The festival is influenced by the mood in Leipzig, the "city of the Monday demonstrations" that proved to be the starting point for the historic overthrow in the GDR. Michael Moore, in a discussion on America's reaction to the revolution, puts it like this: it is a "victory of Ronald Reagan in particular, the USA in general and Christianity above all." (Norbert Wehrstedt, in: Ralf Schenk)
The festival committee resigns together at the end of the festival week, but not without declaring their support for structural change:
"The members of the committee of the Leipzig documentary film week request their dismissal following the conclusion and evaluation of this festival.
The history, situation and perspective of the documentary film week are assessed in differing ways by the members of the committee.
The request for dismissal should open the way for the organisers to find a structure that, freed from the political constraints of the past, enables the continuation of this festival in the future. (quoted in: Weiße Taube auf dunklem Grund)
The film "Leipzig im Herbst" by Andreas Voigt and Gerd Kroske (GDR) is awarded a symbolic prize outside of the competition.
Golden Doves
ES LEBE DIE R... (GDR, Jörn Zielke)
AUFBRUCH '89 DRESDEN (GDR, Thomas Eichberg and many more)
10 TAGE IM OKTOBER (GDR, Thomas Frick)
DEFILADA (DIE PARADE, Poland, Andrzej Fidyk)
WOMAN LABOURERS (ARBEITENDE FRAUEN, India, G.L. Bhardwaj)
KAK STAT' ČELOVEKOM (WIE WIRD MAN EIN MENSCH?, Animated Film, USSR, W. Petkevič)
Silver Doves
ROGER AND ME (USA, Michael Moore)
UNSERE KINDER (GDR, Roland Steiner)
DAS LETZTE VIERTEL (Palestine, Mohammed al Sawalme)
MARTINA - MED LUST OCH GLÄDJA STOR (Sweden, Tom Alandh)
Monument (Animated Film, GDR, Klaus Georgi and Lutz Stützner)
Special prize of the International Jury
CORVUSCORNIX (USSR, Zanna Romanova)
LEIPZIG IM HERBST (GDR, Andreas Voigt and Gerd Kroske)