logo
‘Facing War,' Documentary on Former NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg, to Open CPH:DOX

‘Facing War,' Documentary on Former NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg, to Open CPH:DOX

Yahoo06-02-2025

Tommy Gulliksen's documentary 'Facing War,' which depicts Jens Stoltenberg's final year as NATO secretary general, has been selected as the opening film of the Copenhagen Intl. Documentary Film Festival, a.k.a. CPH:DOX. The festival runs March 19-30.
'Facing War' will also compete for CPH:DOX's main prize, the DOX:AWARD, which recognizes the best documentary. The film will have its world premiere in the concert hall of the Royal Danish Academy of Music on March 19.
More from Variety
Corneliu Porumboiu to Be Special Guest at Visions du Réel: His Films 'Cast an Offbeat, Critical Eye on the Changes to Romanian Society'
True/False Film Fest Unveils 2025 Lineup Including Eight Sundance Docus (EXCLUSIVE)
National Women's Soccer League Sets 2024 Playoffs Docuseries Deal With Prime Video
'In a time when new global political crises are piling up, and the Western world's defense alliance seems to be unraveling, Jens Stoltenberg is regarded as one of the great diplomatic beacons,' the festival commented. Originally, he was set to step down as NATO's secretary general at the end of his term, but with a war in Europe and the prospect of growing divisions among the alliance's member states, the Norwegian top diplomat was persuaded by the then-U.S. president to remain in the position.
'Facing War' offers a look into Stoltenberg's final year as NATO's secretary general. It is a year filled with challenges, as he has promised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the alliance will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary. However, fears that the war in Ukraine could spread to the rest of Europe increase tensions among the 32 allied countries, and Stoltenberg must rely on all his diplomatic skills to keep the alliance united.
Fortunately, the Norwegian politician is a master of the delicate art of compromise and understands the importance of a well-timed gesture of support. And when negotiating with figures like Recep Erdoğan and Viktor Orbán, it is the small details that can make all the difference.
'We are delighted to kick off this year's festival with the world premiere of such a highly relevant film, which takes us deep behind the diplomatic negotiations and twists that followed—and continue to follow—in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At a time when the rules-based world order, established after 1945, is under serious pressure, the importance of diplomacy and stable international alliances that have upheld it is as clear as ever,' Niklas Engstrøm, artistic director of CPH:DOX, said.
''Facing War' offers a rare insight into how these alliances, especially when under threat, require leadership and finesse to maintain the necessary stability in an increasingly unpredictable world.'
The film will also be streamed to a large number of theaters across Denmark as part of the nationwide project DOX:DANMARK.
'Facing War' is directed by Tommy Gulliksen and produced by Dox Division in co-production with NRK, SVT and Think-Film Impact Production. The film is supported by NFI, Oslo Film Fund, Viken Filmsenter, Fritt Ord, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Impact Partners, the Bergesen Foundation, and the Fund for Sound and Image.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win?
What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Russia produces as much ammo in 3 months as all of NATO does in a year, says NATO chief
Russia produces as much ammo in 3 months as all of NATO does in a year, says NATO chief

Business Insider

time29 minutes ago

  • Business Insider

Russia produces as much ammo in 3 months as all of NATO does in a year, says NATO chief

Russia produces as much ammunition in three months as NATO does in a year, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned. Speaking at the Chatham House think tank in London on Monday, Rutte called on the alliance to urgently ramp up weapons production. "In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of NATO produces in a year," he said. "Russia is reconstituting its forces with Chinese technology and producing more weapons faster than we thought," Rutte added. He called for a "quantum leap" in how Europe defends itself, and said, "We must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defense plans in full." Rutte said Russia was expected to produce 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles in 2025. Russia has massively ramped up its weapons and ammunition production to fuel its war against Ukraine, placing its economy on a war footing. It's received support from allies including China, Iran, and North Korea. Russia spent 13.1 trillion rubles, around $145.9 billion, on its military last year, a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies said. This is equivalent to 6.7% of the country's gross domestic product and a 41% annual increase in real terms, per the report. European defense spending was $457 billion last year, the report said, a real-terms increase of almost 12% on the year before and a 50% increase in real terms from 2014 spending levels. If purchasing power parity is factored in, then Russia's expenditure is equivalent to around $461.6 billion, the report said. The US is NATO's largest military power, and President Donald Trump has pressured European members to boost their military budgets. Rutte has backed US calls to raise the amount NATO members are required to spend on their military from 2% to 5%. The war in Ukraine has become a gruelling war of attrition, with both sides firing thousands of rounds of ammunition daily. But Ukraine's NATO allies have struggled to increase production to provide arms to Ukraine while rebuilding their stockpiles, amid warnings that Russia could be preparing to attack NATO in a matter of years. "We are all on the eastern flank now. The new generation of Russian missiles travels at the speed of sound. The distance between European capitals is only a matter of minutes. There is no longer east or west. There is just NATO," Rutte added.

