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Documentary Monika” wins LICHTER-Bembel – surprise for short films!
UNI Kassel presents the award-winning short film “Monika” at the LICHTER Filmfest 2025 in Frankfurt. Discover its ethical themes.
Documentary Monika” wins LICHTER-Bembel – surprise for short films!
The LICHTER Filmfest Frankfurt International is an important event for filmmakers and cineastes, which celebrated its 18th edition this year. From April 22nd to 27th, 2025, visitors were able to experience a variety of creative works, including the impressive documentary “Monika” by Geeske Janßen. This was awarded as the best regional short film and deals with the extraordinary relationship of a man with a love doll, highlighting both the positive effects of the bond as well as loneliness and social stigmatization.
The film “Monika” (Germany 2024, 12:00 min.) not only received the prestigious LICHTER-Bembel, but also prize money of 1,000 euros. The jury, consisting of Dascha Petuchow, Brigitte Maria Bertele and Jakob Zapf, praised the ethical complexity of the topic as well as Janßen's artistic implementation. The filmmaker conducted research between 2021 and 2023 at the Graduate School for Moving Images: Analog Realities, Digital Materialities at the Kassel University of Art.
Regional talent in focus
A series of regional short films was also presented as part of the LICHTER Film Festival. These programs showcase a variety of creative voices from Hesse and the Rhine-Main area. On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. in the Pupille Cinema, films were shown that, among other things, dealt with topics such as “Lovesick Cockroaches” and “Being Trans in a Heteronormative World.”
The directors of the works included Mika Hoppe, Ron Vodovozov and Tahima Yasmine. In total, the event lasted 93 minutes and covered a wide range of genres - from music videos to profound dramas to politically engaged documentaries about femicide. This diversity underlines the festival's goal: to promote cinematic discoveries and moving insights.
A network for creative exchange
The LICHTER Film Festival is more than just an event; it promotes exchange between regional creatives and international guests. It provides a platform that allows filmmakers to inspire and support each other. The festival is an example of how cultural events can stimulate social and creative dialogue.
In addition to the LICHTER Film Festival, there are also other notable documentary film festivals in Europe that pursue similar goals. The Ethnocineca in Vienna is dedicated to contemporary documentary and ethnographic films, while the Freiburg Film Forum focuses on film art and exchange between filmmakers. The GIEFF in Göttingen also promotes intercultural communication through documentaries, which shows that the field of documentary films and visual anthropology is becoming increasingly important internationally. Further information about these festivals can be found on the relevant websites.