The Documentary Perspective

Following the successful first part of the series “Right. Extreme. Dangerous” – which concluded with the documentary “Riefenstahl” and a masterclass by director Andres Veiel – the second part continues the discussion. Once again, the focus lies on how documentary filmmaking can shed light on right-wing extremism and help us understand its social and media dynamics.

The block seminar “Right. Extreme. Dangerous (Part II)” explores the role of media in the spread of extremist ideologies. How do radical thought patterns emerge? How do they circulate online, become perceived as “truths,” and gain people’s trust? And how can documentary film reveal and question these processes?

Three documentaries form the core of the seminar – EINE DEUTSCHE PARTEI (A German Party, 2022), 2 ODER 3 DINGE, DIE ICH VON IHM WEIß (2 or 3 Things I Know About Him, 2005), and DIE MÖLLNER BRIEFE (The Mölln Letters, 2025). Each offers a different lens on right-wing movements, collective memory, and political responsibility, tracing connections between the Nazi era and the present.

Screenings take place in cinemas and at LUX, accompanied by discussions with filmmakers and invited guests. In subsequent masterclasses, students of Time-Based Media engage in critical dialogues about responsibility, authorship, and the impact of documentary storytelling.

The seminar also encourages personal reflection: through essays and podcast productions, participants explore the relevance of documentary work in confronting right-wing extremism today.

A collaboration between documentary film lecturers Prof. Leuze and Prof. Winker and the Department of Journalism at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Prof. Dr. Schupp).