Movies & Series

DEFA: Documentaries

Documentary film developed into an important production sector in the GDR. Thousands of films were made in separate studios that were restructured and renamed several times, e.g. the DEFA Studio for Popular Science Films (1952-68) and the DEFA Studio for Newsreels and Documentaries. Many of these films are simply propaganda. This is also true of numerous commissioned productions for television, ministries, companies and organisations. However, thanks to the secure integration into the state-supported (and controlled) production system, its own traditions and genres also developed. Several DEFA documentaries of the 1980s are among the most exciting DEFA productions ever.

Documentary film developed into an important production sector in the GDR. Thousands of films were made in separate studios that were restructured and renamed several times, e.g. the DEFA Studio for Popular Science Films (1952-68) and the DEFA Studio for Newsreels and Documentaries. Many of these films are simply propaganda. This is also true of numerous commissioned productions for television, ministries, companies and organisations. However, thanks to the secure integration into the state-supported (and controlled) production system, its own traditions and genres also developed. Several DEFA documentaries of the 1980s are among the most exciting DEFA productions ever.

Documentary film developed into an important production sector in the GDR. Thousands of films were made in separate studios that were restructured and renamed several times, e.g. the DEFA Studio for Popular Science Films (1952-68) and the DEFA Studio for Newsreels and Documentaries. Many of these films are simply propaganda. This is also true of numerous commissioned productions for television, ministries, companies and organisations.

However, thanks to the secure integration into the state-supported (and controlled) production system, its own traditions and genres also developed. Several DEFA documentaries of the 1980s are among the most exciting DEFA productions ever.