Streaming recommendations

Art and Culture

The media libraries of the public broadcasters and various streaming services offer a wide range of engaging films about music, film, art, literature and architecture. Here are our viewing recommendations for you to enjoy.

2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles
10 erfolgreiche Deutsche in Hollywood

From the series Cinema strikes back: Documentary about 10 German filmmakers and actors who made it in Hollywood and how they got there.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 12.10.2026.

© funk / Schattenwolf GmbH, Leo Lakämper
2022, documentary, 75 min, OV, no German subtitles
Auswärtsspiel - Die Toten Hosen in Ost-Berlin

In 1983 the West German band Die Toten Hosen performed in a secret (and illegal) concert in East Berlin. This documentary looks back on the event with contributions from musicians from the former East and West. Directed by Martin Groß.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 13.04.2027.

© SWR/JKP
2023, documentary, 80 min, OV with German subtitles
BÄM! Die Geschichte des Comics

BÄM! tells the history of comics from Germany, the USA, France, Belgium and Japan in four episodes.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 24.08.2028.

© MDR/ARD KULTUR/Florian Wolf & Jens Richter
2023, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles
Blow up - Wim Wenders in 10 Minuten

The career of director Wim Wenders in 10 minutes.
Watch on ARTE@Youtube until 23.05.2026.

@ ARTE
2022, documentary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles
Das Raubkunst-Puzzle - Suche nach Gerechtigkeit

Documentary about the organised theft of art from Jewish families during the Nazi era. Dr Kathrin Kleibl, a North German provenance researcher, investigates this crime.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 15.05.2027.

© NDR
2016, documentary, 30 min, OV with German subtitles
Erich Kästner – Das andere Ich

The film portrays the life of the writer Erich Kästner. Starring Matthias Bundschuh as Kästner, Lisa Wagner as his partner Luiselotte Enderle. Directed by Annette Baumeister.
Watch on ARD Mediathek until 01.01.2099.

© MDR/Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion
2020, documentary, 16 min, OV with German subtitles
FilmFrauen. Die Interviews

In the ZDF series FilmFrauen. Die Interviews, female actors, directors, producers and screenwriters talk about their experiences in the German film industry. In this episode, actor Sibel Kekilli talks about social realities and cinema.
Available in the ZDF-Mediathek until 10.09.2025.

© ZDF / Marc Vorwerk
2015, documentary, 42 min, OV with German subtitles
Karl Lagerfeld - Designer, Künstler, Fashion-Ikone

Documentary about the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. In revealing interviews, he gives insights into his life, career and philosophy.
Watch on DW Doku@Youtube.

© SWR / DW
2018, documentary, 26 min, OV, multilingual subtitles
Streetphilosophy: Liebe, aber wie?

From the series Streetphilosophy: In this episode Ronja von Rönne searches for the right kind of relationship and asks why we are always looking for the perfect partner.
Watch on ARTE Mediathek until 27.07.2025.

© rbb
2022, documentary, 86 min, OV with German subtitles
Musik im Dritten Reich - Der Maestro und die Cellistin von Auschwitz

A documentary about the role of classical music under the Nazis. The stories of the Jewish cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and the conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler provide an insight into German musical life from 1933 to 1945.
Watch on DW Doku@Youtube.

© DW
2023, documentary, 44 min, OV with German subtitles
Neue Deutsche Welle – der Sound der 80er

The Neue Deutsche Welle is regarded as the most creative period in the history of German pop music. This documentary examines its rise and fall.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 16.04.2028.

© ZDF / Ralf Gemmecke
2023, documemtary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles
Radio aktiv - 100 Jahre Rundfunk

100 years of radio. Despite the popularity of television and the internet, radio has survived and thrived. This programme delves into radio’s long history.
watch on ARD Mediathek until 03.10.2024.

© SWR
2023, documentary, 103 min, OV with German subtitles
To Show or not to Show - Experimenteller Dokumentarfilm

Filmmakers talk about their experiences about success, failure and social participation, starring Jutta Brückner, Angelika Levi, Sarah Blaßkiewitz, Benito Bause and Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay. Directed by Jana Keuchel and Katharina Knust.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 28.04.2025.

© ZDF / Ray Peter Maletzki
2023, documentary, 26 min, OV with German subtitles
Warum die Nazis Bücher verbrannten

Documentary about the burning of books under the Nazi regime, which targeted books by Jewish writers and others viewed as subversive or representing ideologies opposed to Nazism.
Watch on DW Doku@Youtube.

@ DW / Susanne Spröer
2020, documentary, 86 min, OV with German subtitles
Magie der Märchen

This two-part documentary explores the world of fairy tales and their moral values and origins, based on the famous Grimm fairy tales Frau Holle and Hänsel und Gretel.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 04.10.2030.

© ZDF/Sabine Finger
2014, documentary, 87 min, OV with German subtitles
Wacken - Der Film

A documentary about the annual heavy metal festival in Wacken: Every year in August the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein is in a state of exception for three days.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 01.07.2024.

