“An uplifting feel-good documentary. A humane and at times almost fairy-tale-like portrait.”
DER TAGESSPIEGEL
Nominated for the German Film Award
About the Film
Germany’s Most Unusual School
Hidden away in a Berlin backyard lies what may be Germany’s most unusual school.
It sounds like a utopian experiment. Yet for decades, it has been reality.
BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL follows four young people who have already failed within the traditional education system. Some experienced bullying. Others struggled with performance pressure or simply could not find their place in conventional schools.
Inspired by the idea of a school built on trust rather than fear, they decide to try again. Their goal is ambitious: earning the Abitur, Germany’s highest secondary school qualification.
What begins as a story about education gradually becomes a story about confidence, responsibility and the search for one’s place in the world.
Credits
Director & Writer
Alexander Kleider
Cinematography
Andy Lehmann & Alexander Kleider
Editing
Alexander Kleider, Daniela Michel & Patricia Rommel
Sound
Lorenz Brehm
Music
Eckes Malz
Production
DOK-WERK filmkooperative
Producers
Alexander Kleider & Daniela Michel
SUPPORTED BY
The Berlin School for Adult Education has been challenging conventional ideas about learning since the 1970s.
Behind the Film
How a School Without Principals Became a Film
The Berlin School for Adult Education (Schule für Erwachsenenbildung e.V.) is one of Germany’s longest-running democratic schools — and still one of its best-kept educational secrets.
Founded in the 1970s, the school challenged many assumptions about learning long before terms such as “student agency” or “self-directed learning” became part of international educational debates.
Students help shape school policies, participate in democratic assemblies and share responsibility for the community. There are no traditional hierarchies and no principal overseeing everyday life.
What began as a film about an unusual school soon became a story about freedom, responsibility and the possibilities of education itself.
Democratic Education
A School Run by Students
In most schools, students are expected to follow rules made by others. At BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL, they help create them.
Students participate in democratic decision-making, contribute to the organisation of school life and learn what it means to take responsibility for a community.
For more than 40 years, this unique democratic school has challenged conventional ideas about authority, participation and learning.
While educational reform is often discussed in theory, this school has been putting alternative ideas into practice since the 1970s.
At Berlin Rebel High School, students help shape everyday school life and share responsibility for the community.
Second Chances
A Second Chance for School Dropouts
The four young people at the centre of the film have one thing in common: all of them have already been failed by the education system.
Some were bullied. Others dropped out. Some simply stopped believing in themselves.
Their goal is to earn the Abitur. But the real challenge goes far beyond passing exams.
It is about rebuilding confidence, discovering strengths and finding the courage to imagine a different future.
The film follows young people who return to education after bullying, pressure and school failure — searching for confidence, direction and a different future.
The film observes learning as a process of trust, personal development and responsibility — not only performance.
Learning Without Fear
Can Learning Work Without Fear?
Across the world, educational systems are facing similar challenges.
BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL does not offer easy answers. Instead, it follows real people over several years and allows viewers to witness an educational experiment from the inside.
What emerges is a rare and deeply human portrait of learning as a process of personal development rather than performance.
Future of Education
Education in the Age of AI
For generations, schools have focused on teaching knowledge, memorising facts and preparing students for exams.
But in a world where artificial intelligence can provide information instantly, many educators are asking a new question: what should schools teach when knowledge is no longer scarce?
Long before artificial intelligence challenged traditional ideas of education, BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL was already asking this fundamental question.
Rather than focusing primarily on grades and standardised performance, the school encourages students to develop qualities that machines cannot easily replace:
At the heart of the school’s philosophy lies a simple belief: education is not only about what students know. It is also about who they become.
In an age shaped by artificial intelligence, automation and rapid technological change, the film raises a question that reaches far beyond education: what skills do people need to thrive in the future?
In a changing world, the film asks what schools should teach when knowledge itself is no longer scarce.
Although the film takes place in Berlin, its questions about education, freedom and growing up are universal.
Why This Story Matters
Why This Story Matters Today
Although BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL takes place in Berlin, its questions are universal.
At a time when educational systems around the world are under pressure, the film offers a hopeful and thought-provoking perspective on what learning could look like.
Educational Perspectives
For Educators & Researchers
While BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL follows four students on a personal journey, it also offers a rare long-term observation of one of Germany’s longest-running democratic schools.
The film explores questions at the heart of contemporary educational debates, including:
The film offers a rare inside view of a democratic school and its relevance for current debates on education reform.
The documentary follows real change as it happens — through doubts, setbacks, small victories and the experiences of young people finding their own path.
Documentary Approach
Why a Documentary?
Many debates about education revolve around statistics, policies and reforms. But education is ultimately about people.
Only a documentary could capture the complexity of this unique school: the doubts, conflicts, setbacks and small victories that shape the lives of its students.
Over several years, BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL follows four young people as they attempt something many had already told them was impossible.
The documentary format allowed us to witness real change as it happened. Not in theory, but in everyday life. Not through experts alone, but through the experiences of young people navigating one of the most important transitions of their lives.
Now Available
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AWARDS & FILM FESTIVALS
Audience Award Winner · Austin Film Festival 2016
Nominated for Best Documentary Film · German Film Award 2017
Grand Jury Prize Winner · Wexford Documentary Film Festival 2018
Official Selection · Shanghai International Film Festival 2017
Berlinale 2017
First Prize for Educational Journalism 2018 · Telekom Foundation
Competition · DOK.fest Munich 2017
Competition · Filmkunstfest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2017
Competition · Golden Sparrow Children’s and Youth Film Festival 2017
Festival of German Films Paris 2017
Freezone Film Festival Belgrade 2017
Arras Film Festival 2017
Pravo Ljudski Film Festival Sarajevo 2017
Rated “Especially Valuable” · German Film Rating Board Wiesbaden
One World Human Rights Film Festival Prague 2018
International Film Festival Thessaloniki 2018
Human Rights Film Festival Bucharest 2018
Human Rights Film Festival Bratislava
REVIEWS
“Somewhere between late-68 idealism and neo-punk flair, Alexander
Kleider reveals an oasis of individuality.”
