Songs of Slow Burning Earth receives two nominations at the IDA Documentary Awards 2025 /  by Maria Kristensen

The film Songs of Slow Burning Earth by director Olha Zhurba has received two nominations at the 41st IDA Documentary Awards 2025 — in the categories Best Feature Documentary and Best Director.

The film is a co-production between Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden and France. It is an audiovisual diary of the first two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, depicting how the initial shock and panic gradually transform into a normalized daily reality of constant danger, destruction, and the threat of death.

Following its world premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival in 2024, Songs of Slow Burning Earth has collected a number of prestigious awards, including top prizes at the Riga International Film Festival, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, One World International Human Rights Film Festival, Docville, and several other international festivals.

In November 2025, the film was also shortlisted for the 38th European Film Awards in two categories — European Documentary Film and European Film.

The nominations at the IDA Documentary Awards — one of the most respected documentary honors worldwide — further highlight the film’s international recognition and the important role of Ukrainian documentary cinema in reflecting on the ongoing war.

We look forward to the announcement of the winners and remain hopeful for the film’s success.

The End — Swedish Premiere in Malmö! /  by Maria Kristensen

We are delighted to share that The End has had its Swedish premiere in Malmö this week.

Earlier in the week, the post-apocalyptic musical The End, created by director Joshua Oppenheimer, enjoyed a wonderful Skåne gala premiere.
The premiere took place in collaboration with Anagram and Film i Skåne.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Joshua Oppenheimer, Anne Lundberg, and the entire Anagram team for an incredibly warm premiere!
Swedish audiences have now had the chance to experience this unique cinematic event on the big screen.

We were thrilled to see the reactions from Malmö’s audience and are happy to have shared this extraordinary musical story with an even wider public.

Two STRANGERS TRYING NOT TO KILL EACH OTHER WON BEST ARTS & MUSIC DOCUMENTARY AT GRIERSON AWARDS 2025! /  by Maria Kristensen

We are incredibly proud to share that Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other has won the Grierson Award 2025 in the Best Arts and Music category at last night’s ceremony in London.

Photo: Hello Content / @frankowski

The Griersons are among the most prestigious honours in documentary filmmaking, celebrating outstanding craft, storytelling and artistic vision — and it is a tremendous joy to see the film receive this recognition.

We couldn’t be happier for the team and extend our warmest congratulations to Jacob Perlmutter (director & producer), Manon Ouimet (director & producer), Signe Byrge Sørensen (producer), Mandy Chang (executive producer), Joslyn Barnes (executive producer), Estephan Wagner (editor), the entire crew, as well as protagonists Maggie Barrett and Joel Meyerowitz — and everyone who contributed to this wonderful film.

Nominees for the European Film Awards 2026 Announced! SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH Contends for the Award /  by Maria Kristensen

The European Film Academy (EFA) has announced the nominees for the 38th European Film Awards 2026 ceremony, which will take place on January 17th in Berlin. The list of contenders for the continent's most prestigious film award features the year's most striking and influential works.

We are pleased to announce that among the nominees is the documentary film SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH, directed by Olha Zhurba (a co-production between Ukraine, France, Denmark, and Sweden), which has been shortlisted in the European Documentary category.

The award ceremony, where the winners will be revealed, is set to take place in Berlin on January 17, 2026. The full list of nominees in all categories, including "European Director," "Actress," and "Screenwriter," can be viewed on the official EFA website via the link.

SIMON LERENG WILMONT RECEIVES LIFELONG HONORARY GRANT FROM THE DANISH ARTS FOUNDATION /  by Maria Kristensen

We are proud to share that a film director, Simon Lereng Wilmont, has been awarded a lifelong honorary grant from the Danish Arts Foundation (Statens Kunstfond)!

The grant recognises Simon’s outstanding contribution to Danish and international documentary film.

The Danish Arts Foundation states:

“With a rare ability to create intimate and moving portraits of people in vulnerable moments, Simon brings audiences close to realities most of us only experience from a distance. His films are simple, yet never simplistic, carried by presence, aesthetics, and human insight.

Simon Lereng Wilmont allows silence and the small, unspoken moments to speak. His work reminds us that even in dark times, there is light, empathy, and beauty.”

We couldn’t agree more, and we congratulate Simon on this well-deserved recognition!

