The Act of Killing - genocide celebrated as acts of patriotism
- The film, which is about the killing of a million Communists, and reenacted by former death squad leaders, has won the 10th CPH:DOX - the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival
The Act of Killing, US-born Denmark-based director Joshua Oppenheimer's depiction of an often overlooked genocide in recent history: the killing of more than one million Indonesians deemed as Communists after the 1965 military coup - won top prize for Best Documentary at CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, which ended yesterday (November 11).
Directed by Oppenheimer with Christine Cynn and an anonymous Indonesian director, The Act of Killing challenges a group of former death squad leaders living in Northern Sumatra to reenact their real-life mass-killings in whichever cinematic genre they choose. In Indonesia, their efforts are still celebrated as acts of patriotism.
"I have not seen a film as powerful, surreal, and frightening in at least a decade," said German director Werner Herzog, while according to US director Errol Morris: "It demands another way of looking at reality" - both are award-winning documentarists enlisted as executive producers at an early stage of production.
The Danish Final Cut For Real production will be released in the US by Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - "it is a landmark acquisition for us," explained Drafthouse ceo Tim League; "no other film at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival made a comparable residual impression. It is a film that inspires powerful reactions in many viewers."
From taking 14,000 in its first year, CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, is now closing in on 50,000. Under festival director Tine Fischer the showcase - which this year screened around 200 titles from all over the world - is part of Copenhagen Film Festivals, with CPH:PIX and the Buster International Children's Film Festival.
FULL LIST OF AWARDS
DOX Award: The Act of Killing Dir: Joshua Oppenheimer (DK)
NEW VISION Award: Leviathan Dir: Lucien Castaing (UK)
NORDIC:DOC Award: Searching for Bill Dir: Jonas Poher (DK)
Sound & Vision Award: Beware of Mr Baker Dir: Jay Bulger (US)
The Politiken Audience Award: Normal Life Mikala Krog (DK)
Amnesty Award: Tomorrow Dir: Andrey Gryazev (Russia)
SONIC:DOX Award: White Black Boy Dir: Camilla Magid (Peter Albrechtsen, sound) (DK)
Reel Talent Award: Daniel Dencik (DK)
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