About Johanna
"if there is truth, it can't be depicted."
Johanna Domke is a filmmaker, producer and visual artist. She grew up in Germany and Argentina and studied Fine Arts at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Malmö Art Academy in Sweden, and Film Directing at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM), Germany.
She is the co-founder of the production company Pulver Film, developing and producing creative documentaries for cinema and television. Her films and video works have been presented at international film festivals and leading museums and art institutions worldwide. She has received numerous awards, artist residencies and development grants. Her work has been supported by institutions including WDR, the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, the Biennale di Venezia, the Hot Docs Blue Ice Fund, the IDFA Bertha Fund and the Catapult Film Fund. Her films are distributed by Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art in Berlin and Real Fiction Filmverleih in Cologne.
Alongside her filmmaking, she has curated exhibitions and film programmes, co-directed an artist-run gallery, and lectured in art, film and photography. Her work consistently explores the relationship between images, perception and cultural narratives, often combining documentary practice with experimental forms.
Since 2020, she has been working as a freelance director and author for the German public broadcaster NDR, producing documentaries and factual programmes focusing on environmental, cultural and social issues.
2011 - 2015 Media Art Academy, DE, (Postgraduate Diploma)
2004 - 2006 Royal Danish Art Academy, Copenhagen, DK (MA)
2002 - 2004 Malmö Art Academy, Malmö, SE (MA)
2000 - 2002 Royal Danish Art Academy, Copenhagen, DK
1998 - 2000 Muthesius Academy for Art and Design, Kiel, D (BA)
- 1997 Goethe Schule, Buenos Aires, AR.
Education
TV Documentaries
2026 Nordstory - Die Nacht zwischen den Meeren - 58 min, NDR
2025 Nordreportage - Aktivisti auf dem Bauernhof, 29 min, NDR
Ostseereport - Das Grüne Dillemma, Sami und die Windparks, 44 min, NDR
2024 Nordstory - Port of Lübeck: Logistik Profis im Einsatz, 58 min, NDR
Nordreportage - Försterin im Stadtwald Lübeck, 29 min, NDR
2023 Nordstory - Pellworm: Feinkost für die Insel, 58 min, NDR
Nordreportage - Kalt, kälter, Eisbaden, 29 min, NDR (mit Hendrik Löbbert)
Nordreportage - Survival: ein Wochenende in der Wildnis, 29 min, NDR (mit Hendrik Löbbert)
Nordreportage - Der Silberschatz in der Kieler Förde 29 min, NDR
2022 Nordstory - Oland und der Meeresspiegel, 58 min, NDR (mit Hendrik Löbbert)
Nordreportage - Leinen los: Bootsbaunachwuchs startet durch, 29 min, NDR
Filmography
2018 Dreamaway with Marouan Omara, documentary, WDR co-production, 82 min, DE/EG
2013 CROP with Marouan Omara, documentary, 48 min DE/EG
2012 Untitled-Epilog experimental feature, 92 min US/DE
2011 100% WOOL short film, 15 min DE/TR/DK
2010 Man kenenki with Fatou Kande, documentary, 32 min DE/SEN/DK
2009 Søen i spejlet short film, 18 min DE/DK
Videography
2012 Cairo News, short film, DE
2008 Stultifera Garden, short film, DE/DK
Cuers, single-channel video installation DE/DK
2007 Unbreakable Space 3-channel video installation DE/DK
Crossing fields single-channel video installation DE/UK/DK
2006 Sleepers, single-channel video installation DE/UK/DK
2005 A sunset takes 7 minutes, single-channel video installation DE/DK
2004 You ́ll miss what ́s gonna stay I, 3-channel video installation DE/DK
You ́ll miss what ́s gonna stay II, single-channel video installation DE/DK
2003 Let the wind blow, single-channel video installation DE/DK
Awards
2019 Shortlisted for Oscar nomination, national selection from Egypt for Dreamaway
Special mentioning at the Tripoli Film Festival, Libanon, Dreamaway
Prix de la Critique, International Festival de Filmes Fribourg, CH, for Dreamaway
Award for best artistic achievement, Luxor International Filmfestival for Dreamaway
