FESTEN
Presented by: Film i Malmö
September 3, 2025
Wednesday, 20:00
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Year: 1998
Runtime: 101 min
Subtitles: English
Synopsis: A family secret comes to light amidst the celebration of the patriarch’s birthday. Christian, the eldest son is the master of ceremonies for the big family reunion but has other plans than simply honoring his father. Raw, direct and unapologetic, this film was the first to come from the Dogme 95 manifesto and still one of the most powerful.
30 years later, Remembering DOGME 95
In March 1995, at a Parisian conference celebrating 100 years of film, Danish director Lars von Trier handed out red pamphlets that would formally announce DOGME 95. Together with Thomas Vinterberg, Trier had created a manifesto that compiled a “Vow of Chastity” – a strict set of rules that would determine whether or not film could be considered part of the movement. DOGME 95 was a backlash against the commercial studio filmmaking of the time, with its over-reliance on technology and digital tools. Over time, many filmmakers around the world joined the movement, creating together a rich body of work. However, not all films would strictly abide by every rule, so filmmakers would be required to “confess” the ways in which they have failed to comply with their vows.
This September, at Film i Malmö, we will revisit some of the most renowned films produced by the DOGME collective, and will celebrate their audacity, non-conformism, and determination to keep independent cinema alive!