Discover the nominated films of CPH:DOX 2024

As CPH:DOX gears up for its 21st edition from March 13-24, the festival continues its tradition of showcasing the finest documentary films from around the globe, highlighting pressing contemporary issues through a series of talks, debates, and events. Having sifted through thousands of submissions, our programming team is on the verge of announcing a carefully curated selection of over 200 titles for this year’s festival. The complete festival programme will be announced on February 21.

In the meantime, CPH:DOX is excited to reveal the contenders for the festival’s six prestigious awards.

Niklas Engstrøm, CPH:DOX’ Artistic Director, comments, “We’re thrilled to present this year’s competition films, which span from global geopolitics to intimate, existential queries. What unites these films is their ambition to engage with the world in a meaningful way. This year’s competition sharpens its focus on the most urgent issues of our time, from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to gang violence in Sweden, exploring themes of identity politics, colonialism, and the foundational struggles for democracy and the fight against climate change. These films offer fresh perspectives, challenge aesthetic boundaries, and delve deeper into issues we thought we understood. We are delighted to unveil this programme, which promises to enlighten and inspire.”

The awards at CPH:DOX serve not only as a stamp of artistic approval for the winners, but also as a significant milestone, positioning them among a distinguished lineage of documentary filmmakers who have leveraged this recognition to cement and expand their influence within the cinematic landscape or to achieve global breakthroughs.

New award in partnership with the Institute for Human Rights

CPH:DOX and the Institute for Human Rights are introducing the brand new HUMAN:RIGHTS AWARD to this year’s festival, marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This new award underscores the ongoing relevance of human rights in challenging times.

Mads K. Mikkelsen, CPH:DOX’ Head of Programme, stated, “In an era that demands solidarity with courageous filmmakers who champion equality and justice worldwide, we’ve established the HUMAN:RIGHTS AWARD. This year, we nominate ten exceptional films that highlight pressing global issues, reflecting our commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of human rights.”

This collaboration extends to a series of events and discussions focusing on universal rights, kicking off with the ‘Turning Points: 75 Years of Human Rights’ photo exhibition at one of the festival venues, ‘Pressen’ in Politiken’s Hus. The award ceremony is scheduled for March 22 at Kunsthal Charlottenborg.

The competitions

The festival boasts a diverse array of six competition categories, each meticulously judged by an appointed international jury. Each category highlights films celebrated for their artistic brilliance, societal relevance, and unique storytelling.

The DOX:AWARD, offering €10,000 and sponsored by DR, stands out for exclusively featuring world premieres for the second year. The NEW:VISION Award, with a €5,000 prize, delves into art films and boundary-pushing experiments, while the NEXT:WAVE Award, also valued at €5,000, spotlights emerging filmmakers. The NORDIC:DOX Award, another €5,000 prize, highlights exceptional films from the Nordic region, whereas the F:ACT Award, supported by International Media Support and the Danish Journalist Union, and also €5,000, celebrates the field between documentary and in-depth journalism.

Additionally, this year’s introduction of the HUMAN:RIGHTS Award, sponsored by the Institute for Human Rights and valued at €5,000, emphasizes films addressing human rights issues.

Last, but not least, the Audience Award, with a prize of €5,000, empowers festival-goers to vote for their favorite film, further enriching CPH:DOX’s commitment to engaging its audience across a spectrum of documentary filmmaking excellence.

Together, these categories celebrate the documentary genre’s varied landscape and the festival’s inclusive spirit, offering a platform for stories that resonate on both a personal and global scale.