Leni Riefenstahl died on September 8, 2003, at age 101, in Pöcking, Germany.
On September 8, 2003, Leni Riefenstahl passed away at the age of 101 in Pöcking, Germany. Her longevity allowed her to see the broad impact of her work across generations, even as debates about her legacy continued. Riefenstahl's death marked the end of a contested yet pivotal figure in the history of cinema, whose films remain benchmarks for visual narrative technique despite the controversial nature of their content. Her passing was noted worldwide, and her complex legacy persists in discussions of art and ethics.