EXCLUSIVE: Sandbox Films and CPH:DOX – Copenhagen’s prestigious documentary film festival – are teaming up for a new award that will raise the profile of science-themed storytelling.
The Sandbox Films Science Pitch Award at CPH:FORUM, announced today, “will be presented to a science documentary project presented at CPH:FORUM that demonstrates outstanding genre innovation, artistic merit and a commitment to inclusion,” according to the release. . CPH:FORUM is “the long-term funding and co-production event of the festival dedicated to visually strong creative documentary projects with international potential”.
The new award comes with a price tag of $25,000.
Sandbox Films, a leading production company that occupies the intersection of science and cinema, and CPH:DOX have a long-standing partnership, “united by a shared passion for science documentaries that push creative boundaries,” the release notes. “Both organizations are committed to supporting films that explore science in bold and innovative ways, reflecting a mutual love for projects that combine artistic merit with scientific research. This new award builds on that collaboration, recognizing and supporting filmmakers whose work embodies this spirit.”
The inaugural award will be presented at the conclusion of the next CPH:FORUM in March 2025.
“We are thrilled to be able to present this award at CPH:FORUM,” said Jessica Harrop, executive director of Sandbox Films. “Each year we are amazed by the quality of the projects highlighted there and are excited by the focus on innovative science storytelling. This award is another way to help support artists experimenting in this space.”
Previous science-related projects to be presented at the Forum include Architectsdirected by Victor Kossakovsky; Fathomdirected by Drew Xanthopoulos; AND De Humani Corporis Fabricadirected by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel.
“We are more than excited to partner with Sandbox Films on this award,” said Mara Gourd-Mercado, Head of Industry and Training at CPH:DOX. “Science documentaries have the unique power to connect art and knowledge. At CPH:DOX, we are committed to supporting bold and visionary storytelling, and this award further reinforces our mission to champion films that explore new ways of seeing and understanding the world around us.”
CPH: DOX
Today’s announcement specified additional criteria for the Sandbox Films Science Pitch Award at CPH:FORUM:[S]strong artistic vision around a clear scientific focus, reflecting the ethos of curiosity and exploration that drives scientific research. It must balance accessibility with depth, making complex ideas appealing and understandable to a wide audience. In addition to its creative and scientific strengths, the project must demonstrate a commitment to diversity in representation, expanding the range of voices telling science stories.
The next edition of the Forum will take place from March 24-27 in the Danish capital.
Sandbox Films, launched in 2020, “is a documentary studio that illuminates the art and beauty of scientific research,” according to the company’s website. “Our films celebrate this sense of possibility, seeking to uncover the deepest truths about our world. Our films ask more questions than they answer. They convey scientific ideas, embedded in culture, designed to inspire new and diverse audiences.”
Documentaries from Sandbox Films include Oscar nominees Fire of Lovedirected by Sara Dosa; Stories of a Good Samaritandirected by Penny Lane; All Light, Everywheredirected by Theo Anthony; Fireball: Visitors from the Dark Worldsdirected by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer; and the aforementioned Fathomthe Emmy-winning film by Drew Xanthopoulos.
Sandbox Films is supported by the Simons Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.”