2014 Klaus-Wildenhan-Preis of the Hamburg Documentary Film Festival for CROP
„Goldener Schlüssel“ special mention, Kassel Documentary Film Festival for CROP
Honorable mention at the CinemAfrica Festival, Stockholm, Sweden for CROP
2010 Bremer Videokunst Production Award, Bremen, D
2006 Award of the International Video Art Forum, Hamburg, D
2005 nomination for the Hasselblad Postgraduate Grant, Göteborg, SE
2003 ZKM International Media Art Award 2003, Audience Award, Karlsruhe, D
Gottfried Brockmann Preis, Kunstpreis der Landeshauptstadt Kiel , Stadtgalerie Kiel, D
2002 Caspar David Friedrich Preis, Caspar David Friedrich Gesellschaft, Greifswald, D
2012 Danish Art Council Residency, Townhouse Gallery, Cairo, Egypt
2011 Production residency, EMPAC, Troy, New York, USA
2010 Residency, Waru Studio, Dakar, Senegal
2009 Danish Art Council Residency, Platform Garanti, Istanbul, Turkey
2007 Residency Sølyst, Vestsjæland, Denmark
2002 Residency, Sirius Art Center, Cobh, Irland
Residencies
Panels/Markets
2019 Documentary Convention, DOK Leipzig, Case Study Panel
2017 IDFAcademy Summer School, Editing Coaching Program
Venice Final Cut Program, Developing Program
Qumra, Doha Film Institute, Coaching & Industry Program
2015 Hot Docs Forum, Canada, Pitching
Doc Station, Berlinale Talents, Developing & Coachig
MEDIMED Forum, Spain
Leipzig Networking Days, Germany
Co-Production Meeting, DOK Leipzig, Germany
2014 Ismailia Co-Production Platform, Egypt
2013 Dubai Docs – Dubai International Film Festival, UAE
Film Festivals
2019 Festival International des Filmes Fribourg, Ch, Documentary Competition
19th Festival del Cinema Africano, d'Asia e America Latina, Milan, IT, Int. Competition
10th Middle East Now, Florence, IT - Int. Programm
Moscow International Documentary Filmfestival DOKer, RUS, Int. Competition
38th Istanbul Film Festival, TR, Int. Programm, Documentary Section
13th Festival of Tolerance, Zagreb, Croatia, Int. Programm, Documentary Section
18th Transilvania Film Festival, Romania, Int. Programm, Documentary Section
2018 41st Cairo International Film Festival, EG – Int. Programm
54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, CZ – Documentary Competition
BFI London Film Festival, GB – Documentary Competition
2nd El Gouna International Film Festival, EG – Documentary Competition
63th DOK Leipzig, Int. Leipziger Festival für Dokumentarfilm, DE – Int. Programm
BIFF Bergen International Film Festival, NO – Documentary Competition
54th Chicago International Film Festival, US – Documentary Competition
2014 8th Pravo Ljudski Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Extra Muros Competition
Arab Camera Filmfestival Rotterdam, Netherlands - Official Selection
12th Paris Human Rights International Film Festival, France - Official Competition
6th One World Romania International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Bucharest
16th Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, UK - Official Selection
Masry Asly Film Festival, Cairo, Damnhour, Aswan, Egypt
CinemAfrica Festival, Stockholm, Sweden - Official Competition
5th Al lm, Arab Film Festival, Berlin, Germany - Official Competition
11th Hamburg Documentary Film Festival, Germany
2013 42nd International Film Festival Rotterdam, Netherlands - Official Selection
23rd Festival del Cinema Africano, d’Asia e America Latina, Milano, Italy - Competition
11th Ischia Film Festival, Ischia, Italy - Official Selection
12th New Filmmakers | New Films Festival, Espinho, Portugal - Official Selection
6th Muslihat OK Video Jakarta, Indonesia - Official Selection
13th Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, Japan - Official Selection
14th Beirut International Film Festival, Libanon - Official Competition
17th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival, CZ, Opus Bonum Competition
57th Internationales Leipziger Festival für Dokumentarfilm, DE - Young Cinema Comp.