Sola Media Posts First Deals For Annecy Title ‘Captain Sabertooth And The Countess Of Grel'
Sola Media Posts First Deals For Annecy Title ‘Captain Sabertooth And The Countess Of Grel'

Yahoo

time33 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Sola Media Posts First Deals For Annecy Title ‘Captain Sabertooth And The Countess Of Grel'

EXCLUSIVE: Sola Media has unveiled a first round of sales for Norwegian animated feature Captain Sabertooth And The Countess Of Grel as it makes its international festival debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The film has sold to Greece (Tanweer) Baltics (Garsu Pasaulio Irasai), Italy (Imago), Portugal (Films4You), Spain (Paycom), Turkey (Siyah Beyaz Film), Bulgaria (Pro Films), Hungary & Romania (ADS), Poland (Vivarto), China (Beijing Yuaho). North America (CosmoBlue) and Ukraine (Svoe Kino). More from Deadline 'My Grandfather Is A Nihonjin': Director Behind Brazilian-Japanese Animation Details Why She Didn't Want To Make An Anime Protests Against Artificial Intelligence Planned For Annecy Animation Fest 'Animal Farm' Review: Andy Serkis Directs Seth Rogen And All-Star Voice Cast In Clever And Chilling Take On Orwell's Classic Novella - Annecy Animation Festival Produced by Qvisten Animation, the film is based on Scandinavia's biggest children's entertainment brand about a colorful pirate and his crew, and is a follow-up to the international hit Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond, which played in 160 territories worldwide. The new film continues the saga with a fresh high-stakes adventure, in which the fearsome Countess of Gral ambushes Captain Sabertooth's ship, stealing a sacred figurehead and kidnapping young crewmate Pinky. Crewmate and best friend Raven, Captain Sabertooth, his dragon, and the eccentric ship's cook mount a plan to rescue Pinky and protect the pirates' homeland from total domination. 'We are thrilled by the strong demand for Captain Sabertooth and the Countess of Grel across so many territories this early in the rollout,' said Solveig Langeland, Managing Director of Sola Media. 'The excitement from buyers reflects not only the strength of the Captain Sabertooth franchise, but also the film's fresh storytelling, rich animation, and emotional core. Just like its predecessor, this film is set to capture the imagination of audiences around the world.' Directed by animation veteran Rasmus A. Sivertsen (Just Super, Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond), the film also benefits from the creative vision of co-directors and screenwriters Yaprak Morali and Are Austnes — the award-winning team behind The Tomten and the Fox, which won the Young Audience Award at Annecy in 2020. Writers Karsten Fullu, Mina Stenbråten, and Rune Spaans round out the experienced script team. The film is produced by Cecilie Tidemann and Ove Heiborg at Qvisten Animation — Norway's largest and most prolific animation studio. Captain Sabertooth And The Countess Of Grel screens on Tuesday in the Annecy Presents section. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media Where To Watch All The 'John Wick' Movies: Streamers That Have All Four Films

NATO Ally Scraps Purchase of US Black Hawk Helicopters
NATO Ally Scraps Purchase of US Black Hawk Helicopters

Miami Herald

timean hour ago

  • Miami Herald

NATO Ally Scraps Purchase of US Black Hawk Helicopters

Poland has scrapped plans to buy more S-70i Black Hawk helicopters as Warsaw rethinks its strategy for fighting a battle-hardened Russia pouring massive investment into its military. Poland has become a military powerhouse, leading the NATO alliance on defense spending. The country, which is situated on NATO's eastern flank, has felt the reverberations of more than three years of war in Ukraine, repeatedly scrambling fighter jets in response to intensive Russian airstrikes on parts of western Ukraine. Warsaw has been one of Kyiv's most strident supporters. NATO officials, particularly those from country's forming NATO's eastern edge, have increasingly warned Moscow could mount an attack against the alliance in the coming years, particularly if the U.S. succeeds in brokering a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Polish military changed its "priorities" for its upcoming purchases after "intensive" analysis, said General Wiesław Kukuła, the Chief of the General Staff for the Polish armed forces. "The aim of these changes is to better adapt to the challenges of the future battlefield," Kukuła told reporters on Friday. Warsaw will prioritize training and combat helicopters, as well as multi-use helicopters able to land on ships, heavy transport helicopters for the country's land forces and search and rescue aircraft, Kukuła added. Poland may look at buying other equipment, like drones or tanks, rather than the S-70i multirole helicopter, Grzegorz Polak, a spokesperson for the Polish Armament Agency, told Reuters. The war in Ukraine has spurred on drone advancement at astonishing speeds, while both sides have still relied heavily on the use of tanks and armored vehicles. Poland's previous government said in mid-2023 it was starting the process to buy more Black Hawk helicopters from PZL Mielec, a Polish branch of Lockheed Martin. Secretary of State for Poland's Ministry of National Defense Paweł Bejda said reports that a contract for the Black Hawk helicopters had been "canceled" were false, but the country's Armament Agency had decided to "terminate the procurement process." Kukuła pointed on Friday to the Polish purchase of 32 next-generation F-35 fighter jets and tens of advanced Apache helicopters that would soon "land on Polish soil" as part of preparations for the "future battlefield." Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State for Poland's Ministry of National Defense, said during a press conference on Friday: "The geopolitical situation, the situation in the east—the war in Ukraine, what Russia is currently buying, equipping its army—and everything that our air forces are carrying out during tasks connected to the NATO system, is being analyzed." Brigadier General Artur Kuptel, the head of Poland's Armaments Agency, told the media: "The priorities we have heard about today will give light for the coming days, for the coming months, in terms of the directions of activities in the area of ​​helicopter aviation." Poland ordered nearly 100 AH-64E advanced Apache helicopters from Boeing in mid-2024, which the aerospace giant said would "strengthen Poland's operational capability and interoperability with the U.S., NATO and allied nations." Warsaw is expected to receive its first F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets from the U.S. next year. Related Articles Poland Election: Ukraine Skeptic Candidate Swings Surprise VictoryDonald Trump-Backed Candidate Wins Poland's Presidential ElectionMap Shows Countries in Europe Easiest for Americans to Get Dual CitizenshipNATO Scrambles Fighter Jets After Long-Range Russian Missile Strikes 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store