An annual harbinger of spring, the CPH PIX film festival invades Copenhagen cinemas between 14 April and 1 May. For two compacted weeks movie goers have a chance to see 160 new films, genre movies and retrospective exhibitions of classics.
This year CPH PIX launches two initiatives aimed at the international film community.
Film music award
The Nordic Film Composers Network will give out a music award at the festival. Danish jury member Halfdan E says about the genre of film music:
"It is rarely noticed but rather felt by the audience; it is sort of an invisible art form that nevertheless has an enormous impact on the success or failure of a film"
The nominated composers are Juri Seppä and Miska Seppä from Finland for the film “Rare Exports”, Slowblow from Iceland for the film "Brim", Swede Johan Söderqvist for "In a Better World", Gaute Storås from Norway for "Elias og jakten på havets gull" and Danish composers Peter Peter and Peter Kyed for their score to "Valhalla Rising".
The Nordic Film Composers Award is accompanied by a cheque of 10.000 euro, making it one of the handsomest music prizes in the world. It is the second time the network of film composers rewards musical talent. The first was at the Göteborg International Film Festival in 2010.
Workshop
The festival also introduces a workshop for young talented directors from abroad with a couple of movies under their belt. They have the chance to bring their current project to the festival and discuss it with an experienced Danish colleague.
The workshop was announced at the Berlin Film Festival and is intended to present Denmark as a serious creative co-production partner and promote Danish film to the international industry.
The festival hands out two awards: An audience award and the New Talent Grand Prix for best director debut which will be selected by an international jury. The ten nominees can be found here.