Postcards From CPH:DOX

It's only been nine years since the Copenhagen International Film Festival (or CPH: DOX, as it is almost exclusively referred) began its inaugural year. Directly before International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) - essentially the main staple of the European doc fest circuit - the chances of CPH: DOX rising to their ranks in the short time since seemed highly unlikely. But CPH: DOX is not your grandparents' film festival.

When Festival Director Tine Fischer was approached with the idea of starting the festival, she said she would become involved under one condition: That CPH: DOX would not accept the box surrounding the idea of the documentary. She wanted a festival that blurred lines of cinematic definition and brought forth something new to the bloated documentary festival circuit. And that's exactly what CPH: DOX became, and part of why programmers, journalists, filmmakers and doc insiders from around the world have made sure to include it on their travel schedules. I just got back from my second consecutive trip to the fest, which is made all the more enjoyable thanks to essential utopia that is Copenhagen itself (except of course the endless grey skies and the insane exchange rate of the Danish Kroner).

I'll have some coverage up on the main Indiewire site later today, but in the meantime, here's some photos from this year's festival:

Courtesy CPH:DOX.

Courtesy CPH:DOX.

Courtesy CPH:DOX.

Courtesy CPH:DOX.

Courtesy CPH:DOX.

Courtesy CPH:DOX.

Courtesy CPH:DOX.