Danish films at Cannes

CANNES. "The Salvation" premieres at midnight on 17 May, while "When Animals Dream" meets its international audience on 19 May. Here's the full summary of Danish films at the Cannes Festival 2014 plus links to background stories.

Although not part of the lineup this year, Lars von Trier has been a Cannes regular since he made his debut in the Competition 30 years ago:

On 13 May 1984, von Trier's highly stylized feature debut "The Element of Crime" had its world premiere at the Cannes Festival and was subsequently awarded the top technical honour, the Grand Prix de la Commission Supérieure Technique. Since then the director has seen nine of his films selected for the Competition.

Find more:
The then 28-year-old director Lars von Trier's manifesto following "The Element of Crime"
Zentropa restores Lars von Trier's early films (external link)

The Salvation / Official Selection

"I made a Western that's a myth about Westerns," Kristian Levring says about "The Salvation" starring Mads Mikkelsen as a Danish settler in 1870s America who sets out to avenge his family's murder and confront the gang leader in a corrupt community. The film has its premiere as a Midnight Screening on 17 May at 00.30.

Find more:
Into the Wild, interview with director Kristian Levring.

naar-dyrene-droemmer
"When Animals Dream." Photo: Rolf Konow

When Animals Dream / Critics' Week

Young Marie suddenly discovers patches of redness on her skin, and her temper also seems to be changing ... "When Animals Dream", Jonas Alexander Arnby's feature film debut, ventures into the horror genre and is on the bill for Monday, 19 May, at 11.30.

Find more:
The Werewolf Within, interview with director Jonas Alexander Arnby.

Nordic Factory / Directors' Fortnight

Kræsten Kusk and Milad Alami are the two Danish directors aboard Nordic Factory, an international workshop initiated by Directors' Fortnight and supported by the Danish Film Institute's talent programme New Danish Screen and the Finnish Film Foundation. The four short films coming out of the workshop, including "Sundays" and "Void", are presented on 15 May at 13.00.

Find more:
Fast-shooting Team-Ups, about Nordic Factory.

Jauja / Danish co-production / Un Certain Regard

For Danish producer Helle Ulsteen of Kamoli Films, it's been an adventure working with director Lisandro Alonso to make his drama "Jauja" come true. Starring Danish-American Viggo Mortensen as a Dane who journeys with his young daughter to an unknown desert, "Jauja" is on show on 18 May at 16.30.

Find more:
An Argentine Adventure, interview with Danish co-producer Helle Ulsteen.

Force Majeure / Danish co-production / Un Certain Regard

Katja Adomeit of Coproduction Office is the Danish co-producer of "Force Majeure", Ruben Östlund's drama about a Swedish nuclear family on a skiing trip that is turned upside down. His third time in Cannes, Östlund once again scrutinizes social behaviour and repressed human mechanisms. "Force Majeure" premieres on 18 May at 11.00.

Find more:
Danish co-productions, introduction to four titles made with DFI co-production support.

Eva Jakobsen / Producer on the Move

Working at Nimbus Film, Eva Jakobsen is currently producing a sequel to last year's superhero hit "Antboy". Jakobsen's résumé includes "The Ambassador", Mads Brügger's exposé of corruption in the conflict-torn Central African Republic.

Find more:
Risk is Fundamental, interview with producer Eva Jakobsen.

More Danes in Cannes

Sonja Richter and David Dencik, among the most respected Danish actors of their generation, feature in Tommy Lee Jones' "The Homesman".

Nicolas Winding Refn is back in Cannes, this time as a member of the Competition jury, led by jury president Jane Campion. Winding Refn took home the Best Director prize for "Drive" in 2011 and last year he returned to Cannes with "Only God Forgives".

Tine Fischer, head of Denmark's CPH:DOX festival, is a member of the short film jury in Critics' Week.

Several hundred film professionals, including from the Danish Film Institute, are present in Cannes during the festival. Find contact information in our Cannes Digital Issue.

Find your copy

Our print magazine brings interviews, news on films and a film catalogue with current Danish films. Pick up your copy of FILM Cannes Issue 2014 at the Scandinavian stand in Cannes, 55 La Croisette, or read the magazine online  (Issuu-reader or PDF).

Selected articles are also available in digital format in FILM Digital Issue.