Four Norwegian documentaries in competition at CPH:DOX 2026

Director Håvard Bustnes returns to CPH:DOX for the third consecutive year, this time with Let Our Mountains Live. The documentary feature follows the existential conflict between the Sámi families in the Fosen region and the development of Europe’s largest wind farm development, endangering the Sámi families' traditional way of life. 

CPH:DOX unveiled its competitions programme today, ahead of the full programme release on February 18. 

Håvard Bustnes is also the film’s producer through UpNorth Film with producer Johannes Vang. Let the Mountains Live has received NOK 2,250,000 in development and production funding from the Norwegian Film Institute. The film will be screened in the Nordic:Dox and Human: Rights Award sections.

In Defense of Self

In Defense of Self by director and producer Linn Helen Løken is also competing in the Nordic:Dox section. The film gives a voice to Morten Michelsen, who struggled with mental illness throughout his adult life, and brings the audience close to what happened on the night Michelsen needed emergency psychiatric help, but ended up being shot by the police. The film also provides insight into the case investigation by the Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs, and into how the Norwegian Police University College train students in handling people with mental health and substance abuse issues.

In Defense of Self has received  at total of NOK 2 210 000 in development and production funding from the Norwegian Film Institute, including funding from the talent scheme Neo. 

The Lives of My Father 

The Lives of My Father is the third Norwegian documentary competing in Nordic:Dox. Directed by Magnus Skatvold for NRK, the film is based on the story of Didrik Morits Hallstrøm and his father, Bjørn Hallstrøm, who claims to have worked as a secret agent for the CIA. The Lives of My Father was initially a documentary series on public broadcaster NRK, and has now been adapted into a feature-length documentary film. 

The Mother Age

The NEXT:WAVE section spotlights emerging filmmakers and new cinematic currents. In The Mother Age, filmmaker Irene Kaltenborn challenges the established notion that the knife was the first tool made by humans. Through encounters with people, nature, soil, and mythology, she uncovers ancient knowledge that may change the way we understand our early history.  

My Tent Is Not a Shelter

Filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly participates in the INTER:ACTIVE section with the video installation My Tent Is Not A Shelter, consisting of clothes, textiles, video projections and sound recordings. INTER:ACTIVE is the annual CPH:DOX exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenburg, with works exploring  the intersection of documentary, creativity and new technologies.

Co-productions in competition 

Four documentaries with Norwegian co-producers are featured in this year's Nordic:Dox section:   

• Fire, Water, Earth, Air: Nordic co-production with contributions from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the Faroe Islands. The section Earth is directed by Janne Lindgren, with Norwegian co-producers Sant & Usant.  
• The Secred Reading Club of Kabul: Finnish documentary feature directed by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen, with Norwegian co-producers Ten Thousand Images.
• A Sweetness from Nowhere: Swedish documentary feature directed by Ester Bergsmark, with Norwegian co-producers Stær Film.
• The Phantom Pain of Rojava: Swedish documentary feature directed by Maryam Ebrahami, with Norwegian co-producers Stray Dogs.