Danish Film Under the Open Sky

Explore Danish cinema history at Filmtaget’s free permanent film exhibition. Wander through a series of pavilions showcasing highlights from silent films and classic comedies to the Dogme movement and contemporary documentaries. Young visitors will love the Children's Cinema program, film quiz, and two play areas inspired by beloved Danish children's films.

Light and Laughter

Discover the beloved and diverse Danish comedy, ranging from cherished light comedies and popular films like 'The Olsen Gang', 'Father of Four', and Dirch Passer to modern satire and dark humour in Danish films. On the backside of the pavilion, peep through keyholes at adult height to see cheeky clips from the Bedside-films and other erotic comedies of the 1970s.

A hot air balloon with built-in music, inspired by the folk comedy "Forelsket i København." Photo: Bjørn Pierri Enevoldsen.

When Denmark Was Hollywood

Gain insight into an era in Danish cinema when Nordisk Film was one of the world’s leading film studios, and actors like Asta Nielsen and Valdemar Psilander were among the biggest stars. Add sound and music to silent films, read heartfelt fan letters, and try two pre-cinematic devices that display moving pictures without the use of film.

Prominent Film Voices

Danish cinema is renowned for innovative filmmakers like Carl Th. Dreyer, Lars von Trier, and Jørgen Leth, who have influenced generations of directors with their uncompromising works. Dogme 95 initiated an artistic wave with international appeal. Explore some of the most prominent voices in Danish film and try your hand at the Dogme movement’s ten vows of chastity in the Dogmeriet.

Danish Documentaries

Danish documentary films have a strong tradition of original and compelling stories of high artistic quality, often with a curious camera eye on the wider world. Over the past 25 years, Denmark has been a leading force in documentaries, particularly hybrid documentaries featuring animation, staging, and reconstruction that have triumphed abroad. In this exhibition pavilion, you can view clips from key Danish documentaries over the last 25 years and get a taste of current documentary films.

Pavilion focusing on Danish documentaries. Photo: Bjørn Pierri Enevoldsen.

Denmark on Film

Denmark's history comes to life on the interactive map in this exhibition pavilion. Here, you can view historical recordings and documentaries, and on the interactive screen, you can find film clips from cities or regions of particular interest. Through detailed themes, experts provide insight into historical material from Denmark, Greenland, and Iceland.

Highlights of Danish Film

Great art, blockbusters, and film clips that capture the spirit of the times. On the exhibition’s interactive screens, you can watch a carefully curated selection of legendary and entertaining moments in Danish fiction and documentary films from 1897 to 2020. 

Children’s Corner

Danish children's films are known for delivering moral lessons without being preachy, often with lots of imagination and humor. Explore the vibrant visual stream of Danish children's films in the exhibition pavilion designed for the youngest audience. Here, children can watch films from the Children's Cinema program, compete in the film quiz, and play in the interactive film maze with sound clips from well-known children's films.

The Videotheque

Settle down and watch a selection of film classics in the two outdoor Videotheques. There are films for both children and adults: short films, feature films, and documentaries. Dramas and comedies, action and horror, experimental films, and silent films. The Videotheques are covered and feature films on touch screens with built-in speakers.

Watch a selection of film classics in the two outdoor Videotheques. Photo: Bjørn Pierri Enevoldsen.

Play Area - For the Little Ones

The youngest guests can play in a giant pear inspired by 'The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear' from Jakob Martin Strid's popular children's book, which was made into a film in 2017. The play area is located next to the café's outdoor seating with a view over the King’s Garden.