Seven Danish documentary films are selected to participate at this year's IDFA International Documentary Festival, Amsterdam (23 Nov – 3 Dec 2006).
Competition programmesSelected for IDFA's prestigious Joris Ivens Competition is Pernille Rose Grønkjær and Tju-Bang's "The Monastery", about the lifeworks and dreams of an old man, and his meeting with a young Russian nun. Also in this competition is the Swedish-Norwegian-Danish documentary "The Planet", by Johan Söderberg, co-produced by Charon Film of Stockholm and Fox Media, Denmark.
Eva Mulvad and Bastard Film's "Enemies of Happiness" is selected for the Silver Wolf Competition. The film reports from the final days on the campaign trail of a young Afghan woman, Malalai Joya, who is running for parliament and has survived repeated assassination attempts.
Erland Mo and Magic Hour Films' "My Eyes", is selected for the Silver Cub competition. In his film, Mo explores the world of the blind, conveying to the viewer a world brimming with simple everyday miracles.
Reflecting ImagesTwo films are selected for Reflecting Images: Asger Leth's "Ghosts of Cité Soleil", revealing a devastating look at life and politics in a slum on the outskirts of Port-au Prince, Haiti. The film has attracted attention at Telluride and Toronto festivals.
The second film for Reflecting Images is Jennifer Fox and Easy Film's "Flying – Confessions of a Free Woman". Fox, an American, sets out to explore female values and sexuality in the 21st century in this 348 minute documentary. Jennifer Fox and editor Niels Pagh Andersen will hold a master class on "Flying" at IDFA.
Kids & DocsSelected for Kids & Docs are two children's films "Small Faces: Football" and "Small Faces: Racer" by director Sussie Weinold. "Small Faces" is a series of 10 films, produced by Easy Film, about children's creativity, friendship and play in the Third World.
ForumPitching at Forum is former IDFA winner, director Phie Ambo ("Family", 2001) and producer Sigrid Dyekjær, Tju-Bang Film. "Mechanical Love", the title of their project, is about robot technology and the people who embrace the opportunities it offers. The project has already been given DFI production support.
Read more about these films in DFI’s magazine FILM #53.
Cecilia Lidin, film consultant at EDN and artistic director of Odense Film Festival, is a member of this year’s IDFA jury for the series First Appearance.
For further information:
DFI at IDFAInternational Documentary Film Festival, IDFA Amsterdamwww.idfa.nl
DFI factsheetsThe Monastery The Planet Enemies of Happiness My Eyes Flying – Confessions of a Free Woman Ghosts of Cité Soleil Small Faces: Fodbold Small Faces: Racer
Danish Film Institute (DFI)Anne Marie Kürstein, +45 3374 3609, cell +45 4041 4697 kurstein@dfi.dkVicki Marie Synnott, +45 3374 3559, cell +45 5054 5011 vickis@dfi.dk