This month has seen two DW documentaries winning prestigious European awards. “Machine Music – Four Decades of German Electronic and Dance Music” took home a Golden Dolphin at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. Another documentary with a musical focus, “Schumann at Pier2,” won the Czech Television Prize.

“Machine Music” is all about the evolution of electronic pop music in Germany. The two-part film, by Reiner Schild and Anja Freyhoff-King, starts with German pioneer Kraftwerk in the 1970s and goes on to show the influence of German groups on international acts like Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys.

The Golden Dolphin is the fourth award for “Machine Music,” which was released in 2010 as part of the Deutsche Beats project.

“Schumman at Pier2” is shaping up to follow in the footsteps of “Machine Music.” “Schumann” director Christian Berger and producer Bernhard Fleischer accepted the Czech Television Prize in Prague last week.

“Schumann at Pier2” is a modern take on the four symphonies made by legendary composer Robert Schumann. The narrative follows Estonian-American conductor Paavo Järvi and members of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen as they play at a converted shipyard.

This Friday (October 26) sees the official release event for “Schumann at Pier2” at Kino International in Berlin. Audiences will be able to watch the documentary on DW as well as the European cultural channel Arte starting in November. Berlin-based C Major Entertainment plans to sell a DVD box set including recordings by the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.