The Danish Oscar committee announced Monday a shortlist of three films as possible candidates for the title as Denmark's official entry for the 2021 International Feature Film category. The committee will be convening again on 18 November to elect the final candidate.
The three films are 'A Perfectly Normal Family' by Malou Reymann and Nordisk Film, 'Another Round' by Thomas Vinterberg and Zentropa, and 'Shorta' by the directing duo Anders Ølholm and Frederik Louis Hviid and produced by Toolbox Film.
A Perfectly Normal Family
'A Perfectly Normal Family' enjoyed its world premiere at Rotterdam Film Festival in February, where it was warmly received by critics and took home the main award in the Big Screen Competition. Malou Reymann wrote her feature debut based on her childhood experience of her dad wanting to become a woman. Over the coming weeks, the film will be screening at the festivals in Lübeck og Thessaloniki.
The film also met with praise among the Danish critics at its national release on 20 February. Reymann, who has a background as an actor, has directed a number of acclaimed short films. 'A Perfectly Normal Family' is produced by Matilda Appelin and René Ezra for Nordisk Film
Another Round
'Another Round' received the Cannes Official Selection Label and won the Art House Cinema Award among 12 Cannes 2020 titles. The drama about four weary high school teachers experimenting with the liberating effects of alcohol enjoyed its in-cinema world premiere at Toronto Film Festival and won the Best Actor trophy at San Sebastian, awarded to the ensemble of Mads Mikkelsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Ranthe and Thomas Bo Larsen. Sunday, the film took home Best Film, awarded by the audience, at the BFI London Film Festival.
Opening in Denmark on 24 September, the drama reignited the box office post-corona and has now reached a sensational 540,000 in total admissions. Thomas Vinterberg wrote the script with Tobias Lindholm, who was also co-writer on Vinterberg's Oscar nominee 'The Hunt'. Kasper Dissing and Sisse Graum Jørgensen have produced for Zentropa.
Shorta
'Shorta' enjoyed its world premiere in Venice Film Festival's Critics' Week. The action drama, featuring Jacob Hauberg Lohmann, Simon Sears and young talent Tarek Zayat in a story about two police officers caught off guard in an escalating street riot, was lauded as "an intelligent, absorbing thriller with something to say" (Screen). Coming up are screenings at the Busan and Thessaloniki festivals, among others.
The film premiered in Danish theatres on 8 October to enthusiastic reviews. Debuting feature film directors Anders Ølholm and Frederik Louis Hviid also wrote the film produced by Morten Kaufmann and Signe Leick Jensen for Toolbox Film.
All films are produced with support from the Danish Film Institute.
Danish Oscar Committee
Made up of representatives from film associations and guilds, the Danish Oscar Submitting Committee consists of:
Chairman Claus Ladegaard (CEO, Danish Film Institute), Noemi Ferrer (Danish Producers), Ali Abbasi (Danish Directors), Mette Heeno (Danish Screenwriters), Jan Weincke (Danish Cinematographers), Nanna Frank Rasmussen (Danish Film Critics), Søren Søndergaard (Danish Cinema Owners) and Marianne Moritzen (Head of Fiction, Danish Film Institute).
Oscars rules and dates
Each country may submit one film for nomination in the International Feature Film category. Last year, a total of 92 titles were approved for submission.
Due to the health crisis, the Academy has extended the period, during which a film must have its local premiere, by three months. To be eligible in the International Feature Film category, a film's release date must be no earlier than 1 October 2019 and no later than 31 December 2020.
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.
The submission deadline is 1 December (formerly 1 October). The Academy will be announcing all shortlists on 9 February, including the ten films that have a chance to become one of the five nominees in the International Feature Film category.
All Oscar nominations will be announced on 15 March. The 93. Oscars take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on 25 April 2021.
10 years of Danish films and the Oscars
Below is an overview of the last ten years of Danish Oscar entries in the international feature film category by awards ceremony year:
2020 Queen of Hearts / May el-Toukhy
2019 The Guilty / Gustav Möller / Oscar shortlist
2018 You Disappear / Peter Schønau Fog
2017 Land of Mine / Martin Zandvliet / Oscar nomination
2016 A War / Tobias Lindholm / Oscar nomination
2015 Sorrow and Joy / Nils Malmros
2014 The Hunt / Thomas Vinterberg / Oscar nomination
2013 A Royal Affair / Nikolaj Arcel / Oscar nomination
2012 Superclásico / Ole Christian Madsen / Oscar shortlist
2011 In a Better World / Susanne Bier / Oscar winner
Three Danish films have won an Oscar in the international feature film category: Susanne Bier's 'In a Better World' in 2011, Bille August's 'Pelle the Conqueror' in 1989 and Gabriel Axel's 'Babette's Feast' in 1988.
See full list of nominations and awards for Danish films on our Oscar page.
