Cannes Film Festival 2023, held from May 16 to 27, showcases a Danish short film and three international co-productions involving Danish talent. Additionally, a talented Greenlandic-Danish producer has been selected as one of the 20 participants in Producers on the Move, a prestigious talent development program. At the festival, The Danish Film Institute welcomes international film professionals and festival programmers to the Scandinavian House at 11 Square Mérimée.
Danish Films at Cannes 2023
The selected works demonstrate the commitment and creativity of Danish filmmakers and producers. The Danish short film 'Norwegian Offspring' and the international co-productions 'Club Zero,' and 'Lost in the Night' all represent unique voices and stories.
'Norwegian Offspring'
Directed by Marlene Emilie Lyngstad, 'Norwegian Offspring' is a short film produced by students from the Danish Film School. The film tells the story of Stein, who lives an isolated life in a Norwegian forest and uses his vlog as his only connection to the outside world. This marks the third consecutive year a graduation film from the Danish Film School has been selected for the festival's La Cinef competition, which focuses on films from film schools worldwide.
'Club Zero'
Jessica Hausner's Austrian-Danish 'Club Zero' is a co-production between Paloma Pictures and Per Damgaard Hansen. Starring Sidse Babett Knudsen, the film follows a charismatic teacher at a prestigious boarding school who introduces a new subject called "conscious eating." As her students begin to challenge societal norms, the situation takes a dangerous turn. 'Club Zero' has been selected for Cannes Festival's main competition.
'Lost in the Night'
Directed by Amat Escalante, 'Lost in the Night' is a Mexican-Danish-German-Dutch co-production supported by the Danish Film Institute. The film follows Emiliano as he searches for those responsible for his mother's disappearance. It has been selected for the Cannes Premiere program, part of the official selection.
Emile Hertling Péronard: A Producer on the Move
Greenlandic-Danish producer Emile Hertling Péronard has been selected as one of the 20 participants in Producers on the Move, a talent development program held in conjunction with Cannes Festival. Péronard's career began with his debut as a documentary film producer in 2014 with 'Sumé – Mumisitsinerup Nipaa.' While working on this project, he co-founded the production company Ánorâk Film in Nuuk with the film's director, Inuk Silis Høegh.
Under Péronard's leadership, Ánorâk Film has been involved in numerous local and international documentary film productions, including Lin Alluna's 'Twice Colonized,' which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and opened CPH:DOX, and Andreas Koefoed and Jørgen Leth's 'Music for Black Pigeons' that premiered at Venice International Film Festival.
Through Producers on the Move, Péronard will have the opportunity to expand his international network and connect with potential co-production partners. The program includes online speed meetings, roundtable discussions, and pitching sessions, followed by a five-day in-person program during Cannes Festival with case studies, social events, and a promotional campaign in international trade publications.
The Danish Film Institute at Cannes
Lizette Gram Mygind, Festival Consultant at The Danish Film Institute, commented on the Danish presence at Cannes, "Danish films continue to have a strong international presence and are well-regarded within the industry. Cannes offers a unique venue for networking and future co-creation, allowing our filmmakers to connect with fellow professionals and share their stories with a global audience."
The Danish Film Institute is committed to promoting Danish cinema and talent at this festival and around the world. This year we welcome international film professionals to the Scandinavian House at 11 Square Mérimée, just across the street from Palais des Festivals. Attendees are encouraged to book in-person meetings or arrange virtual discussions with the Institute's international team.
The Scandinavian House aims to provide a central hub for engaging in insightful conversations about Danish films and helping film festivals find the perfect selections for their programs. The Institute's presence at Cannes also serves to support Danish talent, such as Péronard, and foster connections within the international film community.
Contacts in Cannes