Roos Award 2008 goes to Tine Fischer

The Danish Film Institute's documentary-film award of 25,000 kroner (3,350 euros) has been awarded to Tine Fischer, director of the CPH:DOX international documentary film festival. The award was presented Saturday night at the European Film College in Ebeltoft during an annual meet for documentary filmmakers.The award committee – this year comprising DFI CEO Henrik Bo Nielsen; Malene Flindt Pedersen, DFI head of development; Agnete Dorph Stjernfelt, editor, formerly of the DFI; and last year's awardwinner, filmmaker Steen Møller Rasmussen – chose Fischer for the 2008 Roos Award because:

• She and CPH:DOX have succeeded in packing cinemas with large, enthusiastic and, not least, new audiences for documentaries. Propelled by Fischer’s engagement, energy and supreme sensitivity to new tendencies in art and society, CPH:DOX in five short years has become the Nordic nations' biggest documentary film event.

• She crosses lines and smashes boundaries. In fact, one of the first documentary film events Fischer ever worked on was called Crossing Boundaries. CPH:DOX pushes the envelope, challenging boundaries between film, new media, music, art and politics.

• She knows how to throw a party – also beyond the VIP lounge and the red carpet. Every year, CPH:DOX presents films of high artistic quality and hard-hitting political activism alongside unorthodox happenings on the streets of the city, ranging from lessons in flute playing to balloon-animal tying and air-guitar shredding.

• She never gives up, no matter how tough the challenge. Combining an intellectual, passionate approach to documentaries and enormous tenacity, she makes things happen.

• She has carved out a spot for documentary filmmaking in the modern media landscape, creating new spaces for experience, reflection and good times. Fischer and CPH:DOX have made documentaries cool.

Tine Fischer, born 1968, studied film and media at Copenhagen University and later became programme editor at the DFI Cinematheque. Fischer currently appears as an arbiter of taste on the popular talk show on the Danish Broadcasting Corporation DR "Smagsdommerne", and is a member of the editorial committee of the EKKO film journal.The Roos Award, named after the documentary film pioneer Jørgen Roos, was established in 1995 for the purpose of rewarding outstanding efforts in Danish documentary filmmaking.Past awardwinners include Jørgen Roos, Jørgen Leth, Sami Saif, Phie Ambo, Janus Billeskov Jansen, Jon Bang Carlsen, Jesper Jargil, Anne Wivel, Tue Steen Müller, Niels Pagh Andersen, Arne Bro and Steen Møller Rasmussen.
For further information:Danish Film Institute
Malene Flindt Pedersen, +45 3374 3449, malenefp@dfi.dk