The Circuit

by Matt Dentler
Scandinavia has been known for centuries as a great launching pad in the arts, but one of the countries that has spent the last decade paving the way for new cinema, is Denmark. So, it should come as no big shock that Copenhagen's annual documentary festival, CPH:DOX, has firmly planted itself as one of Europe's top destinations on the European doc calendar.

The festival, which wrapped this weekend in the Danish capital, has seen its profile in the international documentary community grow ever since the 2006 premiere of Pernille Rose Grønkjær's "The Monastery: Mr. Vig and the Nun," which eventually became a European and American critical favorite in the months that followed. In addition, previous doc hits like "Darwin's Nightmare" (2004) have earned early festival berths before landing plaudits worldwide. So, it made sense this year and last, that delegates from around the globe attended looking for the next big hit.

Sitting firmly between the Sheffield Doc Fest in the UK and the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam in Holland, CPH:DOX has become a spot for doc-minded audiences looking to travel the European circuit. It's a place where nonfiction films from around the world can have a relaxed but appreciative screening, intertwined with a strong pitching forum and panel seminars. Commissioning editors, sales agents, and distributors from almost every continent gathered at the Danish Film Institute daily while filmmakers looked for financing, advice, and more.

Speakers in attendance included: Esther van Messal from First Hand Films in Switzerland, Mark Adams from ICA Films in the UK, Liz Ogilvie from Indiepix in the U.S., and Cherelle Zheng from Beijing Channel Zero Media in China, among others.

Some of the discoveries at CPH:DOX 2008 that will undoubtedly help the event grow, include Anders Østergaard's "Burma VJ," which won the Jury Award as well as the Amnesty Awrad. Østergaard's exploration of the underground video journalists in Burma will next screen in competition at IDFA. Other award winners included both Nikolaj Viborg's "69" and Tina Katinka Jensen's "Solange On Love" (a tie for the Danish Dox Award).

CPH:DOX doesn't only shine a light on Danish work, as international successes like Ari Folman's "Waltz With Bashir" from Israel, Matt Woolf's "Wild Combination: A Portrait Of Arthur Russell" from the U.S., and Sacha Gervasi's "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil" (winner of the Sound and Vision Award) from Canada, rounding out the eclectic program.


Matt Dentler is the head of programming and marketing for Cinetic Rights Management, which releases independent features on digital platforms.