "Italian for Beginners" by Lone Scherfig - are still regarded as reference points in European cinema today. Albers continues: "With DOGMA 25 Germany, this tradition is now coming to Hamburg - this is not only a location success for the film region, but also an opportunity for German cinema and a vote of confidence in five exceptional Directors."

The ten DOGMA 25 commandments:

1. The script is original and handwritten by the directors.

2. At least half of the film must be without dialogue.

3. The internet is excluded from all creative processes.

4. We only accept financing without content requirements.

5. No more than 10 people behind the camera.

6. The film must be shot where the action takes place.

7. We may not use make-up or manipulate faces and bodies unless it is part of the narrative.

8. Everything related to the production of the film must be rented, borrowed, found or reused.

9. The film must be completed within one year.

10. Make this film as if it were your last.