Deming Chen’s ‘Always’ Wins Main Prize at CPH:DOX as Mstyslav Chernov Nabs F:ACT Award for ‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’

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Last Friday, the premier DOX prize at the Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX was awarded to “Always,” a debut feature film by Chinese director Deming Chen. This movie tells the story of eight-year-old Youbin, who has been brought up by his father and grandparents in an isolated mountain village in Hunan province. In search of understanding his loneliness and the world around him, he finds solace in poetry.

The movie, captivatingly shot in monochrome, skillfully combines poetic elegance with stark authenticity, chronicling Youbin’s growth amidst the challenges of life, grief, and the relentless march of time.

Stepping up on stage, an emotional Chen expressed gratitude to his entire crew. Producer Hansen Lin expressed, “During our film-making journey, we aim to spread this joy and accomplishment with everyone who continues to cherish their dreams. If you hold onto your belief, you will succeed – even when life lets you down. We cling to the faith that compassion and support will lead us all towards a more illuminated tomorrow.”

Taking center stage, Chen, filled with emotion, acknowledged his entire team. Producer Hansen Lin stated, “Through our film-making adventure, we aspire to share this joy and triumph with those who still harbor dreams in their hearts. If you persist in your belief, you will prevail – even when life falls short of expectations. We remain optimistic that compassion and support will steer us all towards a brighter destiny.

The film, reviewed by a jury consisting of Danish director Max Kestner (“Life and Other Problems”), producer Rikke Tambo Andersen, New York Times critic Nicolas Rapold, Italian director and researcher Adele Tulli, and Raul Niño Zambrano, head of film programs at Sheffield DocFest, was highly praised. They commented: “It’s a big gap between nothing and tiny details, but life is actually filled with countless, often overlooked, little things. It takes the sensitivity of artists to reveal the grandeur in these small moments. This beautifully captured narrative about a rural farming family resonates deeply with compassion and poetic beauty.

Monica Strømdahl, previously a Danish photographer, earned a Special Mention for her first directorial project titled “Flophouse America.” This film chronicles the life of 12-year-old Mikal, who resides in a budget hotel – one among many such establishments known as flophouses that serve as homes to tens of thousands of Americans living on society’s outskirts. The movie is shot with sincerity and empathy, providing a powerful depiction of the worsening economic and housing problems faced by America.

Notably, both films that won at the DOX festival were first-time screenings, marking a new high of 94 premieres – the most the festival has ever had in its history.

Thanks to its sponsorship by the Danish daily newspaper Politiken, this honorary title comes accompanied by a monetary reward of 10,000 euros, which is equivalent to approximately $10,800.

The F:ACT award was given to Ukrainian director Mstyslav Chernov, known for his Oscar-winning film “20 Days in Mariupol”, for his movie titled “2000 Meters to Andriivka”. This film chronicles the journey of a band of soldiers as they battle through two kilometers of war-ravaged land to free a destroyed Ukrainian village. The production team includes Michelle Mizner, the producer and editor from PBS’s investigative journalism docu series Frontline who previously collaborated with Chernov on “20 Days in Mariupol”. Also returning are Raney Aronson-Rath, the series’ editor-in-chief and executive producer. The European premiere of this film happened at CPH:DOX after its debut at Sundance in January.

The F:ACT jury, made up of directors Alexis Bloom (known for “The Bibi Files” at CPH:DOX), Mikala Krogh, and Steffi Niederzoll, praised the film as a “tour de force in cinematography: a chilling, intricate depiction of modern-day warfare that echoes the impact of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front.’ It’s not the First World War they’re portraying; it’s the conflicts we face today.

In his acceptance speech, Chernov – currently engaged in another project – conveyed his message via a pre-recorded video, stating: “We’re living in times of fighting for truth and survival, and this award provides us with a solid foundation. […] Many individuals worldwide are keeping an eye on Ukraine; they hear significant yet abstract words. As filmmakers, our goal is to make the realities tangible for those making critical decisions about our world’s future and the essence of peace.

As a movie aficionado, I’m thrilled to share that the esteemed director Geeta Gandbhir was honored with a Special Mention for her Sundance-winning film “The Perfect Neighbor.” This thought-provoking production delves into the chilling repercussions of “stand your ground” laws by utilizing authentic bodycam and surveillance footage from a tragic neighborhood shooting. Excitingly, Netflix has secured this award-winning movie for distribution later in 2023.

