CPH:Forum, a major financing and co-production event for documentary films, is set to take place in Copenhagen from March 17-19. This year's lineup features 101 projects by directors and producers from 23 countries, showcasing diverse perspectives on global issues.
Among the selected projects are works by notable directors such as Lea Glob, David Borenstein, Göran Hugo Olsson, Verena Paravel, Beniamino Barrese, and Robert Greene. These filmmakers have been chosen for their innovative approaches to storytelling and their ability to shed light on pressing global concerns.
The event is not only a showcase for the selected projects but also a platform for filmmakers to connect with financiers, streaming platforms, broadcasters, film studios, distributors, and funders from around the world. The projects will be presented to these industry professionals in an effort to secure funding and co-productions.
CPH:Forum aims to promote documentary filmmaking as a means of defending democracy and fostering understanding between nations. This year's selection tells the story of our times through the lenses of filmmakers who challenge the status quo, take risks, and engage with the world.
The event also features two distinct programs: CPH:ROUGHCUT and CHANGE. The former showcases five upcoming films at rough cut stage aiming to premiere in 2026 and looking for distribution, sales, buyers, festival premieres, and other forms of exhibition. The latter is a development co-production training program that brings together documentary projects and filmmakers from Eastern Partnership countries.
Several awards will be handed out during the event, including the Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize, the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award, the Eurimages New Lab Awards, the Rise and Shine Award, and the Unifrance/Titrafilm Doc Award. These prizes recognize innovative projects that push the boundaries of documentary filmmaking and tackle urgent global issues.
The selected CPH:Forum projects span a range of genres and themes, from politics to social justice, and include works by filmmakers such as Jorge Caballero, Roisin Agnew, Arthur Franck, and Diana El Jeiroudi. The list also includes projects that explore the intersection of culture and identity, such as "Artifacts of War" (Spain, Chile), "Blackest Ever Black" (Ireland, U.K.), and "Green Gold" (France, U.S.).
Among the selected projects are works by notable directors such as Lea Glob, David Borenstein, Göran Hugo Olsson, Verena Paravel, Beniamino Barrese, and Robert Greene. These filmmakers have been chosen for their innovative approaches to storytelling and their ability to shed light on pressing global concerns.
The event is not only a showcase for the selected projects but also a platform for filmmakers to connect with financiers, streaming platforms, broadcasters, film studios, distributors, and funders from around the world. The projects will be presented to these industry professionals in an effort to secure funding and co-productions.
CPH:Forum aims to promote documentary filmmaking as a means of defending democracy and fostering understanding between nations. This year's selection tells the story of our times through the lenses of filmmakers who challenge the status quo, take risks, and engage with the world.
The event also features two distinct programs: CPH:ROUGHCUT and CHANGE. The former showcases five upcoming films at rough cut stage aiming to premiere in 2026 and looking for distribution, sales, buyers, festival premieres, and other forms of exhibition. The latter is a development co-production training program that brings together documentary projects and filmmakers from Eastern Partnership countries.
Several awards will be handed out during the event, including the Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize, the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award, the Eurimages New Lab Awards, the Rise and Shine Award, and the Unifrance/Titrafilm Doc Award. These prizes recognize innovative projects that push the boundaries of documentary filmmaking and tackle urgent global issues.
The selected CPH:Forum projects span a range of genres and themes, from politics to social justice, and include works by filmmakers such as Jorge Caballero, Roisin Agnew, Arthur Franck, and Diana El Jeiroudi. The list also includes projects that explore the intersection of culture and identity, such as "Artifacts of War" (Spain, Chile), "Blackest Ever Black" (Ireland, U.K.), and "Green Gold" (France, U.S.).
! I'm loving the lineup this year - so many talented filmmakers from around the world showcasing their projects. The diversity of perspectives on global issues is really inspiring me to learn more about what's going on in different countries. I'm particularly excited to see some of these films at rough cut stage, it's always amazing to see how a project can evolve and take shape 
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. It's so important for us to be able to connect with people from different backgrounds and learn from each other's experiences. And, of course, who doesn't love awards? 
I'm rooting for "Artifacts of War" - sounds like a really thought-provoking film 
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also, is it too much pressure on these directors to make something "pressingly global" or whatever?
. can't they just give a few more slots to some indie filmmakers instead of only showcasing 'notable directors' like who cares? 
and what's up with all these awards? it's just another excuse for them to show off their 'innovative' projects that are probably just rehashed versions of existing ideas 
. and don't even get me started on the Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize, sounds like a total marketing ploy 
. Like who really cares about the Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize? It's just a marketing gimmick to get people to pay more money for film festivals.
. And what's up with the emphasis on "global issues"? Like, who gets to decide what those issues even are? This event is just another example of how out of touch the film industry is with the rest of us 
. Can't wait for March 17-19 and all the exciting connections, screenings, and conversations that come with CPH:Forum!
[Image: A meme of Albert Einstein with a puzzled expression and a clipboard that says "I'm not crying, you're just giving me too many awards"]
And if they're lucky, they might even get some cash and co-productions out of it 
[Image: A GIF of a person trying to pick up money from the ground while someone else keeps throwing more at them]
and btw has anyone else heard about the sandbox films science pitch prize? 
. I mean, I love documentaries, but can't we just watch Netflix or something instead of traveling to Copenhagen? 
. It's great to see people from different backgrounds coming together and sharing their stories 
It feels like a whole lot of cronyism going on. And what about all the other great filmmakers out there who aren't part of this exclusive club? Is that a lack of diversity or just good old-fashioned snubbing? Anyway, I do love that they're trying to promote democracy and understanding through documentary filmmaking - it's like they're saying we need to see things from different perspectives if we want to move forward. But can they deliver on that promise or is it all just a bunch of hot air? 
. Can't we just promote good storytelling without getting all politics-y? Still, it's cool that they're giving out some sweet awards for innovative projects