POOL – Movement Art Film Festival Berlin

Berlin's Festival of Dance on Screen

Dance film is more than just documenting a stage choreography. It creates works in their own right, using the means of film – camera, editing, lighting, direction – to tell movement as an independent cinematic art. This is precisely the area that the POOL – Movement Art Film Festival Berlin has been dedicated to since 2007, organized by the team around DOCK 11 in Prenzlauer Berg.

What POOL Curates

At the heart of the festival are short dance films and animations up to 30 minutes, submitted through the international open call. A curated selection is shown in competition and judged by the audience and a professional jury. Award-winning works receive the PEARLS label; the PEARLS ARTIST PRIZE is awarded annually.

More Than Competition

In addition to the competition, the festival includes several special formats:

• POOL Shine (since 2015): Special program for outstanding artistic work in dance film
• POOL on Tour: Selected films travel to partner locations in Europe and worldwide afterwards
• POOL Dives Deeper: Interview series with filmmakers and choreographers
• Arranging Movement in Film Online Lab: year-round collaborative training and exchange format
• Workshops and discussion panels on cine-choreographic practices

Meeting Point for a Scene

POOL sees itself not just as a cinema night, but as a meeting point for a scene: dancers, choreographers, filmmakers, fashion and advertising professionals come together for four days. DOCK 11 – a studio, theatre, and production venue for Berlin's independent dance scene – forms the geographical and atmospheric center.

Prenzlauer Berg as the Venue

DOCK 11 at Kastanienallee 79 is located in the heart of one of Berlin's most vibrant dance and theatre clusters. Public transport via Tram M1 (Knaackstraße) or U2 Eberswalder Straße (5 min. walk). The Eden Studios on the same street complement the studio offerings.