The world premiere of “Facing War,” the opening film of Copenhagen documentary film festival CPH:DOX, will be followed by a discussion between Jens Stoltenberg, the former NATO secretary general and current Norwegian finance minister – who is the subject of the film – and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The pair will discuss the film and the future of the NATO alliance.
The conversation will take place in the Conservatory Concert Hall in Copenhagen on March 19. Both the film and the conversation will be live streamed simultaneously in a large number of cinemas and cultural centers across Denmark.
“Facing War,” directed by Tommy Gulliksen, follows Stoltenberg over the course of his last year as NATO secretary general. Originally scheduled to step down in 2023 after nine years in the role, the Norwegian diplomat was persuaded by then U.S. President Joe Biden to stay on for another year in the face of growing divisions between the alliance’s member states following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Niklas Engstrøm, artistic director at CPH:DOX, said: “Europe is facing a security crisis that grows more severe by the day, as European leaders rush from one summit to the next in search of common ground and effective measures. I am therefore grateful that Mette Frederiksen and Jens Stoltenberg have taken the time to visit CPH:DOX to discuss the value of diplomacy in the new world order in light of the festival’s opening film ‘Facing War.’ The two top politicians, with their substantial experience on the global political stage, can give people all over Denmark a unique insight into the diplomatic work and their views on the NATO alliance and the current security situation in Europe.”
“Facing War” is produced by Anne Marte Blindheim and Danielle Turkov Wilson at Dox Division in co-production with NRK, SVT and Think-Film Impact Production with support from Norsk Filminstitutt, Oslo Filmfond, Viken Filmsenter, Fritt Ord, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Impact Partners, Bergesen-stiftelsen and Fond for lyd og bilde.
Read Variety’s interview with Gulliksen here.
