Venezuela’s political prisoners | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. A new "amnesty law" announced by Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez could lead to the release of hundreds of political prisoners. It also includes plans to shut down El Helicoide, one of the largest detention centers in the capital Caracas. For human rights activists like Edward Ocaríz, the announcement has been received…

Venezuela in the midst of the US military intervention – Notes from Caracas | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. A filmmaker’s firsthand experience of the US attacks on Venezuela. Her country is at the center of geopolitics—but ordinary people are powerless. A view from Caracas, caught between hope and resignation. In December 2025, the death of her stepfather Nelson brought documentary filmmaker Anabel Rodríguez Ríos home to Venezuela, to mourn with…

The Neretva in Bosnia – A wild river on the brink of collapse | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. The Neretva in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Europe’s last wild rivers. Its unique ecosystem is threatened with destruction. Despite objections, politicians and entrepreneurs are allowing hydroelectric power plants to be built here. But resistance to the plans remains strong. Over the past millennia, the Neretva has developed into a globally…

Queer subculture, slums and a spiritual star cult – India’s creative capital Mumbai | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. When the sun goes down, India’s megacity most intense side comes to light. Queer subculture, everyday slum life and spiritual celebrity culture – Mumbai nightlife could hardly be more diverse. Anything is possible, here! Mumbai: India’s financial, commercial and entertainment center. This is the New York of South Asia, according to many…

Greenland – Between Denmark and Trump | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. Greenland should become part of the United States — at least, that’s the opinion of US President Donald Trump. Talk of the US acquiring, or perhaps even seizing, the world’s largest island with its vast mineral wealth has been causing concern not only among Greenlanders. Denmark is outraged, as Greenland — a…

Can science create the perfect meal? | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. The Mediterranean diet is known around the world for its health benefits and was acknowledged as an intangible cultural heritage in 2010 by UNESCO. This diet consists mainly of plant-based ingredients like vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fruits with a moderate amount of fish and dairy products. The food we eat has…

Flight MH17 – Anatomy of a crash | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. In the summer of 2014, fields and coal mines in eastern Ukraine became a crime scene. The wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was scattered across 12 square kilometers. Evidence of a war crime that remains unpunished to this day. On July 17, 2014, the Malaysian Boeing 777 with flight number MH17…

Let’s talk about hair | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. A full, glossy head of hair is often linked with beauty, youth and vitality in advertising and society. But what happens when that hair loses its shine? As we age, our hair gets thinner, alters its structure or falls out. What can be done to address these changes and is it worth…

Turkey: Can the Marmara sea be saved? | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. Turkey’s Sea of Marmara is on the brink of environmental collapse. Pollution, overfishing and climate change are depleting its oxygen. The crisis became visible when a thick layer of algal slime first began spreading across its waters in 2021. Necla Köseoğlu, from Rumelikavağı, is one of the last people still working in…

Forgotten temples in the Himalayas | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. High in the Himalayas lies the former Kingdom of Mustang. This remote region is home to centuries‑old monasteries and temples — the bedrock of a unique Tibetan culture on Nepalese soil. But the harsh climate has taken a heavy toll on these sacred sites and the unique culture they sustain. Only the…

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish wedding rituals | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. The documentary delves into ultra-orthodox Jewish society, as men and women talk about their wedding nights. Near strangers suddenly have to share physical intimacy — without knowing what it is, or how it is supposed to work. The director, herself an ultra-orthodox Jewish woman, masterfully combines frank interviews with archival material and…

Lebanon’s ancient pigeon game | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. Above the rooftops of Beirut, flocks of pigeons leave their cages and take to the sky. They are flying in the ancient pigeon game "Kash Hamam," forming unexpected connections among the inhabitants of Lebanon’s scarred capital. Director Lea Najja, who grew up in Beirut, takes us inside a country in turmoil with…

Fentanyl in Poland | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. Fentanyl is used to treat severe pain and supplement anaesthesia. It is highly addictive and extremely dangerous if used incorrectly, causing even death. Estimated to be 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, just two milligrams are enough to kill a person. In Poland, the abuse of this…

Tropical fruits… grown near the Arctic? | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. A country once known for a traditional diet consisting mainly of fish, meat, and fermented foods is now producing its own vegetables and even experimenting with tropical crops, in one of the world’s harshest climates. Thanks to an incredible geothermal network that heats 90% of homes, Iceland has turned natural volcanic energy…

Mongolia – Valley of the bears | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. For decades, Mongolia’s biodiversity has been decimated by hunting and resource extraction. Today, rangers are trying to persuade the population to rethink. But the appearance of bears in the villages could undo these efforts. The boreal coniferous forest, better known as taiga, covers 17 percent of the earth’s surface. It has the…

The mystery of the Shroud of Turin | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. The Shroud of Turin is one of the most fascinating and controversial objects of religious worship. Jesus is said to have been wrapped in this cloth after his crucifixion. Does the shroud’s faint bloodstained image really show a crucified Christ? Opinions are divided on the Shroud of Turin: for some, it is…

Switzerland’s “Ghost Valley” | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. The Onsernone Valley is often called the "most beautiful cul-de-sac in Switzerland." Located in the canton of Ticino, this wild, green valley was historically defined by bitter poverty and mass emigration. While the region experienced a brief revival in the 1970s through an influx of people seeking alternative lifestyles, today it faces…

The dirty reality behind “green steel” | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary. Steel firms and World Bank-linked finance are backing eucalyptus plantations in Brazil to offset CO2. But on the ground, communities report land loss, damaged ecosystems, and broken promises. So how green is "green steel"? In northeastern Brazil, a small rural community is fighting to protect the Cerrado savanna surrounding their homes from…