Tine Fischer, Head of the film school since 2021, has reinstated a practice-based curriculum, more open to the industry and interdisciplinary collaborations.

When Fischer took over the helm of the National Film School of Denmark in the fall 2021, her mission was to reshape and strengthen the school’s education programme, away from the academization of the curriculum, which had been rejected by students (see our story CLICK HERE). Fischer’s restructuring is now concretely shaping up.

Nine new teachers with a wide industry experience, have joined the school August 1st, to strengthen and broaden the artistic skills of the students across three of the school’s eight departments: documentary filmmaking, cinematography and editing.

"With the employment of our nine new subject teachers, who will share responsibilities and hours together, the school is moving away from a more classic master's teaching towards broader professional environments, characterised by leading subject teachers, who are active in the industry and collectively represent a wider methodological and experiential field,” explained Fischer, former CEO at CPH:DOX in a statement.

The Documentary directing course is welcoming four new teachers: directors Phie Ambo (Mechanical Love, Good Things Await), Malene Choi (The Return), journalist and filmmaker Nagieb Khaja (My Afghanistan-Life in the Forbidden Zone) and long-standing film commissioner Cecilie Lidin.

“It is our vision to open up the education to the outside world and the rest of the school, to make room for interdisciplinary collaborations and to develop the individual artistic talent at the same time that we prepare the future documentary directors for the reality they encounter outside the school,” said the four documentary teachers.

At the Cinematography course, the three professionals just hired include Catherine Pattinama Coleman (Venus, Psychosis), Kim Hattesen (The Man Who Saved the World) who together will run the day-to-day curriculum, and external teacher Louise McLaughlin (The Chestnut Tree, The Good Traitor).

    "We will seek to strengthen the students' core and artistic vision, train them as creative leaders, and create a fertile ground for a rich and diverse working environment in the industry,” said the trio.

    In the Editing department, Henrik Thiesen continues as teacher and will work in a team, together with seasoned editor Sofie Marie Kristensen (Carmen Curlers, The Venus Effect).

    Commenting on the film school’s restructuring, former student Óskar Kristinn Vignisson, selected for the Cannes Cinéfondation Programme with his short film Free Men, welcomed the school’s back to the roots hands-on approach, “where you get time and resources to try and fail. This is the most valuable thing for the school in my view,” he told nordicfilmandtvnews.com.

    Founded in 1966, the National Film School of Denmark offers programmes in scriptwriting, sound, fiction directing, animation and games directing, film producing, on top of documentary directing, editing and cinematography. All lines of study are 4-year programmes, except animation and games directing (4.5 year).

    The film school hosts every September the Nordic Talents event, organised by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

    For further information, check: https://www.filmskolen.dk/