The Danish Film Institute has appointed Helle Hansen as new film commissioner for shorts and documentaries. Helle Hansen takes on her new position on 1 September.
Helle Hansen has many years' experience in journalism, working since 1988 on documentary programmes for the national broadcasters DR TV and TV 2 and for several other networks. Helle Hansen is director of "BZ" (2006) chronicling the Danish squatting movement, and she is currently finishing her documentary "Ordet fanger" about how public discourse on issues concerning immigrants and refugees has changed over the years.
"A film commissioner has to be a good listener," Helle Hansen comments on her new appointment, "somebody who can guide and inspire rather than have a specific opinion on things, and be able to communicate clearly with the filmmaker whatever his or her background."
Helle Hansen replaces former film commissioner for shorts and documentaries Jesper Jack.