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Siri Hustvedt – Dance Around the Self

Panorama Dokumente 2026
© Medea Film Factory
Young, curious and full of drive, Siri Hustvedt leaves the wide, quiet landscapes of Minnesota and plunges into the pulsating life of New York City. In search of the protagonist for her first novel, she embarks on a journey that not only shapes her as a writer but leads her to become one of the most compelling voices in contemporary American literature. The film opens a perspective that reaches far beyond Siri Hustvedt herself, discovering women who courageously and independently realise their artistic visions. As Siri Hustvedt and her husband Paul Auster reflect on language, identity and the power of words, life intervenes: Paul Auster becomes seriously ill. In Siri Hustvedt – Dance Around the Self, director Sabine Lidl portrays Siri Hustvedt’s distinctive way of living and thinking, weaving her writing together with the major themes of life: love and farewell.

Trailer/Film Excerpt

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by Sabine Lidl (Director, Screenplay)
with Siri Hustvedt, Paul Auster, Sophie Auster, Katerina Fotopoulou, Liv Hustvedt, Asti Hustvedt , Ingy Hustvedt , Spencer Ostrander, Wim Wenders , Jules* Elting Germany / Switzerland 2026 English 110' Colour World premiere | Documentary form Rating R 12

With

  • Siri Hustvedt
  • Paul Auster
  • Sophie Auster
  • Katerina Fotopoulou
  • Liv Hustvedt
  • Asti Hustvedt 
  • Ingy Hustvedt 
  • Spencer Ostrander
  • Wim Wenders 
  • Jules* Elting

Crew

Director Sabine Lidl
Screenplay Sabine Lidl
Cinematography Filip Zumbrunn, Meret Madörin
Editing Maxine Goedicke
Music Balz Bachmann
Sound Design Noemi Hampel, Matthias Lempert
Costumes Lucie Bates
Animation Lena Dickmann, Jana Richtmeyer, Hannah Levy, Anna Magnus
Producers Irene Höfer, Andreas Schroth
Executive Producers Irene Höfer, Karin Koch
Co-Producer Karin Koch

Produced by

Medea Film Factory

Berlin, Germany

Co-produced by

Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion

Zürich, Switzerland

Photos

Sabine Lidl

© Christine Fenzl 

The director and writer is based in Berlin. After initially working as a make-up artist on film and television productions, she began making her own documentaries in 2010. Her work includes portraits of Henry Hübchen, Nan Goldin, Emma Thompson, Paul Auster and Doris Dörrie. Siri Hustvedt – Dance Around the Self is her debut feature-length documentary for the cinema.

Filmography (Selection)

2010 Henry Hübchen - Mein Leben; short documentary 2013 Nan Goldin - I Remember Your Face; documentary 2016 Die Vielen Gesichter Der Emma Thompson; short documentary 2018 Paul Auster - Was Wäre Wenn (Paul Auster - What If); documentary 2020 Hannelore Elsner - Mehr Als Leben; documentary 2023 Doris Dörrie - Die Flaneuse; documentary 2026 Zeruya Shalev - Nicht Ich; documentary · Siri Hustvedt - Dance Around the Self; documentary, Berlinale 2026

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026