"It’s our ambition to provide insight into the scope and unified thinking we believe characterises Danish film policy and film culture," Christian Juhl Lemche says. Accordingly, the film efforts during the nation’s EU presidency are focused not only on film screenings but also on children and teens and talent development:
FILM-Y, the DFI’s mobile studio for children, is travelling to Brussels, and hopefully also to Transylvania. As for talent development, young European filmmakers will get a chance to meet and mingle when the DFI, in partnership with the CPH PIX and CPH:DOX festivals, invites them to engage in dialogue and networking.
"We’re well aware that we are quite privileged in a country like Denmark, and we want to put our resources to use in sharing our experiences and knowhow. That goes for our international efforts in general. At the same time, it’s always an eye-opener for us to witness the dynamism and drive in filmmaking nations that are less privileged economically and policy wise. People there are often much better at seeing opportunities instead of limitations. We can learn a lot from that," says Juhl Lemche who, most of all, is looking forward to taking FILM-Y to Transylvania.
Beyond that, Danish films will be screened in many different contexts across Europe during the presidency. Every year, the DFI works closely with European festivals to showcase Danish films to international audiences. In spring 2012, the DFI is intensifying its collaboration with selected festivals, where new films and filmmakers will be making an even stronger showing than usual.
The DFI has issued 20 films on Blu-ray to be shown across Europe, at libraries, cinematheques, cultural centres, etc. The discs include films by directors like Susanne Bier, Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Nicolas Winding Refn, Niels Arden Oplev, Jørgen Leth and Janus Metz, giving local audiences a chance to explore a wide range of Danish cinema.
"We are striving to make Danish films widely available to as many European citizens as possible," Pernille Munk Skydsgaard, who is a member of the steering committee for the DFI’s activities during the EU presidency, says.
"The selection of 20 films embraces new titles as well as classics, and we hope it will provide a nuanced image of Denmark and of the diversity of our film culture," Munk Skydsgaard says.
Read more about film initiatives during the Danish EU Presidency 2012