© ZDF / Nicole Malonnek
2017, drama, 212 min, OV with German subtitles
Landgericht - Geschichte einer Familie

Based on the novel by Ursula Krechel, the film tells the story of a Jewish-Christian family that survived persecution and exile during the Nazi era. After years of separation and the end of the war, they try to rebuild their lives in West Germany. Starring Ronald Zehrfeld, Johanna Wokalek and directed by Matthias Glasner.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 11.01.2025.

© ZDF / Walter Wehner
2020, drama, 90 min, OV with German subtitles
Altes Land

Altes Land is a film adaptation of Dörte Hansen's novel, directed by Sherry Hormann. It follows the intertwined stories of three women across generations, exploring themes of family, home, displacement, and confronting the past. Starring Iris Berben, Milan Peschel, and Nina Kunzendorf.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 02.10.2024.

© ZDF / Boris Laewen
2023, documentary, 13 min, OV with German subtitles
Straßenslang - wie Rap Deutschland verändert

This episode of HYPECULTURE explores the phenomenon of street slang and its close connection to German rap culture.
Watch on funk until 13.03.2028.

© funk
2024, documentary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles
Hans Zimmer – Der Rebell von Hollywood

Terra X History tells the success story of Hans Zimmer and his breakthrough in Hollywood.
Watch on ZDF Mediathek until 14.04.2029.

© ZDF/ZDF

Streaming recommendations

Streaming recommendations

2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles 10 erfolgreiche Deutsche in Hollywood

2022, documentary, 75 min, OV, no German subtitles Auswärtsspiel - Die Toten Hosen in Ost-Berlin

2023, documentary, 80 min, OV with German subtitles BÄM! Die Geschichte des Comics

2023, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles Blow up - Wim Wenders in 10 Minuten

2022, documentary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles Das Raubkunst-Puzzle - Suche nach Gerechtigkeit

2016, documentary, 30 min, OV with German subtitles Erich Kästner – Das andere Ich

2020, documentary, 16 min, OV with German subtitles FilmFrauen. Die Interviews

2015, documentary, 42 min, OV with German subtitles Karl Lagerfeld - Designer, Künstler, Fashion-Ikone

2018, documentary, 26 min, OV, multilingual subtitles Streetphilosophy: Liebe, aber wie?

2022, documentary, 86 min, OV with German subtitles Musik im Dritten Reich - Der Maestro und die Cellistin von Auschwitz

2023, documentary, 44 min, OV with German subtitles Neue Deutsche Welle – der Sound der 80er

2023, documemtary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles Radio aktiv - 100 Jahre Rundfunk

2023, documentary, 103 min, OV with German subtitles To Show or not to Show - Experimenteller Dokumentarfilm

2023, documentary, 26 min, OV with German subtitles Warum die Nazis Bücher verbrannten

2020, documentary, 86 min, OV with German subtitles Magie der Märchen

2014, documentary, 87 min, OV with German subtitles Wacken - Der Film

2017, drama, 212 min, OV with German subtitles Landgericht - Geschichte einer Familie

2020, drama, 90 min, OV with German subtitles Altes Land

2023, documentary, 13 min, OV with German subtitles Straßenslang - wie Rap Deutschland verändert

2024, documentary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles Hans Zimmer – Der Rebell von Hollywood

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2021, documentary, 12 min, OV with German subtitles
10 erfolgreiche Deutsche in Hollywood

2022, documentary, 75 min, OV, no German subtitles
Auswärtsspiel - Die Toten Hosen in Ost-Berlin

2023, documentary, 80 min, OV with German subtitles
BÄM! Die Geschichte des Comics

2023, documentary, 10 min, OV with German subtitles
Blow up - Wim Wenders in 10 Minuten

2022, documentary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles
Das Raubkunst-Puzzle - Suche nach Gerechtigkeit

2016, documentary, 30 min, OV with German subtitles
Erich Kästner – Das andere Ich

2020, documentary, 16 min, OV with German subtitles
FilmFrauen. Die Interviews

2015, documentary, 42 min, OV with German subtitles
Karl Lagerfeld - Designer, Künstler, Fashion-Ikone

2018, documentary, 26 min, OV, multilingual subtitles
Streetphilosophy: Liebe, aber wie?

2022, documentary, 86 min, OV with German subtitles
Musik im Dritten Reich - Der Maestro und die Cellistin von Auschwitz

2023, documentary, 44 min, OV with German subtitles
Neue Deutsche Welle – der Sound der 80er

2023, documemtary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles
Radio aktiv - 100 Jahre Rundfunk

2023, documentary, 103 min, OV with German subtitles
To Show or not to Show - Experimenteller Dokumentarfilm

2023, documentary, 26 min, OV with German subtitles
Warum die Nazis Bücher verbrannten

2020, documentary, 86 min, OV with German subtitles
Magie der Märchen

2014, documentary, 87 min, OV with German subtitles
Wacken - Der Film

2017, drama, 212 min, OV with German subtitles
Landgericht - Geschichte einer Familie

2020, drama, 90 min, OV with German subtitles
Altes Land

2023, documentary, 13 min, OV with German subtitles
Straßenslang - wie Rap Deutschland verändert

2024, documentary, 45 min, OV with German subtitles
Hans Zimmer – Der Rebell von Hollywood