18/03/2021 - 64 films are in the competition line-up of this year's festival, unfolding in a hybrid format from 21 April to 2 May

The complete line-up of films in all competitive sections has been announced for the 2021 edition of CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival. Due to the pandemic restrictions, the event has moved its dates and will be running from 21 April to 2 May, as a hybrid festival with a digital programme for Danish audiences and the international industry.

A total of 64 titles in various formats are part of the competition line-up of this year’s festival, which is unspooling across five competitive sections. The selection includes 47 world premieres, 9 international premieres and 6 European premieres, while in terms of gender representation, no less than 58% of the titles (or 37 films) are directed by one or more women (66% when including films co-directed by female and male directors).

Tine Fischer, director of CPH:DOX, stated: ‘’We have been looking forward to presenting this year’s official competition program. In the midst of a global pandemic, and after almost a year in isolation, our need for films broadening our horizons is bigger than ever. This year’s line-up includes films focusing on important subjects such as the dominance of tech giants, new democratic movements, decolonisation and climate change. It is a selection of films aiming to fight prejudice, offer new perspectives, and dive deeper into otherwise well-known conflicts. Films which offer solutions and give the stage to underrepresented voices, which would normally have a hard time being heard.”

In details, a total of 15 films will be featured at DOX:AWARD, the main competition of the festival, ten of them in world premiere. Among them are Turning the Tide [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the new work by Phie Ambo (...When You Look Away [+see also:
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film profile]) which is also the opening film this year, and portrays the biggest challenge of our times through the creation of the Danish climate law and young activists' fight for a greener future. Also in competition is Children of the Enemy [+see also:
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film profile] (Sweden/Denmark/Qatar), by Gorki Glaser-Müller, which follows the struggle of a man to free his seven grandchildren from a prison camp in Syria; while Our Memory Belongs to Us by Rami Farah and Signe Byrge Sørensen (Syria/Denmark/France/Palestine) examines the 10 year anniversary of the Syrian uprising through the eyes of three exiled journalists.

Life of Ivanna [+see also:
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film profile] (Russia/Norway/Estonia/Finland), by Renato Borrayo Serrano, centres on the life in the tundra of a nomadic mother, while The Mushroom Speaks [+see also:
film review
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interview: Marion Neumann
film profile], by Marion Neumann (Switzerland), bridges ecological science fiction with natural philosophy. Maja Borg (Future My Love) explores how Christianity meets BDSM rituals in Passion [+see also:
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film profile] (Sweden), while Skál [+see also:
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film profile] (Denmark/Faroe Islands) by Cecilie Debell and Maria Guldbrandsø Tórgarð follows the youth revolt of two female friends as Old Christian faith enters new times in the Faroe Islands.

The line-up also includes the world premieres of A Man and a Camera [+see also:
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film profile] by Guido Hendrikx (Netherlands), Gabi, Between Ages 8 and 13 [+see also:
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film profile] by Engeli Broberg (Sweden) and The Last Shelter [+see also:
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film profile] by Ousmane Samassekou (Mali/France/South Africa), as well as President [+see also:
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interview: Camilla Nielsson
film profile] by Camilla Nielsson (Denmark/USA/Norway/Zimbabwe), White Cube [+see also:
film review
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interview: Renzo Martens
film profile] by Renzo Martens (Netherlands/Belgium/DR Congo), Lost Boys by Sadri Cetinkaya and Joonas Neuvonen (Finland) and US titles The United States vs. Reality Winner by Sonia Kennebeck and In the Same Breath by Nanfu Wang.

Regarding the four other competitive sections of CPH:DOX, whose line-ups can be found here, in the NEW:VISION AWARD section, the festival presents 12 short and mid-length artists’ films; the F:ACT AWARD section, dedicated to films in the field between documentary filmmaking, investigative journalism and activism, this year features 11 titles; the NORDIC:DOX AWARD will showcase 12 films from the Nordic countries, reflecting the diversity of the region with a clear vision and a personal touch; while 12 films by emerging filmmakers from around the world will be competing for the NEXT:WAVE AWARD.