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

Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce US defense reliance, Carney says
Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce US defense reliance, Carney says

Associated Press

time32 minutes ago

  • Associated Press

Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce US defense reliance, Carney says

TORONTO (AP) — Canada will meet NATO's military spending guideline by early next year and diversify defense spending away from the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday. Carney said Canada will achieve NATO's spending target of 2% of gross domestic product five years earlier than it had previously planned. 'Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness,' Carney said. 'Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half of our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. More broadly we are too reliant on the United States.' According to NATO figures, Canada was estimated to be spending 1.33% of GDP on its military budget in 2023, below the 2% target that NATO countries have set for themselves. Canada previously said it was on track to meet NATO's spending target by the end of the decade. 'Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants,' Carney said. The announcement of increased spending came as Canada is about to host a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Alberta on June 15-17, and before the NATO summit in Europe. It also comes as NATO allies are poised to increase the commitment well beyond the 2% target. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that most U.S. allies at NATO endorse U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that they invest 5% of gross domestic product on their defense needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more. Carney has said that he intends to diversify Canada's procurement and enhance the country's relationship with the EU. 'We should no longer send three quarters of our defense capital spending to America,' Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. 'We will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic.' Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States , with a focus on buying more defense equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe. Carney's government is reviewing the purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options. Carney said that the U.S. 'is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its (relative) contributions to our collective security.' 'Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu,' Carney said. Trump's calls to make Canada the 51st U.S. state have infuriated Canadians, and Carney won the job of prime minister after promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump. Carney said that the long-held view that Canada's geographic location will protect Canadians is becoming increasingly archaic. European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Canada promises to boost defense spending, meet NATO target much earlier
Canada promises to boost defense spending, meet NATO target much earlier

Yahoo

time35 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Canada promises to boost defense spending, meet NATO target much earlier

By Wa Lone TORONTO (Reuters) -Canada's Liberal government will pour extra billions into its armed forces and hit NATO's 2% military spending target this fiscal year, five years earlier than promised, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday. Canada has been under pressure from the United States and other NATO allies for years to increase military funding. Canada currently spends about 1.4% of GDP on defense. "Now is the time to act with urgency, force, and determination," Carney said in a speech in Toronto, reiterating promises to work more closely with Europe's defense industry. Carney won the April 28 election on a promise to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and also to reduce the country's military reliance on Washington. Carney said another reason for Ottawa to act was what he called the decision by the United States to gradually withdraw from the concept of collective security. "Rising great powers are now in strategic competition with America. A new imperialism threatens. Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu," he said. The previous Liberal government last year formally committed to hit the NATO target by 2032. During the election campaign Carney pledged to get to 2% by 2030. Canada will boost pay for the armed forces and buy new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the sea floor and the Arctic, Carney said. "The transformation of our military capabilities can help transform our economy," he said. Officials are due to give more details of the plan before Carney speaks to the media at 1 p.m. Eastern Time (1700 GMT). (Additional reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru and Promit Mukherjee; writing by David Ljunggren; editing by Rod Nickel)

NATO Secretary General Rutte to ask allies to up military spending
NATO Secretary General Rutte to ask allies to up military spending

Yahoo

time35 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

NATO Secretary General Rutte to ask allies to up military spending

June 9 (UPI) -- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was expected to call for member nations and allies to increase defense spending in London on Monday. Rutte is set to deliver remarks at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a British think tank also known as Chatham House, in London and meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the visit to London. "The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defense," he is expected to say according to remarks shared with reporters. It is anticipated that Rutte will ask NATO allies to increase their defense spending by 400%. He's likely to lay out an outline for why it's necessary for each to agree to up their military spending to 5% of GDP when they meet at a summit in The Hague later this month. "The work ahead of us for the [NATO summit] in The Hague is clear," Rutte posted to X Thursday. "We need a new defense investment plan that will ensure we have the resources we need to be able to deter and defend in this more dangerous world." Each will be asked to invest millions more on tanks and artillery shells as Rutte will focus on the possibility of an aggressive Russia in the future. "The fact is, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," Rutte is expected to say while adding that, that Russia won't back down on its military even if and after when its war on Ukraine ends. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov already reportedly responded Monday to what Rutte is expected to discuss and said that NATO "is demonstrating itself as an instrument of aggression and confrontation." NATo already announced Friday that Rutte will ask for its allies to spend 3.5% of that 5% on core defense, with the other 1.5% to go to defense and security-related investments. Rutte is also slated to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer while in London Monday.

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