Overview
CPH:DOX (Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival) is one of the largest documentary festivals in Europe. The 23rd edition ran March 11 to 22, 2026, in Copenhagen, screening 200+ films across 18 sections with seven competition categories. The festival is part of The Foundation of the Copenhagen Film Festivals. The next edition (CPH:DOX 2027) runs March 10 to 21, 2027 in cinemas, with an online festival running March 18 to April 4, 2027.
The 2026 international competition lineup included 74 films hand-picked from thousands of submissions, featuring 53 world premieres, 17 international premieres, and 4 European premieres. The DOX:AWARD (EUR 10,000, sponsored by Politiken Fonden) was awarded to Whispers in May by Dongnan Chen (Hong Kong/Netherlands/South Korea/Sweden). The FIPRESCI Critics' Prize, introduced in 2026, went to Amazomania by Nathan Grossman. The AUDIENCE:AWARD (EUR 10,000, sponsored by DR) went to MARIINKA by Pieter-Jan De Pue, which also served as the festival's opening film.
CPH:DOX distinguishes itself through its commitment to formally adventurous and politically engaged documentary work. The festival programs documentaries that challenge conventional nonfiction forms, with dedicated competition categories for experimental work (NEW:VISION), investigative journalism (F:ACT), and emerging filmmakers (NEXT:WAVE). The CPH:FORUM industry market is one of the most active documentary pitching and co-production platforms in Europe.
For the full CPH:DOX entry with complete submission details, competition rules, and industry program information, see CPH:DOX.
Submission Details
CPH:DOX accepts film submissions through its online portal. The festival is open to films of any duration as well as interactive formats such as VR, AR, Mixed Media, and installations. It is not possible to apply for a specific section or competition; the selection and placement of a film is entirely at the discretion of the festival.
CPH:DOX 2027 Submission Deadlines:
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Submissions open | May 15, 2026 |
| Early deadline (films completed before this date) | September 1, 2026 |
| Late deadline (films completed after September 1) | November 3, 2026 |
| Preview links due (for late registrations) | November 25, 2026 |
Films that have premiered after April 1, 2026, are eligible to apply. Work-in-progress versions are welcome for preview. All submitted films will be notified by mid-February 2027 at the latest. The festival does not provide individual feedback or reviews.
Entry fees:
| Film Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Films over 50 minutes | 300 DKK (approx. EUR 40) |
| Films under 50 minutes and interactive works | 150 DKK (approx. EUR 20) |
| Fee waiver | Available for DAC list countries (up to 2 projects per company) |
Premiere policy:
- Competition sections: priority given to World Premieres, secondarily to International and European Premieres
- Non-competitive sections: only Danish premieres required
- Films already shown in Denmark, on Danish national television, or available on VOD platforms accessible from Denmark are not eligible unless specifically authorized
Screening formats: DCP, 35mm, and 16mm. The festival has rights to up to 5 screenings of all selected films.
Competition Categories and Awards
| Competition | Prize | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| DOX:AWARD | EUR 10,000 | International main competition for feature documentaries |
| NEW:VISION AWARD | EUR 5,000 | Experimental and artists' films (shorts and features) |
| F:ACT AWARD | EUR 5,000 | Investigative and journalistic films (features) |
| NEXT:WAVE AWARD | EUR 5,000 | Innovative films by emerging filmmakers (features) |
| NORDIC:DOX AWARD | EUR 5,000 | Documentaries from the Nordic countries (features) |
| HUMAN:RIGHTS AWARD | EUR 5,000 | Films about human rights (features) |
| INTER:ACTIVE AWARD | 1,400 DKK | Artworks from the Inter:Active Exhibition |
| AUDIENCE:AWARD | EUR 10,000 | All films in the online festival (sponsored by DR) |
| FIPRESCI Critics' Prize | - | All DOX:AWARD nominees eligible |
2026 Award Winners:
- DOX:AWARD: Whispers in May by Dongnan Chen (Special Mention: The Cord by Nolwenn Herve)
- F:ACT AWARD: Just Look Up by Emma Wall and Betsy Hershey (Special Mention: The Great Experiment by Stephen Maing and Eric Daniel Metzgar)
- NEXT:WAVE AWARD: Dream of Another Summer by Irene Bartolome (Special Mention: This Is Not a French Film by Tom Adjibi)
- NORDIC:DOX AWARD: The Secret Reading Club of Kabul by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen (Special Mention: Homesick by Taekyung Tanja In Wol Sorensen)
- HUMAN:RIGHTS AWARD: The Phantom Pain of Rojava by Maryam Ebrahimi (Special Mention: American Doctor by Poh Si Teng)
