PROGRAM: THE OPENING INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2025

Denmark in our hearts: Small twist, big change

Programmer: Prami Larsen
in collaboration with Creative Director Annette Brejner, m:brane

Denmark has a rich tradition for creating bold content, that attracts children and youth in large numbers – so how do they anticipate the future of young audiences’ content?

The conference program will present new ideas and concepts to adapt to the changes in kids & youths’ screen life. There is no simple receipt. However, the Danes seems to have found “new money and resources” by collaboration, visibility and open minds to create big change by a small twist to their “normal business”.

Of course, we are curious about what they do to produce content with these markers to have a steady flow out through the pipelines and into kids & youth’ screen life.

So what are they up to – the Danes – across the sound from Malmö, regarding the future of young audiences’ audiovisual content?

Welcome to meet the women and men who generously share their talents—both to keep the Danish tradition alive and to renew its identity. And that means also to keep up with the same pace as its inheritors, the children and young people, develop their sophistication in understanding and decoding the content that fills their ‘screen life.

Their ability to interpret and engage with digital content is continuously evolving rapidly, and thanks to these dedicated contributors, tradition and innovation goes hand in hand.

In this way, the cultural heritage remains vibrant and act as a source to create renewal of content for young audiences.

Welcome to listen in, take, part, become inspired and expand your network.

Welcome by Managing Director Lennart Ström and Creative Director Annette Brejner. And welcome to: Moderator Lene Johansen.

Speakers: Tine Fischer & Kirstine Vinderskov

From the Danish Film Institute, CEO, Tine Fischer and Commissioning Editor, children and youth, Kirstine Vinderskov, will open Focus: Denmark talking us through a strategy in the making. The DFI is in the process of laying out a new strategy for development and funding of feature film, documentaries and tv-series to strengthen the long tradition of strong, internationally acclaimed storytelling for children and youth. A tradition made possible to the rule that 25 % of the Danish Film Institute funding for feature film and documentaries is reserved content for new generations of audiences – with their wish for co-creation.

Speakers: Betina Husen, Kasper Kruse, Andreas Bense, Elin Algreen-Petersen

Building a specific talent pool by collaboration and visibility:
Project Manager, Betina Husen from Filmtalent – umbrella organization for the film workshops in Viborg, Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen – will present the concept and structure behind the ‘Serieskolen med DR Ultra’. A game-changing collaboration for talented storytellers, who would like to work with animation or live-action series for children and young people.

Kasper Kruse, Head of Film Workshop Viborg, will take us through what is needed and what is gained from educating storytellers for a specific target group.

Andreas Bense, Commissioning Editor at DR Ultra, will talk about the need of recruiting talented storytellers to a very specific audience “segment” to strengthen the tv-series produced by DR Ultra now and in the future.

Elin Algreen-Petersen, headmaster, of the newly established – and groundbreaking – education: the Cross-Media School of Children’s Fiction, will talk about the need of more focus on the skills and talent for script writing for all media with content for savvy young audiences.

Speakers: Katrine Kraft, Sofie Nørskov Larsen, Adam Sejer, Thomas Borch Nielsen

CASE STUDY

“BIRDS” – first production from the Series School with DR Ultra.

The core team, Katrine Kraft, Sofie Nørskov Larsen, Adam Sejer and Producer Thomas Borch Nielsen from “BIRDS” – the animated tv-series – talks about their way from idea to final production.

– A short clip or the trailer

Coffee break with light refreshments, to keep your blood sugar at bay.

Speakers: Kaspar Kruse, Jakob Høgel

THE FILM SCHOOLS ADAPTING TO CHANGE

Kasper Kruse, head of The Animation Workshop and Jakob Høgel, Head of Education and Research at the National Film School of Denmark, will take us through the discussions and challenges the two film schools are facing educating storytellers and producers entering a fast-developing media situation. Especially when it comes to developing content for the “TikTok-generation” – and the generations to come.

Speakers: Jakob Høgel, Anneli Søgård-Høyer, Zedrick Evans, Mati Kalter, Julian Szachowicz

DADIU – BRINGING GAME DEVELOPERS TOGETHER
Jakob Høgel, Head of Education and Research at the National Film School of Denmark, will present the very special network structure behind the game’s education DADIU, The National Academy of Digital, Interactive Entertainment. Focusing on how the education is bringing different skills together needed in the development of games.

– To illustrate how the education actually works, the team behind the game Bloom, developed at DADIU, present the pitch the team should deliver as the graduation result of the semester.

Bloom is a third-person puzzle platformer that combines exploration and musical expression in vibrant natural environments. Players journey across small, moon-shaped planets, solving tactile puzzles and engaging with sound to bring life back to desolate ecosystems. Built with simplicity and creativity at its core, Bloom offers a cozy, approachable experience for players looking to explore, interact, and grow alongside the world they restore.

A little longer break with sandwiches and beverages, to keep you hydrated and in a continuos vivid mood.

Speaker: Marie Rønn, Pilot Film, DK

How do we create authentic content for children and young people – on their terms?
With an improvisational and playful approach to character development and storytelling, Marie Rønn has created award-winning titles such as the feature film ”Land of Glass” and the tv-series ”Wild Friends”. She shares concrete experiences of actively involving children and young people in the entire process – from idea development to post-production.
How do we as adult filmmakers create a professional space where the playful and spontaneous can go hand in hand with a high technical and aesthetic level?
What do we do with children’s unschooled and unpolished creativity – from the naughty to the raw and dark – and can co-created content find its place in the media landscape?
This presentation provides inspiration to work more openly, generously and improvisation-ally – and to see children and young people as fellow human beings and co-creators, not “just” as a target group.

Speaker: Sissel Morell Dargis 

CASE STUDY “BALOMANIA” – Documentary, mobile game and activism

Director Sissel Morell Dargis takes us through the journey from idea to the launch of “Balomania”—a documentary and an internationally acclaimed game set in the same universe. It’s a story about passion, risk, and the world of balloon-making, unfolding both on screen, online and in physically balloon events across the world.

Speaker: Julie Lind-Holm Hansen

GOODBYE DISNEY, HELLO DENMARK

Julie Lind-Holm Hansen, Commissioning Editor of DR Ramasjang, will present the background – and results – of the bold decision to depend upon Danish – and European – (co-)productions for the very important family slot, “Friday TamTam”. And at the same time say “goodbye” to the popular Disney productions. Could quality content meeting a savvy young audience be produced on a Danish/European “shoestring budget”? Do we have the skills and talent in Denmark to keep the viewers to the screen?

We close the 2025 Opening Industry Conference by asking the question: “How can we continue to raise the status and increase respect for creators and content aimed at savvy young audiences”?

Panellists: Andreas Bense, Sissel Morel Dargis, Marie Rønn

Moderator: Lene Johansen

After a full day of inspiring questions, ideas and discovery all m:brane delegates can extend the networking and continue to deepen the conversation at the Opening Networking Cocktail at the venue, ground floor.

Cheers and Skål!