16th RIDM - Montreal International Documentary Festival, Canada - Official Selection
30th Kasseler Dokumentar und Videofest, Germany - nominated for the Golden Key
2010 CPH:DOX Dokumentarfilmfestival, Kopenhagen, Future Shorts, London, GB
Istanbul International Short Film Festival, TR
2009 Busan Video Art Festival, Busan, China
2007 Oberhausen Filmfestival, Oberhausen, DE
2006 Locarno Film Festival, Locarno, IT
Solo Exhibitions
Group Exhibitions
2010 Let the wind blow DSV Kunstkontor, Stuttgart, DE
2009 Cuers Städtische Galerie im Bunten Tor, Bremen, DE
2008 Marginal Moments Art Agents Gallery, Hamburg, DE
Unbreakable space Overgaden Institute of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, DK
2007 Sequent silence Olivier Houg, Bureau pour l’art contemporain, Lyon, FR
2005 You ́ll miss what ́s gonna stay, Art Agents Gallery, Hamburg, DE
2004 You ́ll miss what ́s gonna stay, Peep Gallery, Malmö, SE
2003 Still in motion, Galleri Gustaf Gimm, Copenhagen, DK 2002
Caspar David Friedrich Preis, Pommersches Landesmuseum,Greifswald, DE
2013 global aCtIVISm, ZKM - Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie Karlsruhe, DE
Open City- New Testimonies from an Ongoing Revolution - Fotomuseum Braunschweig
5th European Month of Photography, Folkwang Museum, Essen, DE
5th European Month of Photography, Museum für Fotografie, Berlin, Germany
FOKUS, Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen, DK
Utopia, Image Festival, Copenhagen, DK
LOOP Festival, Bercelona, ES
2010 Highlights of the Kunstfilm Biennial, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, DE
Postludium, dreizehn/thirteen, Berlin, DE
L’unico / the Only One, Trieste Contemporanea, Tries, IT
My world images, Old Fellow Pallace, Copenhagen, DK
Indian Summer, Espace Croisé, Espace dárt contemporaine, Roubaix, FR
Kurye, Istanbul Modern Museum, Istanbul, TR
O Dak ́art / Dakar Biennial, Sicap Mermoz, Dakar, Senegal
Rencontres Internationales, Jeu de Paume, Paris, FR
2009 Future Shorts Copenhagen, Gloria Biograf, Copenhagen, DK
Zeigen: Eine Audiotour durch Berlin, Temporäre Kunsthalle Berlin, Berlin, DE
BERLIN 89/09 Kunst zwischen Spurensuche und Utopie, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, DE
After the End / Faux Raccords, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, DE
After the End / Faux Raccords, Future Centre Nacional de Artes Visuales, Madrid, ES
Rencontres Internationales, National Museum Reina Sofia, Madrid, ES
human body, Soutterain Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL
KURS:Søen, Vestsjællands Kunstmuseum, Sorø, DK
2008 ENTER, Kunsthallen Brandts, Odense, DK
Audio/Video, Gimsinghoved Kunst og Kulturcenter, Struer, DK
Grænseland, Flensburg Kunstverein, Flensburg, DE
Lofoten Film Festival, Svolvær, NO
Rencontres Internationales, National Museum Reina So a, Madrid, ES
Two Faced, Galleri Rebecca Kormind, København, DK
Young Identities - Global Youth / EMAF, Kunsthalle Dominikanerkirche, Osnabrück, DE
Nightclub Notes, DUNK Udstillingssted, København, DK
2007 Ghosts in the Machine, 516 ARTS, Santa Fe, US
Subtle whispering, Total Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea
I Need No Map, Anna Akhmatova Museum & D137 Gallery, St.Petersburg, Russia
Nordskulptur:licht, Kunstverein Neumünster, Neumünster, DE
Filmfestival Oberhausen, Oberhausen, DE
Videolandschaft, Galerie Maerz, Linz, AU
Bildschirmauge oder das neue Bild, Forum d’art contemporain, Casino Luxembourg, LUX
2006 40 Jahre Videokunst – was fehlt?, Deutsche Künstlerbund, Berlin, DE
Air Play, Open Air Videofestival, Copenhagen, DK
DK – Berlin, Galleri MøllerWitt, DK
Kvindens rum, Galleri Møller Witt, Arhus, DK
Freeze, Kunstverein Rügen, Putbus, DE
Momentum, Moss, NO
Exit, Kunstforeningen Gammel Strand, Copenhagen, DK
Internationales Videoforum Hamburg / Stile der Stadt, Hamburg, DE
2005 Rencontres Internationales, Paris/Berlin, Paris, FR
Art Cologne, New Talents, Cologne, D (catalogue)
Time Bandits, Råhuset, Copenhagen, DK (catalogue)
First we take museums-Urban Art Now, KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki, FI
10 Years Anniversary, Rooseum, Malmö, SE
Værk 05, Kulturfabrik Knabstrup, Knabstrup, DK (catalogue)
New Swedish Photography, Hasselblad Center, Göteborg Konstmuseum, Göteborg, SE
Purgatory, the living Art Museum, Reykjavik, IS (catalogue)
K-raa-k, Film festival, Gent, B
Videonale, Bonner Kunstmuseum, Bonn, D (catalogue)
2004 Video 2004, Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen, N
Kontrollierter Code konstruiert Kognition, Kornhausforum Bern, SZ
Artronica, Goethe Institut Inter Nationes, IMKP, Bogotá, CO
Purgatory, Signal in the Heavens, Gallery Boreas, New York, USA (catalogue)
I need no map, Overgaden Institut for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen (catalogue)
Repetition, Malmö Konsthall, Malmö, SE