What films would WATCH DOCS Programming Director head to the cinema for? Here are Konrad Wirkowski's top recommendations.   

“Out of the Present” dir. Andrei Ujică  

This is one of those films I’ve wanted to include in the festival program for years—and this year, the perfect opportunity arose. *Out of the Present* is a unique work that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the 1990s, with hypnotic visuals and, for those in the know, nods to *Solaris*. For me, this film is almost meditative. And let’s not forget the 35mm camera that the director managed to sneak onboard a rocket with the cosmonauts. The shots of early 1990s Russia are just as fascinating as the scenes of space itself. This documentary easily ranks in my personal top 5 of all time.   

“The Flats” dir. Alessandra Celesia 

Once again, stunning visuals and a brilliant concept reminiscent of “The Act of Killing.” Through carefully executed reconstructions, the protagonists relive their past traumatic experiences to free themselves from them once and for all. What’s remarkable is that there’s no artificiality here—everything feels painfully authentic. I also appreciate how the film shows the involvement of a psychologist, ensuring the creators don’t leave their subjects to deal with their trauma alone. Add to this captivating anecdotes from a conflict that has always fired my imagination, and archival footage used to great effect. A complete and compelling film.

“La Base” dir. Vadim Dumesh   

A small-scale film made almost single-handedly by an extraordinarily talented creator. It’s incredible how he captured the potential of this fascinating location! There are so many characters here, sometimes just slipping through the background, that you feel the place is teeming with untold stories. Who doesn’t love listening to taxi drivers? Here, we also get excellent, improvised cinematography, protagonists who actively shape the film, and editing so sharp that the whole thing flies by in one breath. It’s hard to believe this is a directorial debut.