CPH:DOX, also known as the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, has partnered for a second consecutive year with the European Film Promotion (EFP) to present Europe! Docs, a showcase designed to highlight exceptional European documentaries and facilitate their access to the North American market. This initiative, which precedes the festival, is hosted online to generate early interest and attract attention from film industry professionals. The selection is jointly curated by the EFP and CPH:DOX programming teams.
The showcase offers U.S. buyers and distributors six European documentary films, all premiering worldwide and featured in the festival’s main competition, DOX:AWARD. These films demonstrate the range and creative vitality of contemporary European documentary filmmaking.
EFP managing director Sonja Heinen emphasized the value of the ongoing collaboration with CPH:DOX, noting that Europe! Docs serves as a unique platform connecting European filmmakers with key industry figures in North America. She added that showcasing the films ahead of the festival enhances visibility and fosters partnerships, supporting European cinema’s expansion in the U.S. market.
Mara Gourd-Mercado, head of industry and training at CPH:DOX, expressed satisfaction with continuing the partnership in 2026, highlighting Europe! Docs as an important addition to CPH:Market. She explained that the initiative grants European documentaries early exposure to American buyers and decision-makers and creates opportunities for meaningful discussions about the films. It also strengthens international distribution channels for European nonfiction work and positions CPH:Industry as a vital venue for the documentary sector worldwide.
Among the films featured are “Amazomania” by Nathan Grossman (Sweden, France, Denmark, 2026), which revisits footage from a 1996 expedition documenting the Korubo people and reexamines the consequences of first contact. Ian Purnell’s “Arctic Link” (Switzerland, 2026), which won the Kompagnon-Fellowships Prize at Berlinale Talent in 2020, combines documentary and visual essay elements to explore the installation of a fiber-optic cable and its impact on a remote Alaskan community amid climate change.
Karl Friis Forchhammer’s “Christiania” (Denmark, 2026) chronicles 50 years of Copenhagen’s social experiment with freedom and consensus democracy, addressing the coexistence of creativity, idealism, and social challenges. “The Cord” by Nolwenn Hervé (France, 2026) focuses on Venezuela’s fragile healthcare system through the story of Carolina, a “maternity warrior,” and won the IDFA Forum Award for Best Rough Cut Project due to its emotional depth.
Pieter-Jan De Pue’s “Mariinka” (Belgium, 2026), shot on 16mm and selected as the opening film of CPH:DOX 2026, is a long-term documentary tracking young Ukrainians affected by the war in Donbas, highlighting struggles with survival and loyalty. Rachel Close’s “Something Familiar” (Romania, UK, 2026), recipient of the Cineuropa Marketing Award and Romanian CNC Development Fund first prize in 2022, begins as a search for a birth mother and evolves into a deeper investigation of family history marked by abuse and exploitation.
In addition to the film presentations, Europe! Docs includes a press and promotional campaign with an online event featuring leading industry media. The program provides participating filmmakers with tailored industry preparation, including guidance on U.S. market strategies and facilitated introductions. During the festival, Europe! Docs also hosts an in-person networking event at CPH:Forum, allowing European filmmakers and North American decision-makers to meet face to face.
This collaboration reaffirms a shared commitment to supporting European documentary films by increasing their exposure and fostering transatlantic connections within the international documentary community.
