2026 Werner HerzAugust Challenge: Be Sure to Get the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

The ancient Greeks famously coined the word κακοθερής (kakotheres) to mean "unfitted to endure the summer heat," and the point in the year where that word applies to me most greatly is the sweltering (and many times physically/mentally/spiritually harrowing) month of August.

I have decided that instead of passively sweating my way through the "dog days" of summer this August, I will instead embrace the HERZOG DAYS OF SUMMER with this inaugural challenge celebrating international cinema, thought-provoking dramas and documentaries, and the spirit of "ecstatic truth" embodied by the works of German filmmaker and cult celebrity Werner Herzog.

OFFICIAL RULES:

This August, I will make it my goal to watch/log/review 24 films over 31 days, satisfying the following criteria:

1️⃣ At least 9 <a href="https://letterboxd.com/director/werner-herzog/">Werner Herzog-directed films</a>, with a minimum of: 4 narrative features 4 documentaries plus 1 more of either type.

(EDIT 7/1: I've also compiled a handy list of 40+ <a href="https://boxd.it/VpbHu$l9mTuM8NybuDjo0e">Herzog films currently available on streaming</a>, arranged by availability.)

2️⃣ At least 4 (non-Herzog directed) films from the New German Cinema (AKA German New Wave) movement. Source List: <a href="https://boxd.it/UJ7PK ">New German Cinema</a>

3️⃣ At least 1 non-Herzog directed film where Herzog either appears as an actor playing a character, or as himself. Source List: <a href="https://boxd.it/UOsNU$Zwxl1kU0Si0xkEsG">Werner Herzog Film Appearances</a>

4️⃣ 1 film awarded the <a href="https://www.wernerherzog.org/en/werner-herzog-stiftung-filmpreis.html">Werner Herzog Film Award</a> Source List: https://boxd.it/SoN6i

5️⃣ 3 films featured in <a href="https://boxd.it/QzOVA">IndieWire's "52 Best Documentaries of the 21st Century"</a>

6️⃣ 3 films from Blue K's MUBI list <a href="https://mubi.com/en/lists/transcendent-moments-of-the-ecstatic-truth">"Transcendent Moments of the Ecstatic Truth"</a> (<a href="https://boxd.it/Nt04">Letterboxd version</a>)

7️⃣ Any 1 film (directed by Herzog or not) starring one of these three notable Herzog lead actors: <a href="https://boxd.it/7Ih">Klaus Kinski</a> <a href="https://boxd.it/3HLx">Isabelle Adjani</a> <a href="https://boxd.it/3J2z">Brad Dourif</a>

8️⃣ 1 of <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/werner-herzog-eight-favourite-films/">Herzog's 8 favorite films of all time</a>

9️⃣ Any 1 film with music by one of these four composers: <a href="https://letterboxd.com/composer/popol-vuh/">Popol Vuh</a> <a href="https://letterboxd.com/composer/florian-fricke/">Florian Fricke</a> <a href="https://letterboxd.com/composer/ernst-reijseger/">Ernst Reijseger</a> <a href="https://letterboxd.com/composer/richard-thompson-1/">Richard Thompson</a>

If I fall short of 24 films after fulfilling all of the above categories, I will fill it out to 24 with any additional Herzog (or Herzog-adjacent) film(s) I want to watch.

I encourage anyone reading this to do the same! Post a link to your lists in the comments and attach the tag <a href="https://letterboxd.com/tag/wernerherzaugust/lists/">#wernerherzaugust</a> to help others find your lists and reviews.

This challenge is largely inspired by <a href="https://letterboxd.com/cinemonster">Cinemonster</a>'s annual <a href="https://letterboxd.com/cinemonster/tag/hoop-tober/lists/">Hooptober horror challenge</a>, which will conveniently be starting up just a couple of weeks after this one ends!