[ Süddeutsche Zeitung ]
“This affectionate documentary portrait of a self-managed high school in
Berlin-Kreuzberg shows how graduating can succeed beyond hierarchical
structures.”
[ Jolie ]
“BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL is an intense and heartfelt documentary, a
lesson in an extraordinary educational project.”
[ Berliner Zeitung ]
“An uplifting feel-good documentary. A humane and at times almost
fairy-tale-like portrait.”
[ Der Tagesspiegel ]
“Trappmann is the star of BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL.”
[ Münchner Merkur ]
“Director Alexander Kleider succeeds in creating an inside view of a
school without principals, hierarchies and, above all, without
fear.”
[ Märkische Oderzeitung ]
“A fascinating documentary. In a refreshingly direct way, it shows how
learning can become meaningful and enjoyable.”
[ Frankfurter Neue Presse ]
“A moving film about a unique Kreuzberg project.”
[ ZDF heute journal ]
“A wonderful and rare example that alternatives do exist.”
[ rbb Inforadio ]
“This documentary offers insight into a truly unique experiment.”
[ Chilli-freiburg.de ]
Research & Further Reading
Democratic Education, Alternative Schools and the Future of Learning
BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL opens a window into Germany’s most unusual school — one of Germany’s longest-running democratic schools — and into wider debates about democratic education, student agency and self-directed learning. These links offer further context on the school featured in the film, international democratic education networks and current debates about the future of education in the age of artificial intelligence.
The School & Democratic Education
Schule für Erwachsenenbildung Berlin
European Democratic Education Community
Alternative Education Resource Organization
EUDEC 2026
Alternative School Models
Summerhill School
Sudbury Valley School
UNESCO – Futures of Education
OECD – Future of Education and Skills 2030
Together, these resources place the film in a wider conversation about democratic education, school reform, self-directed learning and the skills young people may need in a rapidly changing world.
Democratic Education FAQ
Questions About Germany’s Most Unusual School
BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL raises questions about democratic education, student agency, school reform and the future of learning — through the story of one of Germany’s longest-running democratic schools. Here are some of the key questions explored in the film.
What is BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL?
BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL is a documentary about the Berlin School for Adult Education, one of Germany’s best-known democratic schools. For more than forty years, students and teachers have run the school together — without a principal, without traditional hierarchies and largely without grades.
Is BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL a true story?
Yes. All people and events featured in the film are real. The documentary follows four students over several years at the Berlin School for Adult Education and documents their attempt to earn the Abitur after struggling within the traditional education system.
Does the school really exist?
Yes. The Berlin School for Adult Education in Berlin-Kreuzberg has existed since the 1970s and is one of Germany’s longest-running democratic schools. For more than 40 years, students and teachers have run the school collectively — without a principal and without traditional hierarchies.
What is a democratic school?
Democratic schools are based on the idea that students should actively participate in decisions that affect their education and daily school life. At the Berlin School for Adult Education, students take part in democratic assemblies, help shape school policies and share responsibility for the community.
What is student agency?
Student agency refers to the ability of young people to actively shape their own learning, make meaningful decisions and take responsibility for their education. BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL explores what happens when students are trusted with real responsibility rather than simply following instructions.
Is the film relevant for educators and researchers?
Yes. While the film follows four students on a personal journey, it also offers a rare long-term observation of one of Germany’s most established democratic schools. Topics include democratic education, student agency, self-directed learning, school governance, social-emotional learning and the future of education.
Are there grades at the school?
The Berlin School for Adult Education largely operates without traditional grades and performance pressure. Instead, the school emphasises personal responsibility, intrinsic motivation and self-directed learning. To obtain the Abitur, however, students must meet the same state examination standards as students in conventional schools.
Can school dropouts earn the Abitur?
This question lies at the heart of BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL. The film’s protagonists struggled within the traditional education system. Some experienced bullying, others dropped out or were considered unlikely to succeed academically. The documentary follows their attempt to find a different path.
What makes the Berlin School for Adult Education unique?
What makes the school unique is not only its structure, but its longevity. For more than 40 years, this democratic school has shown that student participation, self-directed learning and shared responsibility can work in everyday school life.
Can learning work without pressure?
BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL explores exactly this question. The film follows young people learning in an environment where motivation, responsibility and personal development are valued more highly than competition and constant evaluation.
What does artificial intelligence mean for the future of education?
In a world where information is available instantly, many educators are asking a fundamental question: what should schools teach when knowledge itself is no longer scarce? The film presents an educational approach that places responsibility, creativity, empathy and collaboration at its centre.
Why is BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL still relevant today?
Educational systems around the world face similar challenges: performance pressure, student burnout, school dropouts, mental health concerns and growing uncertainty about what young people need to succeed in the future. The film offers a rare look at an alternative model that has explored different answers for more than forty years.
What awards has BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL received?
The film has been screened internationally and received numerous awards and nominations, including the Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize at the Wexford Documentary Film Festival and a nomination for the German Film Award.
Why a documentary?
Many debates about education revolve around statistics, policies and reforms. But education is ultimately about people. The documentary format allowed the filmmakers to witness real change as it happened — through everyday life, not theory alone.
Where can I watch BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL?
Following its theatrical release, international festival run and broadcast on German public television, BERLIN REBEL HIGH SCHOOL is now available exclusively on DOK-WERK. The film can be streamed online and is also available for schools, universities, educational institutions and public screenings through our licensing programme.
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