Copenhagen’s international feature film festival is back for the second year running – and things are looking good. Nevertheless, we won’t miss out on the chance to denounce “the system” and the “stupid politicians” who surround the recent history of CPH:PIX (or rather, the late history of CIFF) – there’s nothing like grumping around like a bulldog against irrational decision makers, is there? 

CPH:PIX is a 2009-born fusion of the good old NATFILM festival, which had been running for almost two decades, well established as the main annual film buff fest in Copenhagen, and the newly established Copenhagen International Film Festival (aka CIFF, active 2004-2008), whose ambition was to create a grand festival of international scope full of red carpets, glitz and glamour. You’ve guessed it: some ambitious politicians probably had found that since Denmark is an internationally known film nation, you know, with the Dogma thing and all (?), we needed a serious international film festival. Achieving this by investing in the existing grass-root Natfilm? No-chance: too nerdy, too film-freaky. “Let’s make a new, glamorous international festival” was what the cleverest guy in the room came up with. Natfilm was all too local and not ambitious enough (yet already attracted nearly 30.000 guests back then, with a programme that was 100% hardcore, mind you). “Cannes gives the Palme d’Or, Berlin gives out Silver Bears... of course: Copenhagen will give out Golden Swans!!” We’d love to see the minutes from the meeting where it came up, really. Naturally, it only took a few years for all to see that you obviously can’t compete internationally with festivals that have 5 or 6 decades of history and hundreds of thousands of guests, happening in places like Berlin and the French Riviera. “But, but… how come? What about Lars von Trier? And the swans, aren't they the loveliest of birds??!?”

So, last year the two festivals were politically forced to fusion and the bastard son was named CPH:PIX, and here we stand. Nothing bad to say about PIX – especially because the programme format is taken 100% from Natfilm. It only means the CIFF concept wasted 5 years and 20 millions to find out what anyone with 6 months experience in the film festival circuit could have foreseen. But hey, CPH:PIX is a cool name, and the ex-CIFF crew are still in charge of the packaging, with some sharpened communication and a goal to make the festival international, which is fine, why not after all (but hey, what happened to the golden swans!!?!).

Copenhageners can look forward to an overwhelming film festival programme that literally goes in all directions. Remember to use the CPH:PIX festival to visit theatres or venues that are unusual – it’s a great way to see new corners of the city and you’re not a real Copenhagener until you’ve been to Vester Vov Vov and Pumpehuset. Diamanda Galas at Marmorkirken, on Friday 23 April, will be a killer - we can guarantee an “only in Denmark” experience (you know, in most countries, national Church landmarks across Royal Palaces aren't too keen on hosting satanic performers who like to cover themselves in blood). CPH:PIX is one of the rare annual events in Copenhagen that shows that there are, after all, some 35,000 Copenhageners who actually have a genuine interest in real culture. Check out the programme, it’s hardcore. 

http://www.cphpix.dk