'The Elite' and 'Virgin Mountain' win at CPH PIX

The international jury Alex Ross Perry, Katrine Wiedemann and Gabe Klinger have selected Thomas Daneskov with 'The Elite' as this year’s winner of the main competition at CPH PIX New Talent Grand PIX, where ten talented debuting directors have competed for the honour and 10,000 euro.

Miracles with simple tools

The three jury members American Alex Ross Perry, Brazilian Gabe Klinger and Danish Katrine Wiedemann said:

“The jury is pleased to discover a deeply personal, relevant and contemporary new voice in Danish independent cinema with ‘The Elite’ by Thomas Daneskov, a disturbing and hilarious portrait of privileged youth made in a spirit of collectivity”

Special Mention -- “‘Limbo’ by Anna Sofie Hartmann, which deployed stunning images through a rigorous and challenging form and which kept us thinking for days.”

Besides the honour Thomas Daneskov wins 10,000 euro to help him realize his next film.

The winner of the Politiken Audience Award

The audience also voted for their favorite among eleven films. Second year in a row, an Icelandic film won the award. The winner was Dagur Kári's Icelandic drama ‘Virgin Mountain’, revolving around 43 years old Fusi, who still lives at home with his mother. The film tenderly and charmingly portraits a lonely giant with a narrow horizon and a big heart.

The race was close between the second and third place this year. The second place went to ‘White God’ directed by Hungarian Kornél Mundruczó and third place went to ‘Marsland’ directed by Spanish Alberto Rodríguez.

The audience has competed for best nature film

As a new initiative this year, CPH PIX in collaboration with DR has given aspiring directors and other film lovers the opportunity to compete in the competition for best nature film. Both a jury winner and an audience winner have been found. Per Fly, Maria Månson and Jacob Neiiendam have found their favorite. About the jury winner, the judges said among other things:

"The film has sweetness, humor and a statement. A distinct idea carried out with the exact elements needed to convey the exact tone. The women's laughter, the switch to the music that makes it big and cinematic, the change back to the room, the laughter and the naturalism. Exactly enough vaginas to make it a story. Surprising and classic all at once.”

The jury winner were Assa Rytter Jensen and Jo Ann Lyngklip Kyhlensø. The film can be seen here.

The audience favorite was Simon Herbst. The film can be seen here.

Award brunch at The National Museum

The New Talent Grand PIX award and the Politiken Audience Award were handed out at the official award brunch at The National Museum.

CPH PIX April 9 - 22, 2015

CPH PIX is the biggest annual feature film festival in Denmark. PIX shows the most significant, surprising and entertaining films from all over the world. With a special focus on upcoming filmmakers, every year a promising director is awarded the New Talent Grand PIX for their debut feature film, which consists of a 10,000 Euro cash prize.