In recent years, Danish feature film debuts have made their mark in Rotterdam.
In 2007, Morten Hartz Kaplers' mockumentary "AFR" took home one of the three top prizes in the Tiger Awards Competition, and the achievement was repeated the following year with Omar Shargawi and Zentropa's "Go With Peace Jamil".
Director duo in Tiger competition
This year's Danish candidate to a VPRO Tiger Award in feature films is Michael Noer and Tobias Lindholm's "R", a no less striking debut portraying the harsh realities of prison life. The duo Noer, a documentary filmmaker, and Lindholm, a scriptwriter, are both graduates from the National Film School of Denmark. "R" is produced by René Ezra and Tomas Radoor for Nordisk Film (see screening schedule top right).
In the Tiger Awards Competition for short films is Birgitte Stærmose's "Out of Love". Fusing documentary and fiction, the film zooms in on children's lives in Pristina and tells their gripping stories in the aftermath of war in Kosovo. "Out of Love", produced by Jesper Morthorst for Alphaville Pictures, is also selected for Berlin 2010.
Refn and Mikkelsen teaming up again
"Valhalla Rising" by Nicolas Winding Refn, who lately signed the infamous "Bronson" about Britain's longest-serving criminal, is selected for the Spectrum programme showcasing highlights of the year. Featuring Mads Mikkelsen, the champion of Refn's "Pusher" trilogy, as a one-eyed warrior in an ancient viking setting, "Valhalla Rising" screened to much acclaim in both Venice and Toronto. Produced by Johnny Andersen for One Eye Production.
Also in the Rotterdam lineup is Ada Bligaard Søby's documentary "Black Heart", a film about the 9/11 aftermath experienced through three New Yorkers. Produced by Morten Kjems Juhl for Fine & Mellow and Super16.
The two Tiger contestants"R" and "Out of Love". Photos by Per Anders Jörgensen and Marek Septimus Wieser