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Odense International Film Festival

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Odense International Film Festival is a short film festival in Denmark that takes place every year in August. Odense International Film Festival made its debut in 1975, and is Denmark's oldest film festival. The municipality of Odense is responsible for the execution of the film festival.

Organisation and festival area

Odense International Film Festival is a part of Kulturmaskinen (the Culture Machine) in Odense. The festival activities mainly take place in the area around Brandts; In the Café Biografen (Cinema), In Kulturmaskinen, in Magasinet and in the open-air area of the Amfi Theatre – and everyone is invited to take part in the festivities. Most of all of these events and film screenings are free, so everyone is invited to just walk in and have a seat. Odense International Film Festival is an event that opens the doors to a world filled with inspiration, surprises and emotions. In the days leading up to the festival and all through the week itself, all of Odense is imbued with events, workshops, music, party, seminars, guests and impressions from all over the world.

History

OFF is Denmarks international short film festival and with its beginning already back in 1975 OFF is also the oldest film festival in the country. The festival was started in connection with the 100th anniversary of the death of Hans Christian Andersen. The initiator of the festival was the then film editor for the local newspaper, “Fyens Stifttidende”, Bent Aagaard and the Festival was named “The International Fairytale Festival”. Back then, The Fairytale Festival was a festival that celebrated fairytale-inspired animation films in the spirit of Hans Christian Andersen and it was going to be held every second year. In 1983, the first shift was made in terms of festival administrator. The choice of new administrator fell upon the internationally renowned film director and writer, Henning Carlsen. With this change of management, other changes were also introduced, the most important one being that the film festival now opened up to other categories of short film. Creative short films of all kinds were now welcome to enter and the festival changed its name to “Odense International Film Festival”.Odense International Film Festival was in the beginning known as "The International Fairy Tale Festival", as a tribute to famous author of numerous fairy tales Hans Christian Andersen who was born in Odense. Initially, the festival focused solely on animation films but in 1983 the festival permitted all sorts of fiction films into the programme, and the name was subsequently changed to "Odense International Film Festival".[1][2][3] When Christian Braad Thomsen stepped in as artistic director in 1997, he started an important era for OFF. The Danish Film Festival and Odense International Film Festival melted together and became one festival under the name Odense International Film Festival that was to show both Danish and foreign films. Going forward, the festival was to take place every year.Christian Braad Thomsen stayed on till 2005 and made quite a few changes and innovative initiatives. This development with new initiatives was carried on by the following artistic director of the festival, Cecilia Lidin, who also initiated a cooperation with ANIS – The Danish Animation Society – on how to create a competition and prize for Danish and foreign animated films in the festival. In this same period of time, the still existing Talent Camp for young film makers also emerged.

Festival Director Birgitte Weinberger

In 2009, Birgitte Weinberger took over the festival and was given a completely new role as both head of festival as well as artistic director of the festival. Prior to this, the festival had not had an actual head of festival, but instead the managerial structure had been centered around a local administrator and an artistic director. In 2009, the organizational structure was thus strengthened with a manager that was visible and active all year round. With these managerial changes came also the introduction of the so-called “artistic profile” that was to be changed every year. From hereon in, the festival was to have a high-profile artistic persona from the film industry as “artistic profile”, a person, who would function as an external contributor with his or hers personal angle to the festival program. Birgitte coined the abbreviation OFF – Odense International Film Festival and in many aspects revitalized the whole concept in both content and expression. She initiated a cooperation with the local add company, “Stupid Studio” to help brand the new OFF concept and create a new graphic expression.

40th Anniversary

In 2015 OFF celebrated 40 years of festival with plenty of gold confetti, glamour parties and good old fashion fun. The 40th birthday culminated with the publication of an anniversary book in December 2015, packed full of interviews with directors, artistic profiles and other people who over the years have had contact with OFF.

Competition

Today, the programme consists of films of all genres with a maximun duration of 30 minutes. The competition programme is divided into three categories:

  • Main Competition
  • Danish Competition
  • Animation Competition

In 2013 Odense International Film Festival was rewarded a very prestigious title, as OFF was acknowledged as Denmark’s first Oscar qualifying film festival. This meant that the festival could send the winners from our Main Competition and from our Danish Competition straight to the pre-jury of the Academy Awards in Hollywood. As of 2015, they have been given yet another Oscar qualifying category, which means that the winner of the Animation Competition will also be in the running for an Oscar nomination.

Prizes

Main Competition

HCA Award: OFF's Grand Prix. This award goes to the best film in the Main Competition. The winner will receive an OFF diploma and €10.000, sponsored by HCA Festivals.

The Storyteller Award: The award goes to the film with the most powerful storyteller. The prize consists of an OFF diploma and €2000.

The Artist Award: The award goes to the film with the strongest artistic expression. The prize consists of an OFF diploma and €2000.

Danish Competition

Best Danish Short Film: The award goes to the best Danish short film in competition. The winner will receive an OFF diploma, and €3500.

The Talent Award: The award goes to the Danish short film displaying singular vision and promise. The prize consists of an OFF diploma and €2000.

Animation Competition

Børge Ring Award: The Børge Ring Award goes to the best animated film in the Main Competition, both Danish as well as International films are eligible to receive the award. The prize is an OFF diploma and €2000.

Animation Talent Award: The Danish Animation Society will be awarding the Talent Award to the maker of an extraordinary short film in the animation genre. Only Danish animators can be considered for this award and the prize can be given to both new and established talents. The winner will receive an OFF diploma and €1350.

Youth Jury Competition

The Youth Jury Award: The award is given to the best Youth film in competition. The prize is an OFF diploma and €2000.

Audience Competition

TV 2/Fyn Audience Award: The recipient of the Audience Award will receive an OFF diploma and a statuette sponsored by TV 2/FYN.

Focus programmes

Aside from the competition program that is a steady component of the program each year, OFF also introduces a focus program every year with a unique angle defined by our “Artistic Profile”. The contents of these focus programs is among other things a variety of films, debates and seminars and the audience are invited to participate and to immerse in these focus topics. However, OFF has several other things planned for the week of the festival and there are always open-air film screenings and a Talent Symposium for the students of the danish film academies. Furthermore, OFF always has an extensive program planned out for children and youths from the town of Odense ranging from the very youngest pre-schoolers to youths from Odenses high school that might carry around a dream about becoming a film maker.

Children and youth

Odense International Film Festival presents a wide assortment of workshops, seminars and short films, specifically for children and young people. These offers are free and available for all who are three years old and above. Festival programs marked with 'U' are used to guide young people 14 years old and beyond to short films particularly targeted this audience . Short films in this category will also be contending for the Youth Jury Award.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Odense International Film Festival". filmfestival.dk. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Odense International Film Festival". filmfestivallife.com. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Odense International Film Festival". visitdenmark.com. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
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