At the NORDIC:DOX competition, the Greenland-based film “Walls – Akinni Inuk,” directed by Sofie Rørdam and Nina Paninnguaq Skydsbjerg, clinched the first place award.

Emile Hertling Péronard, as the representative of our team, accepted the award on Friday and hailed it as Greenland’s most comprehensive coalition agreement ever made. However, he also expressed apprehension and dismay due to an unexpected visitor – J.D. Vance – who arrived at the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland, as tensions rise over President Donald Trump’s threats to claim Danish territory.

In the NORDIC:DOX category, a Special Recognition was given to “The Nicest Men on Earth,” a film by Josefine Exner and Sebastian Gerdes, which offers an insightful look at Danish masculinity within a culture dominated by strong women.

The top prize in the NEXT:WAVE competition for emerging talent was given to “Abode of Dawn” by Kristina Shtubert, a piece that documents life within a Christian cult in the Siberian wilderness over a ten-year span. Meanwhile, Lucía Selva received a Special Mention for her work “Who Witnessed the Temples Fall”, which delves into the legendary figure of the Roma king Chorrojumo.

Or:

In the NEXT:WAVE competition dedicated to first-time talent, the grand prize was awarded to “Abode of Dawn” by Kristina Shtubert – a decade-long exploration of life within a Christian cult in the Siberian wilderness. Additionally, Lucía Selva received a Special Mention for her piece “Who Witnessed the Temples Fall”, which examines the mythical Roma king Chorrojumo.

Or:

The winner of the NEXT:WAVE competition for newcomers was Kristina Shtubert, who won with her work “Abode of Dawn”, a depiction of life inside a Christian cult in the Siberian wilderness over a decade. Lucía Selva received a Special Mention for “Who Witnessed the Temples Fall”, which investigates the legendary Roma king Chorrojumo.

Each of these sentences conveys the same information but uses slightly different language to avoid repetition and improve readability.

In the NEW:VISION competition, visual artist and filmmaker Juliette Le Monnyer won for her single take film “Ramallah, Palestine, December 2018,” which showcases real-life conflicts between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. A Special Mention was awarded to Noémie Lobry’s documentary “Scrap,” a conceptual piece produced by Fémis graduate that intertwines past and present in a dreamlike storyline.

Each year, the F:ACT, NORDIC, NEXT:WAVE, NEW:VISION, and HUMAN:RIGHTS awards carry an award money of 5,000 euros (approximately $5,400) for their respective recipients.

This year’s HUMAN:RIGHTS Award, now in its second edition, was presented to “9-Month Contract,” a work by Ketevan Vashagashvili, an alumna of CPH:DOX’s industry Change program that focuses on boosting underrepresented voices from Eastern Europe. A Special Mention was given to “The Encampments,” directed by Michael T. Workman, an emerging filmmaker based in San Francisco, which portrays the occupation of Columbia University by Palestinian students.

As a movie critic, I found myself caught up in the heart of the Israel-Palestine debate during this year’s festival. Pro-Palestinian advocates urged the festival to take a definitive stand on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A passionate exchange even unfolded between a Danish-Palestinian filmmaker and a Lebanese director collaborating with an Israeli comedian, leading to a dramatic walkout by the former from their panel discussion.

As I took the stage at the awards ceremony alongside artistic director Niklas Engstrøm, I, as a passionate cinema enthusiast, shared Katrine Kiilgaard’s words: “We value dialogue as the cornerstone for understanding diverse viewpoints, questioning deep-rooted convictions, and bridging gaps between us, even when it’s challenging, messy, and always influenced by power dynamics. We champion pluralism, striving to create a space where various opinions and ideas can flourish, even those that challenge our own festival’s perspective.

Engstrøm went on to say: “We will still extend invitations to voices from Ukraine and Russia, despite the Russian government’s alleged invasion of Ukraine, blatant disregard for international law, and multiple reported human rights abuses. Similarly, we will continue to invite perspectives from Palestine and Israel, given that Israel has been accused of long-term illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and numerous human rights violations following their response to the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023.

This year’s 22nd CPH:DOX, themed “Right Here, Right Now,” featured numerous discussions about human rights and free speech, and attracted a 20% larger audience compared to previous years.

CPH:DOX concludes on March 30.

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2025-03-29 01:21