Leica – A Century of Vision (2026): Cast, Story and Release

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Leica – A Century of Vision examines the impact of the 35mm format on documentary photography. Featuring established and contemporary photographers, the documentary considers how Leica cameras have helped record history in motion and shaped the photographic language of photojournalism across generations.

Leica – A Century of Vision traces the influence of the 35mm format on documentary photography and its role in changing how photographers recorded the world. The film centers on the enduring relationship between a compact camera format and images made in real time.

Directed and written by Reiner Holzemer, the documentary brings together photographers from different generations and backgrounds. Their participation gives the film a broad perspective on Leica’s place in photojournalism and documentary image-making.

Leica – A Century of Vision movie details

Story without spoilers

The documentary follows the development and lasting significance of the 35mm format, presenting it as a major change in the history of documentary photography. Its focus is not a fictional narrative but the evolution of a photographic approach associated with mobility, immediacy and the ability to document events as they unfold.

Through contributions from legendary and contemporary photographers, the film considers the continuing power of the camera to preserve moments of history. The supplied synopsis points to Leica’s influence on documentary practice while leaving the emphasis on photography’s historical and journalistic role rather than on a single subject or event.

What to expect

As a documentary about photography, the film is centered on photographic history, photojournalism and the development of the 35mm format. Its subject matter should appeal to viewers interested in Leica, documentary photography and the ways cameras have affected visual records of history.

The range of participating photographers suggests a multi-perspective presentation, with established names appearing alongside contemporary practitioners. The film’s 1-hour, 32-minute runtime provides a focused format for examining the camera’s continuing place in documentary work.

Cast and creative team

Reiner Holzemer serves as both director and writer. The documentary features Sebastião Salgado, Ralph Gibson, Alex Webb, Steve McCurry, Atwood, Jane Evelyn, Lee, Sarah M, JR, Greg Williams, Dominic Nahr and Locatelli, Luca, all appearing as themselves.

• Sebastião Salgado as Self
• Ralph Gibson as Self
• Alex Webb as Self
• Steve McCurry as Self
• Atwood, Jane Evelyn as Self
• Lee, Sarah M as Self
• JR as Self
• Greg Williams as Self
• Dominic Nahr as Self
• Locatelli, Luca as Self

Release and production context

Leica – A Century of Vision is a 2026 documentary from Germany with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It is listed with a release date of November 12, 2026. The spoken languages are English, French, German and Italian, and the production company is Reiner Holzemer Film.

Production companies: Reiner Holzemer Film

Movies Dock view

With its focus on the 35mm format and the photographers who have worked with it, Leica – A Century of Vision offers a concise look at the relationship between camera technology, documentary practice and visual history. Its subject is firmly rooted in photography and photojournalism, with an international group of contributors providing the film’s central perspective.

Film data:
TMDB