Danish docs to Amsterdam

FESTIVAL. There is cause to celebrate. No fewer than 10 films are selected for the world's most important doc fest, IDFA Amsterdam, kicking off 17 November. International recognition, a domestic market that encourages documentary production, and a wealth of ideas and stories that inspire audiences to return for more are part and parcel of a flourishing documentary scene in Denmark.

Once again Danish documentaries impact on the international scene. This year the 23rd International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (17-28 November) has selected 10 Danish documentary films to appear in IDFA programmes, seven of the films are selected for the competition programmes, and no fewer than six for Reflecting Images:

IDFA Competition for Feature-Length Documentary

IDFA Competition for Mid-Length Documentary

Reflecting Images 

  • Panorama: My Avatar and me / Bente Milton, Mikkel Stolt / Milton Media, Fenris Film & Multimedia, R-Film
  • Panorama: Pig Country /Andreas Koefoed / Barok Film
  • Panorama: My Playground / Kaspar Astrup Schröder / KSPR
  • Reflecting Masters: Erotic Man / Jørgen Leth / Zentropa
  • Best of Fests: Armadillo / Janus Metz / Fridthjof Film
  • Best of Fests: Into Eternity / Michael Madsen / Magic Hour Films

Three films from the Reflecting Images section are also selected for the competition programmes:

Doc U! competition 

The award programme Doc U! is aimed at introducing a young audience to documentary cinema. The films are selected together with young people aged 15 to 18 years. This year both Kaspar Astrup Schröder's My Playground and Janus Metz Armadillo are selected.

Green Screen competition 

IDFA has now turned its Green Screen doc section into a competition program for films focusing on sustainability and the interaction between man and his environment. Michael Madsen and Magic Hour's Into Eternity is selected. A three-strong international jury will assess the films and present the IDFA Award for Best Green Screen Documentary.

Also selected for this competition is the US produced 'Cool It', a portrait of Denmark's controversial scientist and writer Bjørn Lomborg.

Danish Jury member 

Director Andreas Koefoed whose film Pig Country will screen in Reflecting Images will sit on the Student Competition Jury. This honour follows the success of his films 'Albert's Vinter', '12 Notes Down', and 'A Day in the Smoke', chosen for IDFA programmes in 2008 and 2009.

Forum—pitching at the co-financing market 

Every year some 40-50 projects are pitched by their directors and producers to an audience of financers and TV-executives in order to raise capital for their film. This year Denmark is represented with four new projects at the international co-financing market Forum:  

Pitching in the Round Table session:

  • I Want to Cheer You Up Ltd. / Kaspar Astrup Schröder / Plus Pictures
  • 300 Reasons to Smile / Brian McGinn / Plus Pictures
  • Ballroom Dancer / Christian Bonke, Andreas Koefoed,  / Danish Documentary

Pitching in the Central Pitch session:

  • Democrats / Camilla Nielsson / Upfront Films