Denmark has been producing films since 1897 and since the 1980s has
maintained a steady stream of product due largely to funding by the
state-supported Danish Film Institute. Historically, Danish films have
been noted for their realism, religious and moral themes, sexual
frankness and technical innovation.The Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor
Dreyer (1889â€"1968) is considered one of the greatest directors in
the history of cinema. Other Danish filmmakers of note include
Benjamin Christensen, who outside his native country directed several
horror classics including Häxan (1922) and Seven Footprints to Satan
(1929); Erik Balling, the creator of the popular Olsen-banden films;
Gabriel Axel, an Oscar-winner for Babette's Feast in 1987; and Bille
August, the Oscar-, Palme d'Or- and Golden Globe-winner for Pelle the
Conqueror in 1988. In the modern era, notable filmmakers in Denmark
include Lars von Trier, who co-created the Dogme 95 film movement, and
multiple award-winners Susanne Bier and Nicolas Winding Refn.Danish
cinema pioneer Peter Elfelt, a photographer, was the first Dane to
make a film. Between the years of 1896 and 1912, he produced around
200 documentary films on life in Denmark. His first film was Kørsel
med Grønlandske Hunde (Traveling with Greenlandic Dogs). Furthermore,
he produced the first Danish feature film: Henrettelsen (Capital
Execution, 1903). The first film show in Denmark took place in the
Panorama cinema on the Town Hall square in Copenhagen, in June 1896.
However, the selection of films had been made and produced abroad.In
1906, cinema owner Ole Olsen founded the first Danish film-making
company, Nordisk Films Kompagni. It gained most of its income from the
export market of short films. Not until 1909 were other film-producing
companies established. In 1910 the number had reached ten. This period
is now known as the Golden Age of Danish Cinema. In the spring of
1910, Nordisk Films Kompagni changed its policy of producing only
short films and began making feature films. This was largely inspired
by the Ã…rhus Fotorama company's Den hvide Slavehandel (The White
Slave Trade, 1910), which was the first multi-reel Danish film lasting
more than 30 minutes.
maintained a steady stream of product due largely to funding by the
state-supported Danish Film Institute. Historically, Danish films have
been noted for their realism, religious and moral themes, sexual
frankness and technical innovation.The Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor
Dreyer (1889â€"1968) is considered one of the greatest directors in
the history of cinema. Other Danish filmmakers of note include
Benjamin Christensen, who outside his native country directed several
horror classics including Häxan (1922) and Seven Footprints to Satan
(1929); Erik Balling, the creator of the popular Olsen-banden films;
Gabriel Axel, an Oscar-winner for Babette's Feast in 1987; and Bille
August, the Oscar-, Palme d'Or- and Golden Globe-winner for Pelle the
Conqueror in 1988. In the modern era, notable filmmakers in Denmark
include Lars von Trier, who co-created the Dogme 95 film movement, and
multiple award-winners Susanne Bier and Nicolas Winding Refn.Danish
cinema pioneer Peter Elfelt, a photographer, was the first Dane to
make a film. Between the years of 1896 and 1912, he produced around
200 documentary films on life in Denmark. His first film was Kørsel
med Grønlandske Hunde (Traveling with Greenlandic Dogs). Furthermore,
he produced the first Danish feature film: Henrettelsen (Capital
Execution, 1903). The first film show in Denmark took place in the
Panorama cinema on the Town Hall square in Copenhagen, in June 1896.
However, the selection of films had been made and produced abroad.In
1906, cinema owner Ole Olsen founded the first Danish film-making
company, Nordisk Films Kompagni. It gained most of its income from the
export market of short films. Not until 1909 were other film-producing
companies established. In 1910 the number had reached ten. This period
is now known as the Golden Age of Danish Cinema. In the spring of
1910, Nordisk Films Kompagni changed its policy of producing only
short films and began making feature films. This was largely inspired
by the Ã…rhus Fotorama company's Den hvide Slavehandel (The White
Slave Trade, 1910), which was the first multi-reel Danish film lasting
more than 30 minutes.
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