The 2021 Copenhagen International Documentary Festival (CPH:DOX), which will take place from 21 April to 12 May, is set to launch its Big Digital Live Platform later this month, offering an abundance of live events to audiences. The festival is now working on a special film programme to hit the big screen when Danish film theatres are expected to reopen on 6 May. In addition to online screenings of 180 new documentary films, CPH:DOX will offer a variety of digital live events when it kicks off on 21 April. A large debate programme with 40 digital live talks and panels will pass the mic to both well-established names and new voices. With large TV studio broadcasts and interactive formats, audiences can expect a festival of live conversations and encounters between people with experiences and opinions. "Denmark is still affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, and the cultural sector, including film theatres, will still be closed for the public when this year's CPH:DOX festival is launched on 21 April," Tine Fischer, director of CPH:DOX, said. She added, "I am very excited that we can present a large and ambitious digital programme that will be accessible for a big, hungry audience, as our digital platform will feature an ambitious film programme, important live panels, and Q&As with filmmakers." "We are creating a digital space where we meet and listen to great artists, innovative scientists, and also some of those marginalised voices that really need to be heard," Fischer also said.Part of the live programme is the talk series 'An Evening With', where audiences can meet international artists, thinkers, and activists in live conversations. These events focus on the potential of facilitating change through art, knowledge and engagement, this year diving into solutions to global crises, including but not limited to the current pandemic, and the role of art and activism in this effort. One of the guests is world-famous performance artist Marina Abramovic, the star of the film 512 Hours that will have its world premiere at CPH:DOX. The iconic philosopher Slavoj Zizek is also part of the programme, as is legendary musician David Byrne who stars in American Utopia, directed by Spike Lee, and part of this year's film programme. Audiences can also meet one of the world's first female imams, Seyran Ates – portrayed in Nefise Özkal Lorentzen's film Sex, Revolution and Islam, world premiering in competition at the festival – in conversation with the Danish-Kurdish author Sara Omar around the topic: Are Muslim women ready for a sexual revolution? The debate programme also offers several panels on a variety of topics. Experience tech columnist from the New York Times, Kevin Roose, will participate in a discussion with scientists and robot experts about the race to create the world's first artificial brain. Viewers will also be able to meet the relatives of the young whistle-blower Reality Winner (the star of main competition entry The United States vs. Reality Winner by Sonia Kennebeck), who revealed Russia's interference in the US election in 2016 and is now in prison, as they will guest the live programme. Currently, Danish film theatres are expected to open for audiences on 6 May, according to the latest reopening plan from the Danish government which was presented on 23 March 2021. "In March 2020, CPH:DOX was the first documentary film festival in the world to go online," Fischer said, "Now, we are ready to run a festival that has a bigger and more ambitious digital platform than ever before." She noted that, at the same time, the organisers hope that the festival can also have a physical dimension with films on the big screen. "Therefore, we are now extending the festival until 12 May, Fischer added, "We are really looking forward to meeting our audiences again – both in the digital space and in film theatres."
CPH:DOX is scheduled to run its industry activities unspooling between 23-30 April.