Read more about the honorary grants from the Danish Arts Foundation here

SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH SHORTLISTED FOR EUROPEAN FILM AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY /  by Maria Kristensen

Final Cut for Real proudly announces that Songs of Slow Burning Earth, directed by Olha Zhurba, has been shortlisted for Best Documentary at the 38th European Film Awards

Songs of Slow Burning Earth is a mosaic portrait of life in Ukraine during the first two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The film reveals the transformation of a society moving from the panic of the war’s early weeks to an uneasy acceptance of death and destruction that have tragically become the new normal for Ukrainians.

We invite members of the European Film Academy to watch the film and cast their votes on the EFA VOD platform.
Voting runs from October 22 to November 5, 2025.

The film is also available to wider audiences and viewers in Denmark via DR.dk.

We hope that both Academy members and general audiences will discover and share this powerful story from Ukraine.

SICILY PREMIERE OF ‘THE END’ IN THE BACK OF THE SALT MINE AT PETRALIA SOPRANO /  by Maria Kristensen

A truly special moment: On Thursday, June 5th, THE END returned to its roots with an unforgettable premiere held inside the working salt mine of Petralia Soprano, where much of the film was shot. The atmosphere was electric as Italian press, influencers, and distributors gathered underground for this unique screening, organized by our incredible Italian distributor I Wonder.

Endless thanks to I Wonder, Dorje Film, the Sicily Film Commission, MIC, Dedar, our amazing Italian crew, and all the dedicated mine workers who helped make this magical event a reality.

THE END hits cinemas across Italy on July 3rd.

Help us spread the word!

THREE AWARDS FOR ‘SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH' AT MILLENNIUM DOCS AGAINST GRAVITY /  by Maria Kristensen

We are proud to share that Songs of Slow Burning Earth has been honoured with three awards at the 21st edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity in Poland.

The film received the Amnesty International Poland Award, given to films that shed light on the mechanisms of oppression and resistance, power and hope, and the struggle for human rights.

It was also awarded the First Appearance Award, celebrating the strongest debut or second film by an emerging director. The prize is unique in that its jury consists of viewers from across generations — teenagers as well as adults over 55.

Finally, the film’s cinematographers — Volodymyr Usyk, Viacheslav Tsvetkov, and Mykhailo Lubarsky — received a Special Mention for Best Cinematography.

The film is a series of reflective observations of Ukraine in wartime, interwoven with eye-witness accounts to contemplate the ultimate tragedy: the normalisation of war.

Directed by Daria Onyshchenko, Songs of Slow Burning Earth is an audiovisual diary chronicling Ukraine’s immersion into the abyss of full-scale invasion.

Songs of Slow Burning Earth is produced by Darya Bassel for the Ukrainian production company Moon Man, and is co-produced by Anne Köhncke for Final Cut for Real and Kerstin Übelacker for We Have A Plan.

This is the second film we are coproducing with Olha following Outside from 2022, and in ‘Songs of Slow Burning Eart’ is continuing her beautiul collaboration with editor Michael Aaglund and editing consultant Niels Pagh Andersen.

‘THE END’ COMING TO THEATERS IN GERMANY AND THE UK! /  by Maria Kristensen

Exciting news for cinema lovers in Germany and the UK - Joshua Oppenheimer's The End, is coming to theaters soon! 

Directed by Academy Award® Nominated Joshua Oppenheimer (The Act of Killing, The Look of Silence), this Golden Age musical explores the complex dynamics of one of the last families on Earth. Featuring a stellar cast including Academy Award® Winner Tilda Swinton as MOTHER and Academy Award® Nominee Michael Shannon as FATHER, with Moses Ingram as GIRL and George MacKay as SON, THE END promises to captivate audiences with its profound narrative and stunning visuals.

Since its premiere at prestigious film festivals, THE END has received critical acclaim for its artistic direction and powerful performances. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious underground compound, the film unfolds as the arrival of a mysterious stranger forces each family member to confront their realities and question their perfect existence.

Check out the information for release dates:

'TWO STRANGERS TRYING NOT TO KILL EACH OTHER' ARRIVES IN UK CINEMAS ON MARCH THE 21ST! /  by Maria Kristensen

Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other arrives in UK cinemas on March 21st!

This intimate documentary follows 75-year-old artist Maggie Barrett and  her husband, 84-year-old world-renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz as they navigate the challenges of aging and mortality. Their long, complex history resurfaces, forcing them to confront hard truths about their life together and with time slipping away, Maggie and Joel embark on a deeply personal journey to rediscover harmony before it’s too late.

You can book you tickets for screenings + events in the UK here.

