Cannes Contenders: Denmark

The European Union – Pass It On

One of the year’s most ambitious political films comes not from Hollywood, but from the EU. Well, agency &Co in Denmark to be more precise. Directed byGro Therp, through Kind Film, Pass It On is remarkable for the ambitious scale of the casting; finding one grandparent and their grandchild from each of the 27 EU member countries, to pass on a single message: protect the fragility of democracy with your vote. It’s one of those pieces that has become even more relevant since it launched. When Putin’s submarines might be circling the waters of your Danish or southern France beach holiday, this one hits close to home.

TrygFonden x The Danish Cancer Society – Party Crashers 

Denmark holds the title: the thirstiest youth in Europe. So much for the sober generation. But when young people can’t fathom the future consequences of binge drinking on their health and their lives, how do you convince them? 

You create a film like this one directed by Tore Frandsen, through new–land, out of Robert/Boisen & Like-minded, where the worst drunk versions of yourself crash your own party in one surreal night. Comedy often needs a victim, and the schadenfreude in this is delicious.  

Royal Ontario Museum – Opera 

A chimpanzee sings an operatic aria from L'elisir d'amore while the history of life on Earth unfolds behind her. The resulting film out of Broken Heart Love Affair is what happens when you mix museum culture, existential philosophy, and near-flawless CGI. 

It’s another magnum opus from Danish director Rune Milton, who in three epic minutes manages to present Earth's history through the performance of Luna the singing chimpanzee, inviting viewers to reflect on humanity's place within the vast timeline of the natural world.  One word: craft. Well, two actually: industry craft. 

What’s in a name? – People Like Us

 “What’s in a name?” asked Shakespeare. A lot, it turns out, especially when your name doesn’t sound ‘British’. 

Enter British-Bangladeshi spoken word artist Yasmin Al who gives the Bard a 2025 update in an ode to diverse names. The result? A protest in verse. Created by Worth Your While, produced by new—land, with direction from rising Danish-Iranian talent Naghmeh Pour; a name I’m sure you’ll hear a lot more of in the future. 

Simple execution. Timely truth. And a chance for jurors to make a stand against the alarming regression on global DEI progress. 

Volvo - Moments That Never Happen 

Technically, this one directed by new—land’s Marcus Ibanez and created by Stendahls, comes from across the Øresund Bridge in Sweden. But this is worth a mention for the fact that most car ads show off horsepower, torque, or a boot that opens with a flick of the foot. Whereas this one, sells you... nothing. 

Instead, the film offers vignettes into the future of a soon-to-be family. All of these memories, though, rest on a singular moment which could have taken it all away. No over-promising manifesto. Just a brand quietly saving lives. Which, in advertising terms, is almost punk. Scandinavian restraint at its finest.