- NEW:VISION AWARD: Compact Disc by Rico Wong
- INTER:ACTIVE AWARD: Inside: The Childhood of an Artist by Sacha Wares
- FIPRESCI Prize: Amazomania by Nathan Grossman
- AUDIENCE:AWARD: MARIINKA by Pieter-Jan De Pue
CPH:FORUM (Industry Market)
CPH:FORUM is the festival's international financing and co-production event and one of the most active documentary pitching platforms in Europe.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Applications open | September 2026 |
| Application deadline | Early November 2026 |
| Entry fee | 250 DKK (approx. EUR 30) |
| Selected projects | Approximately 30 for CPH:FORUM, 5 for CPH:ROUGHCUT |
| Notification | Mid-January 2027 |
| Pitch format | 7-minute presentation (including 3-minute teaser) + 7-minute moderated discussion |
| Panel | 3 financiers per project |
| Accreditation | Free for up to 2 team members |
| Industry week | March 14 to 18, 2027 |
The Nordic broadcasting environment, with its strong tradition of documentary investment through public broadcasters in Denmark (DR), Sweden (SVT), Norway (NRK), and Finland (Yle), makes Copenhagen a hub for documentary co-production financing. The free accreditation for up to two pitching team members reduces the cost of market participation compared to other major industry events.
Festival History
CPH:DOX was founded in 2003 and has grown into one of Europe's top documentary events. The festival is part of The Foundation of the Copenhagen Film Festivals, which also operates CPH:PIX (a fiction film festival for young audiences) and BUSTER (a children's film festival).
The 2025 edition achieved record attendance with 150,104 audience members across Denmark, a 19% increase from 2024's 126,010. The festival ran March 19 to 30, 2025, featuring more than 200 films and 550 screenings in Copenhagen, while the DOX:DANMARK program expanded to 54 municipalities, a new festival record. The 2025 DOX:AWARD went to Always by Deming Chen, and the AUDIENCE:AWARD went to Witch by Emil Norgaard Munk.
The 2026 edition featured over 200 films organized under two thematic headlines: "Right Here, Right Now" (examining human rights in a changing world order) and "Brainwaves" (exploring the brain as biological, cultural, political, and mental landscape). The Right Here, Right Now program consisted of 30 films representing the 30 human rights, accompanied by an exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenborg and a debate program at Pressen (Politikens Hus).
CPH:DOX has expanded its competition structure over the years from a single main competition to seven competitive categories. The FIPRESCI Critics' Prize was introduced in 2026 as the festival's newest award. The festival's growth has been driven by Copenhagen's position within the Nordic documentary ecosystem, which combines strong public broadcaster investment, active co-production markets, and a tradition of formally innovative documentary filmmaking.
What Filmmakers Should Know
CPH:DOX is the primary European destination for documentary filmmakers whose work pushes formal boundaries. The NEW:VISION competition is one of the few major festival categories dedicated to experimental documentary, making CPH:DOX uniquely valuable for filmmakers working between documentary and art cinema. The F:ACT competition bridges filmmaking and investigative journalism, attracting a different category of filmmaker and funder.
The festival's online component (March 18 to April 4, 2027, geo-blocked to Denmark via paradox.dk) means all selected films are invited to participate in a nationwide online festival, which also qualifies them for the EUR 10,000 Audience Award sponsored by DR. Filmmakers should note that online participation is confirmed individually with rights holders in advance.
The Dox:Danmark program extends selected films to cinemas across Denmark during the festival period, providing additional screening opportunities beyond Copenhagen. The UNG:DOX educational program screens selected films for high school students.
CPH:DOX does not provide individual feedback on submissions. The festival explicitly states it is "not able to respond with reviews and feedback to individual films." Films confirmed for CPH:DOX cannot be withdrawn from the program after January 1, 2027 (or upon confirmation if confirmed later).
For fee waivers, filmmakers from countries on the DAC list can request up to two waived submissions by contacting programme@cphdox.dk.
See Also
For the full CPH:DOX entry with complete details, see CPH:DOX. Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. For documentary filmmaking guidance, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For festival circuit strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. Submit through the CPH:DOX submission portal.
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