DISTRIBUTION: Modern Films

DIRECTORS: Jacob Perlmutter, Manon Ouimet

FEATURING: Joel Meyerowitz, Maggie Barrett

PRODUCER: Signe Byrge Sørensen,  Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mandy Chang, Joslyn Barnes, Melissa O'Shaughnessy, James O'Shaughnessy and Janus Billeskov Jansen

COUNTRIES OF PRODUCTION: UK, Denmark, USA

'THE END' PLAYING IN CINEMAS IN DENMARK NOW /  by Maria Kristensen

We are so happy to see that Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End has been received so wonderfully by the Danish press and film critics - and now the film is ready to meet its Danish audience!

After a spectacular gala premiere last week, the film is now playing in art cinemas all over Denmark - click here to see when and where, and to book your tickets.

'FIGHTING DEMONS WITH DRAGONS' NOMINATED FOR THE DANISH TV AWARDS /  by Maria Kristensen

We are very honoured to announce that Camilla Magid’s wonderful series Fighting Demons with Dragons is nominated for TV PRISEN, the Danish TV Award 2025, in the category Best Reportage Series.

TVPRISEN is Denmark's only TV industry award. It is organized by the Producers' Association and honors the best TV programs of the year and the greatest achievements. The coveted statuettes are presented at the annual awards ceremony.

See the full list of nominees here.

FORPREMIERER PÅ 'THE END' OVER HELE DANMARK /  by Maria Kristensen

Glæd dig til en helt særlig oplevelse, når den Oscar-nominerede instruktør Joshua Oppenheimer (The Act of Killing, The Look of Silence) besøger udvalgte biografer i forbindelse med sin seneste film, musicalen The End, som har Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, George MacKay og Moses Ingram.

Oppenheimer vil være til stede til eksklusive visninger af filmen, hvor han efterfølgende deltager i en samtale med publikum. Her får du mulighed for at komme tættere på hans vision, hans arbejdsproces og de historier, der har formet filmen.

Turnéprogram:

3. februar – kl. 16 Biffen Nordkraft, Aalborg
3. februar – kl. 19 Øst for Paradis, Århus - inkl. et glas efter filmen
5. februar – kl. 19 Empire Bio, København N UDSOLGT
6. februar – kl. 18.30 Café Biografen, Odense
17. februar – kl. 20 Park Bio, København Ø
18. februar – kl. 18.30 Moviehouse, Hellerup
18. februar – kl. 18.30 Reprise Teatret, Holte
20. februar - kl. 19 Big Bio, Nordhavn, indledt af Q&A
20. februar - kl. 19 Bio Næstved, efterfulgt af Q&A

Sørg for at sikre dig din billet allerede i dag – der er et begrænset antal pladser!

'SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH' PLAYING IN "BEST OF FESTS" AT IDFA 2024 /  by Maria Kristensen

Songs of Slow Burning Earth, a haunting and powerful record of the war in Ukraine directed by Olha Zhurba, will be shown at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam from 15 to 23 November 2024. This will also mark its Dutch premiere.

Our Anne Köhncke co-produced alongside Kerstin Überlacker at the Swedish production company We Have a Plan. Songs of Slow Burning Earth was produced by Darya Bassel at the Ukraine-based company Moon Man, who also produced Outside, the first of Olha’s films that we co-produced.

Having had its world premiere at this year’s Venice International Film Festival, this is only a continuation of Songs of Slow Burning Earth’s amazing impact, and we can’t wait for you to see it!

The film is screening in the prestigious Best of Fests programme, which also features another FCFR title, Manon Ouimet & Jacob Perlmutter’s Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other.

Read more about the screenings at IDFA and book your tickets here.

'FIGHTING DEMONS WITH DRAGONS' WINS YOUTH JURY AWARD IN LÜBECK /  by Maria Kristensen

This weekend Camilla Magid’s documentary film Fighting Demons with Dragons won the Youth Jury Award at the Nordic Film Days festival in Lübeck.

We are so honored that the jury chose the film, here is their statement: "Through out the week, we watched 9 different movies. Many of them effected us emotionally and it was a hard decision to choose the best one. But after long considerations, we decided to hand the award to a movie, which is about finding yourself, your safe space and people that you trust and make you feel comfortable around them. We hope that the movie reaches as many people as possible to show the importance of the topic."

Click here to read all the jury statement and to find out more about the festival

Fighting Demons with Dragons premiered as a TV series in primetime on national television, DR1 , in March 2024 and received wonderful reviews and reactions. The feature version of the film premiered at Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, where it won the Silver Alexander for Best Debut.

Fighting Demons with Dragons is both a 4 part TV series, a 52 min TV version, and a 90 min feature film, and Cinephil is international sales agent.