The National Film School of Denmark was established in 1966 under the Danish Film Institute with Theodor Christensen and Jens Christian Lauritzen as the driving forces, with the latter serving as the institution’s first principal. The school was initially located in Store Søndervoldstræde in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, with just 15 students, nine instructors, three photographers, and three sound designers.
The decision to create a Danish film school was made in 1964 when a new film law was passed that recognized film as an art form on par with classical art forms. The law was modeled after the Swedish Film Act, and since Sweden had a film school, Denmark followed suit. Another incentive for establishing the film school was the growing popularity of television in the 1950s, which put pressure on the Danish film industry as people could now get entertainment at home rather than in cinemas.
In 1988, the school became an independent institution under the Danish Ministry of Cultural Affairs. In 1998, after being spread across several addresses, the school relocated to its current premises on Holmen in the harbor of Copenhagen as part of the Danish Centre for Artistic Educations.
The National Film School of Denmark offers seven study programs: fiction directing, documentary directing, cinematography, script writing, editing, sound, animation and games directing, and film producing. The school has approximately 96 students: 60 film students, 6 scriptwriters, 18 TV students, and 12 animation directors. All courses are 4-year programs, except for the animation and games directing course, which lasts 4½ years.
While the school is classified as an art school, practical knowledge is equally important. The teaching program combines theoretical and practical training and includes numerous exercises and productions. Students’ final projects are films produced at a professional level and presented to the public on national television. All prospective students must pass an entrance test that includes both practical exercises and interviews.
The National Film School of Denmark emerged during a transformative period in global cinema. After World War II, as Europe rebuilt from the devastation, the free art of film was being examined and defended in response to the Nazis’ attempts to unify culture, language, and humanity. Film festivals and film schools were established across Europe, with the Danish Film School joining this movement in 1966, the same year as the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin in Germany.
The school’s founding coincided with several influential cinematic movements, including Italian neorealism, the French New Wave, Cinema Novo in Brazil, Neue Deutsches Kino in Germany, the beginnings of New Hollywood in the United States, and Cinema Verité. These diverse influences helped shape the school’s approach to filmmaking.
Throughout its history, the school has weathered various challenges, including political tensions. In January 1969, the school was briefly occupied by a group called the Film Communards, who demanded that the school’s expensive equipment be made available to “the people.” While the occupation lasted only two days before police intervention, it highlighted the need for broader access to film equipment and contributed to the creation of the Film Workshop in 1970.
The National Film School of Denmark has produced numerous acclaimed filmmakers who have significantly impacted Danish and international cinema. Notable alumni include Oscar-winning director Bille August (who graduated as a cinematographer in 1973), Lars von Trier (1982), Susanne Bier (1987), Thomas Vinterberg (1993), and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (1989), among many others.
The school’s influence on Danish cinema has been profound, contributing to what became known as the Dogme 95 movement and helping establish Denmark’s reputation for producing high-quality, innovative films that achieve international recognition despite coming from a small country.
Under the leadership of directors like Poul Nesgaard (1992-2014) and others who followed, the school has maintained its commitment to artistic excellence while adapting to the evolving landscape of filmmaking. Today, it continues to be a vital institution for nurturing new generations of filmmakers and preserving Denmark’s strong cinematic tradition.
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