Admissions up 7% in first half of 2009

by Annika Pham

14/07/2009 - Two positive trends were registered during the first half of 2009, according to figures just published by the Danish Film Institute (DFI). On the domestic front, general admissions climbed by 7%, thanks largely to Niels Arden Oplev’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [trailer, film focus]. On the international front, Danish films had a strong presence, winning awards at many top festivals.

Cinema-going in Denmark continues to be a popular leisure activity and admissions have increased by 13% over the last five years. During the first six months of 2009, admissions rose 7% to over 6.6m. The Swedish/Danish co-production Dragon Tattoo contributed 14% of the overall domestic market share, selling 963,000 tickets for a top position on the local charts.

Three Danish films were in the top ten during that period: the comedy Sorte Kugler by popular comedian Anders Matthesen was number three (291,000 admissions); Charlotte Sachs Bostrup’s family film Karla and Katrine was number seven (175,000 admissions); and Nils Malmros’ romantic drama Aching Hearts was number eight (175,000 admissions).

The market share of local films was 16% thanks to over 1.1m tickets sold.

On the international front, several Danish films had great high festival visibility, such as Lars von Trier’s Antichrist [trailer, film focus], winner of a Best Actress Award at Cannes; Annette K. Olesen’s Little Soldier [trailer], selected in competition in Berlin; and the documentary film Burma VJ: Reporting From a Closed Country by Anders Østergaard, winner of 24 international awards.

Danish filmmakers were involved in successful English-language productions, such as Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson [trailer]), and Lone Scherfig (An Education [trailer]). So were Danish actors Thure Lindhardt and Nikolaj Lie Kaas (Angels and Demons) and Mads Mikkelsen (Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky [trailer]).

“We’re very pleased by the strong presence of Danish films abroad and it’s reassuring that we’re not the only ones to have noticed their higher level of quality,” said Henrik Bo Nielsen, head of the DFI.