Six documentaries backed by the Fund compete at CPH:DOX

The six films backed by the Fund are among 64 films selected for Copenhagen’s major international film festival CPH:DOX, running as a hybrid version April 21 to May 2.

Two high profile titles are competing against 13 international entries in the main DOX:Award section, dedicated to documentaries with ‘strong personal expressions and cinematic quality.”

• Children of the Enemy (Sweden) by Gorki Glaser-Müller is produced by Erika Malmgren and Kristofer Henell of Cinenic Film.
  In 2014 Patricio Galvez’s daughter Amanda and her husband Michael Skråmo left Sweden to join ISIS in Syria. Five years later they were both killed, leaving behind seven small children. Deep in sorrow over his daughter’s death, Patricio makes a pledge to save his grandchildren. They are found trapped in the infamous ISIS-camp al-Hol. When the Swedish authorities neglect to act on behalf of the children, Patricio desperately attempts to bring them home. The film is co-produced by Film i Väst, SVT, Toolbox Film, GGM Film, One Night Picture, with co-financing from DR, NRK, Yle, support from the Swedish Film Institute, the Danish Film Institute, Doha Film Institute, The Malik Bendjelloul Memorial Foundation, Göteborgs Stad Kulturnämnd.The Swedish release via TriArt is scheduled for May 7.
• President by Camilla Nielsson, Denmark/US/Norway/Zimbabwe) is produced by Signe Byrge Sørensen of Denmark’s Final Cut for Real with Joslyn Barnes of New-York based Louverture Films. Nielsson’s captivating film which chronicles Zimbabwe’s turbulent presidential elections of 2018 had its world premiere at Sundance where it won a Special Prize. Read our interview: CLICK HERE.

In the F:ACT section for works between traditional documentaries, investigative journalism and activism, Hogir Hirori’s Sabaya will be competing against 10 titles.

The Swedish film produced by Hirori’s company Lolav Media with Antonio Russo Merenda of Ginestra Film won Best Director at the recent Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Documentary programme.

In the film, Hirori follows the remarkable work of Mahmud, Ziyad and volunteers from the Yazidi Home Centre non-profit organisation, as they risk their lives to save ‘Sabaya’ - Yazidi girls and women, abducted and used as sex slaves by ISIS fighters. Read our interview: CLICK HERE.

A full slate of 12 Nordic films carefully selected by festival director Tine Fischer and her team will be showcased at the Nordic:DOX section including the following three world premieres backed by the Fund:

• How to Kill a Cloud by Tuija Halttunen (Finland) is produced by Niina Virtanen and Pasi Hakkio of Wacky Tie Films. The film follows scientist Hannele Korhonen who is at the top of the atmospheric science community in the world. Her enthusiasm morphs into an ethical dilemma as she learns about the motives of her funder. It is co-produced by Denmark’s Copenhagen Film Company, with co-financing from the Finnish Film Foundation, Yle, AVEK, Kone Foundation, The Church Media Foundation, Film Tampere, DR, the Danish Film Institute and VGTV in Norway.

• Raising a School Shooter by Frida Barkfors & Lasse Barkfors (Denmark/ Sweden/France/ Belgium) is produced by Anne Köhncke of Final Cut for Real. The film is the third instalment in the directing duo’s trilogy on social stigma (after Pervert Park, Death of a Child), examining guilt and shame. We meet parents from different areas in the US with different backgrounds and experiences, but who have one thing in common: they have a child who has committed a school shooting.

• Trust Me by Emil Trier (Norway) is produced by Thomas Robsahm and Nicolai Moland for Motlys. The film explored how the young entrepreneur and media darling Waleed Ahmed, known as “Norway’s Mark Zuckerberg” ended up being arrested by the FBI and sentenced to 11 years in prison. It is co-produced by Zentropa Sweden, Snake Oil, with co-financing from Fritt Ord, DR, Yle, SVT, support from the Norwegian Film Institute and the Swedish Film Institute. Arthaus will handle the release in Norway and TriArt in Sweden.

For the full competition line up, check: www.cphdox.dk

CPH:DOX’s industry event is scheduled to unspool April 26-30, 2021.