The 2025 CPH:CONFERENCE, presented in collaboration with Documentary Campus, has unveiled its programme, set to take place from 24-28 March in Copenhagen as part of CPH:INDUSTRY. Curated by industry expert Mandy Chang (formerly of BBC Storyville and Fremantle Global Documentaries), the conference will bring together leading filmmakers, journalists and producers to tackle the urgent challenges facing the documentary sector today.

Mara Gourd-Mercado, head of Industry and Training at CPH:DOX, comments: “CPH:CONFERENCE creates a space to explore how documentary filmmaking shapes the world around us. This year, it will turn into a hub for bold conversations on AI’s role in storytelling, the challenges of investigative journalism, and using film to advance climate justice. Through hands-on discussions and insights from industry leaders, the conference promises to spark fresh ideas and equip filmmakers with new tools for telling impactful stories.”

On 24 March, the CPH:DOX Summit will kick off the five-day gathering, setting the stage for the discussions ahead. From 25-27 March, the conference will open each day with “A Morning With…”, a series of in-depth conversations hosted by Thom Powers (Pure Non-fiction, Documentary of the Week). Among the filmmakers featured are Violet Du Feng (The Dating Game [+lire aussi :
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interview : Jeremy Thomas
interview : Mark Cousins
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Following these morning sessions, the “Dialogues” series (25-27 March) will pair filmmakers in discussions about the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking. Topics include “Adaptive Storytelling: Crafting Frameworks for the AI + Automation Era” with Mark Atkin (CPH:LAB) and artist Violeta Ayala (United Notions Film) as well as an exploration of immersive storytelling with intimacy coordinator Anne Sofie Steen Sverdrup (Bedside Productions), filmmaker Laurits Flensted-Jensen (Neon Heart [+lire aussi :
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interview : Laurits Flensted-Jensen
fiche film]) and producer Mads Damsbo (Makropol). Directors Olivier Sarbil (Viktor) and Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor) will also discuss career transitions from other roles in filmmaking, while Mstyslav Chernov (2000 Meters to Andriivka [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]) and Nathan Grossman (Climate in Therapy) will highlight the need for revisiting critical global issues through documentary storytelling.

The afternoons will host industry-focused panels delving into key challenges and opportunities in documentary filmmaking. “The Cost of Exposing Truth to Power” will examine the risks faced by investigative journalists, with contributions from Christo Grozev (Der Spiegel, The Insider), James Jones (Antidote) and Jenny Raskin (Impact Partners). “Producing for Success” will feature Helle Faber (Mr. Nobody Against Putin [+lire aussi :
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bande-annonce
fiche film]) discussing financing, character-driven storytelling and how to sustain independent documentaries. Meanwhile, “Collaborations & Coalitions” will look into innovative distribution strategies, featuring Keri Putnam (Putnam Pictures), Alexandre Marionneau (ARTE) and Erika Dilday (POV).

The conference will conclude on 28 March with the “Climate Story Lab Nordic”, a participatory session uniting filmmakers, activists and policymakers to explore how documentary filmmaking can drive climate justice. The session will synthesise festival discussions and generate actionable insights for storytelling in Nordic media, focusing on both creative and practical pathways for impact.

Supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA, Documentary Campus, UBOD, the Danish Producers’ Association, Producers’ Rights Denmark (PRD), Bayerische Staatskanzlei, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg and Sächsische Stiftung für Medienausbildung, CPH:CONFERENCE is open to all accredited guests, with tickets available for purchase.

You can peruse the complete CPH:CONFERENCE programme here.