Dec 08-14: Documentary Film Festival, Comedy Play, Jazz Concert, and more!
Things to do in Berlin - Week of Dec 08!
I try to keep the newsletter positive and not rant 🤬, but something recently bothered me and I wanted to share it. The other day I was at the gym on the bikes when I noticed a guy stuck at the gate because his card wasn’t working. He was jumping up and down trying to get a staff member’s attention, but none of them could see him. After a minute or two of watching everyone ignore it, I stopped my workout, walked over to a staff member, and let them know someone needed help at the entrance. The guy who was watching the whole thing finally got in, walked right past me, and didn’t look, smile, or say thank you. Of course, I didn’t do it for a thank you, but it makes me wonder who raises people like this. The same people who walk through a door you hold open without acknowledging it? And then, on the other side of the spectrum, there are newsletter subscribers who still send a thank you message even when I tell them they didn’t win a giveaway.
You guys are the big ones. Those people, like the one in the gym, are the little ones. Thanks for not being like them ❤️.
What’s in store for you this week:
🎬 Doc.Berlin - Documentary Film Festival
😂 What The Startup - Comedy Play
🎷 Serious Series #13 - Contemporary Jazz
🎤 Berlin Spoken Word 10 Year Anniversary Show
🎼 TAFELMUSIK ZUM ADVENT
🎶 REVERS ed. 3
👕 Refugio Clothes Swap
🕊️ Al Muqawama: Palestine Fundraiser
🍽️ Swadesh South and North Indian
🎫 This Week’s Giveaways
We’re giving away 2 free tickets for the Berlin 😂 What The Startup - Comedy Play on December 11, Thursday! To enter, simply send an email with the keyword “What The Startup” to my E-Mail address.
⭐ Priority is given to Paid Supporters (please mention you are a paid supporter in the email). You can become a Paid Supporter for €2 per month.
1. Doc.Berlin - Documentary Film Festival
Doc.Berlin brings four days of documentary films to Kino Babylon and focuses on how different perspectives shape the way people understand real events. Each year the festival presents around 30 short and feature-length documentaries that examine social issues and introduce topics that often receive little attention. The program encourages viewers to consider how information is seen, interpreted, and discussed, and offers a broad look at how filmmakers approach factual storytelling. More info.
💵 €4
📅 08 Dec (Mon) - 11 Dec (Thu)
⭐ sponsored post
2. What The Startup - Comedy Play
Brand new comedy stageplay! Transporting you into the mayhem of the city, you’ll bounce from chaotic coworking to heavy techno clubs and from dating mishaps to bizarre startup innovations. Written by Ben V Butler, directed by Meg Zrini and in collaboration with Shakespeare:Reloaded, this is set to make you laugh so much you’ll forget all about the Berlin winter! More info.
💵 €16.99
📅 10 Dec (Wed) - 12 Dec (Fri)
3. Serious Series #13 - Contemporary Jazz
The thirteenth edition of the Serious Series is focused on presenting work that gives attention to voices and ideas that are often overlooked while also challenging familiar formats and linking material that might not usually appear together. The program brings free improvisation, contemporary compositional approaches, elements rooted in jazz, and electroacoustic sound work into a single setting that encourages listeners to follow how these forms interact and shift across performances. More info.
💵 €20 (cash)
📅 12 Dec (Fri) - 14 Dec (Sun)
⭐ sponsored post
4. Berlin Spoken Word 10 Year Anniversary Show
The standard-bearer for open-mics, Berlin Spoken Word is a community at the heart of the city’s literary scene. Since 2015, poets, artists and musicians have been coming weekly to share their work with an audience looking for rapport, not just entertainment. For its 10th anniversary, BSW is throwing a full day event with open mic and featured performances. More info.
💵 €10
📅 14 Dec (Sun) / 15:00 - 22:00
5. TAFELMUSIK ZUM ADVENT
The walking concert Tafelmusik zum Advent returns to Kraftwerk Berlin, where the Bundespolizeiorchester performs under the direction of Gerd Herklotz in support of Berliner Tafel. The event brings the orchestra into a venue known for contemporary electronic music, creating an unusual meeting point between two different musical environments. You can move through the power station as the concert unfolds, with a program that spans both classical and modern influences presented in a single setting. More info.
💵 €10
📅 14 Dec (Sun) / 15:00-18:00
Submitted Events
6. REVERS ed. 3
REVERS presents an evening that combines visual art and experimental music at MUENZE, with live work shaped by artists from the co:evolve collective. The third edition of this event series connects sound, visual media, and performance inside the Prägehall, where the setting becomes part of the exchange between the artists and their material. More info.
💵 Free
📅 10 Dec (Wed) / 20:00-23:30
7. Refugio Clothes Swap
Refugio hosts its seasonal clothes swap, inviting visitors to bring up to five items and exchange them with others. Participation is free and the event offers a simple way to pass on clothing that is no longer needed while finding something new in return. More info.
💵 Free
📅 13 Dec (Sat) / 12:00-16:00
8. Al Muqawama: Palestine Fundraiser
New wave and experimental sounds with a pop-up record market. Record label Cruel Machine presents a special solidarity edition: a full fundraiser for the Hind Rajab Foundation, supporting the documentation of war crimes in Gaza and the pursuit of legal accountability. Bringing together artists across North African rhythms, experimental electronics, ambient performance, SWANA diasporic grooves, industrial textures, and raw club energy, the event creates a sonic space where mourning, resistance, and collective care converge. A solidarity record market accompanies the night, with all proceeds directed to the fundraiser. More info.
💵 From €5 donation
📅 14 Dec (Sun) / 17:00-00:00
📍 Bar Neun
Restaurant Suggestion:
Swadesh South and North Indian (⭐4/5)
Talking to my Indian friends, it seems hard to find authentic, home style Indian food in Berlin, since many restaurants have westernized their dishes to match local tastes. I recently tried this Indian restaurant, and the food was acceptable. They are conveniently located by Uber Arena, meaning that if you are going to a concert, this can be a good spot for dinner beforehand, especially if you are a big group. There is plenty of seating and the staff is very attentive and friendly. We asked them not to charge for a glass of cola because it was flat, and they agreed without any fuss. The chicken biryani was nice with a generous portion of chicken. The lamb dishes were also good with the right level of spiciness. The chicken stew was just okay and felt a bit bland. Most dishes come with a side salad, and they accept card payments. Overall, this is an acceptable place if you want a convenient location to eat before a concert at Uber Arena.
🎟️ Have an event that you think we should know about? Submit it here.