Expanding SCIENCE – From a Festival Program to a Year-Round Initiative
When CPHDOX opens its doors from March 19–30, 2025, the program will feature even more science. Moving forward, the festival will further engage both audiences and students in the world of science through film, dialogue, and debate – a proven and highly effective method. This initiative is made possible, in part, by the largest grant in the festival's history.
Thursday 23rd Jan 2025
Since 2017, CPHDOX has presented an ambitious science film program, SCIENCE, which has grown into one of the most significant audience successes in the festival’s 21-year history. Alongside the programs SOCIETY and ART, it remains one of the festival’s three recurring themes – and now SCIENCE is expanding into a year-round, nationwide initiative.
Much More Science
With support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, providing DKK 6 million over three years – the largest grant the festival has ever received – audiences can look forward to much more science: more films, more live debates, and more post-screening conversations with communicators and researchers. This will not only take place in Copenhagen, where the festival will feature three full days of SCIENCE:CINEMA at the National Museum, but also across numerous municipalities participating in the DOX:DANMARK initiative.
“Documentary films make complex and challenging knowledge more engaging, exciting, and accessible. From past surveys and audience feedback, we know that the combination of film screenings and meetings between the audience and researchers, science communicators, and experts genuinely fosters greater engagement – our audience tells us they learn something new and feel motivated to seek even more knowledge,” says Niklas Engstrøm, Artistic Director of CPHDOX.
“That’s why I’m especially pleased to announce today that this work will be further strengthened within the science field,” he continues.
The initiative will also have a digital presence on the festival’s year-round streaming platform, PARA:DOX, where audiences will find additional films and a dedicated knowledge hub featuring free content such as thought-provoking podcasts, articles, and videos.
Nationwide and Year-Round Educational Offerings
The increased focus on science will also benefit Denmark’s upper secondary schools. The festival will expand its existing project, UNG:DOX, which since 2012 has brought together more than 11,000 students and teachers from Copenhagen’s upper secondary schools annually for film screenings, talks, and educational materials. Over a two-year period, UNG:DOX will become both nationwide and year-round, featuring film screenings, debate events, and a digital educational platform integrated into the PARA:DOX streaming service.
“We aim to inspire, engage, and stimulate interest in science, sustainability, and technology among students across the country. But we do this in a way we know works well from UNG:DOX – integrating it into existing curricula while remaining flexible with both online and physical formats,” explains Niklas Engstrøm.
The educational component has received support from the LEO Foundation:
“At the LEO Foundation, we support initiatives that promote young people’s engagement with science and their understanding of the importance of research. We are therefore delighted to support UNG:DOX, which, through creative and engaging learning formats, can further this goal,” says Anne-Marie Engel, Chief Scientific Officer at the LEO Foundation.
The SCIENCE program at the festival is once again presented in collaboration with Netcompany.
Get Ready for CPHDOX 2025
For the 22nd time, CPHDOX will open its doors from March 19–30, 2025, offering a festival that aims to present the best documentaries from around the world while addressing some of today’s most controversial and pressing issues through talks, debates, and events.
The full program will be announced on February 26, 2025, but in the lead-up to the festival, special events, premieres, and guest appearances will be gradually revealed.
