CPH PIX opens with Michael Noer

FESTIVAL. Michael Noer won the international film critics' award at Göteborg film festival for "Northwest". Now Noer's tough, though sensitive portrait of a young man caught in a cycle of crime opens Denmark's largest feature film festival CPH PIX running 11-24 April.

Celebrating its fifth edition, CPH PIX 2013 tours Copenhagen's cinemas from 11 to 24 April with a programme of more than 150 feature films from around the world. Ten titles by young directors will be showcased in the main competition New Talent Grand Pix, and more than 25 sidebars will cast their spotlight on Iran, the Middle East, American Indies, Ulrich Seidl, young Danish talents from independent film schools – and much more. See programme.

FIPRESCI winner is opening film

Opening this year's festival is Danish Michael Noer's "Northwest" which won the international critics' FIPRESCI award at the Göteborg film festival.

Noer, who made his first feature "R" with Tobias Lindholm, takes us to a rundown Copenhagen neighbourhood where Casper, 18, makes a living by selling stolen goods to a local gang leader. When Casper turns towards a more professional outfit to advance himself, he slowly but surely finds himself caught up in a vicious circle that threatens to destroy him and his family.

"Northwest" is produced by René Ezra and Tomas Radoor for Nordisk Film and opens nationwide on 18 April. Read Michael Noer interview and profile.

Ten films in main competition

"Northwest" is also in the run for the festival's main award, the New Talent Grand Pix, as one of the ten films in competition – films made by young debuting directors:

Diego Star
Frédérick Pelletier, Canada/Belgium

Harmony Lessons
Emir Baigazin, Kazakhstan/Germany/France

The Interval
Leonardo di Costanzo, Italy/Switzerland/Germany

Night
Leonardo Brzezicki, Argentina

Nordwest
Michael Noer, Denmark

Ombline
Stéphane Cazes, France/Belgium

The Plague
Neus Ballús, Spain

The Strange Little Cat
Ramon Zürcher, Germany

The Weight of Elephants
Daniel Joseph Borgman, Denmark/New Zealand/Germany/France
Read interview with the director The Unbearable Heaviness of Childhood
International premiere at the Berlinale 2013.

Youth
Tom Shoval, Israel/Germany