COPENHAGEN — The documentary Whispers in May, directed by Dongnan Chen, took home the top honor at the CPH:DOX International Documentary Film Festival on Friday night, securing the DOX:AWARD and automatically qualifying the film for Academy Award consideration. The film, a poignant exploration of a 14-year-old girl's rite of passage in rural China, beat out a competitive field in the festival's flagship competition, which celebrates artistic excellence in documentary filmmaking. Chen, who was present to accept the award, expressed gratitude in her acceptance speech, saying, “Thank you for seeing the girls. And thank you for seeing us.”
The jury's decision highlighted the film's unique blend of mythical storytelling and everyday realism. In their statement, the five-member DOX:AWARD jury wrote, “Telling mythical stories about hidden worlds is a gift. Giving breadth and depth to quotidian moments is a talent. Weaving cinematic forms while allowing reality to resonate is captivating. Ultimately, we were charmed by a young girl’s journey. Walking over the edge of the last days of childhood, this director has succeeded in sharing a modern-day fairytale that heeds monsters and factories, alike.” The award comes with a €10,000 prize sponsored by Politiken Fonden, underscoring the festival's commitment to supporting innovative voices in nonfiction cinema.
CPH:DOX, held annually in Copenhagen, Denmark, drew submissions from around the world for its 2026 edition, selecting 74 films for the international competitions, including 53 world premieres, 17 international premieres, and four European premieres. The festival, which ran through late March, positions itself as a premier platform for documentaries that push boundaries, blending investigative journalism, artistic experimentation, and human rights advocacy. This year's lineup reflected global concerns, from climate activism to cultural preservation and political division.
In addition to the top prize, the jury awarded a Special Mention in the DOX:AWARD category to The Cord, the directorial debut of French filmmaker Nolwenn Hervé. Jurors praised the film for its emotional depth, noting, “This emerging voice captivated us with its humanity, tenacity and empathy.” Hervé's work, a 2026 world premiere from France, explores personal connections amid broader societal shifts, adding to the festival's emphasis on fresh perspectives.
The newly introduced FIPRESCI Award, presented by the International Federation of Film Critics, went to Amazomania, directed by Swedish filmmaker Nathan Grossman. This documentary delves into a 1996 expedition in Brazil aimed at contacting the isolated Indigenous Koruba people in the Amazon rainforest. Grossman incorporated licensed footage from Swedish filmmaker Erling Söderström, who participated in the original journey alongside numerous journalists. The film critically examines the fascination with remote tribes and raises ethical questions about agency, consent, and the application of concepts like copyright in cultures without such frameworks. As a 2026 world premiere co-produced by Sweden, Denmark, and France, Amazomania resonated with critics for its introspective approach to ethnographic filmmaking.
Shifting to activism and journalism, the F:ACT AWARD competition, which bridges documentary and investigative reporting, crowned Just Look Up as its winner. Directed by Emma Wall and Betsy Hershey, and executive produced by Adam McKay, the film spotlights young activists employing disruptive tactics to push for immediate climate action. Supported by International Media Support and the Danish Union of Journalists, the award includes a €5,000 prize. A Special Mention in this category went to The Great Experiment, directed by Stephen Maing and Eric Daniel Metzgar. Shot across the United States from 2017 to 2020, the documentary, a 2026 international premiere from the U.S. and Mexico, investigates ideological divides threatening the nation's democratic foundations.
The NEXT:WAVE Award, designed for bold and creative documentaries, was awarded to Dream of Another Summer by Irene Bartolomé. This Spanish-Lebanese co-production, a 2026 world premiere, immerses viewers in Beirut's scarred landscape following the devastating 2020 port explosion that claimed over 200 lives and inflicted billions in damage. Bartolomé's approach combines evocative cinematography with quasi-fictional elements to convey the city's resilience and loss. The €5,000 prize recognizes emerging filmmakers pushing cinematic boundaries. Earning a Special Mention was This Is Not a French Film by Tom Adjibi, a 2026 world premiere from Belgium and France, which challenges conventional documentary tropes.
In the NORDIC:DOX category, honoring standout works from the Nordic region, The Secret Reading Club of Kabul by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen claimed the €5,000 prize. This Finnish-Norwegian co-production, a 2026 world premiere, sheds light on underground literary gatherings in Afghanistan amid repression. A Special Mention went to Homesick by Taekyung Tanja In Wol Sørensen, a 2026 world premiere involving Denmark, South Korea, and Finland, exploring themes of displacement and identity.
The HUMAN:RIGHTS AWARD, sponsored by the Danish Institute for Human Rights with a €5,000 prize, was presented to The Phantom Pain of Rojava by Maryam Ebrahimi. This Swedish-Norwegian 2026 world premiere addresses ongoing struggles in the Kurdish region of Rojava, highlighting human rights defenses in conflict zones. Poh Si Teng's American Doctor received a Special Mention; the film, a 2026 international premiere co-produced by the United States, Palestine, Malaysia, and Denmark, follows a physician's journey through humanitarian crises.
Further recognizing experimental works, the NEW:VISION Award went to Compact Disc by Rico Wong, a 2026 world premiere from Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, which experiments with form to critique modern media consumption. A Special Mention in this €5,000 category was awarded to Local Sensations by Tulapop Saenjaroen, a 2026 European premiere from Thailand, blending personal narratives with cultural commentary.
The festival's interactive offerings were honored through the INTER:ACTIVE EXHIBITION AWARD, with Inside: The Childhood of an Artist by Sacha Wares taking the top spot. This multisensory VR experience from the United Kingdom, an international premiere in 2026, received a 10,000 DKK cash prize. A Special Mention went to Dark Rooms by Mads Damsbo and Laurits Flensted-Jensen, a Danish-German-Taiwanese immersive VR project marking its Danish premiere.
CPH:DOX also announced an Audience Award of €10,000, sponsored by the Danish public service broadcaster DR, with the winner to be revealed on March 26. The festival's diverse program not only showcased global stories but also fostered discussions on documentary ethics, from Indigenous representation in Amazomania to climate urgency in Just Look Up. Organizers noted that the selections were hand-picked from thousands of submissions, emphasizing the event's role in elevating nonfiction cinema.
As CPH:DOX 2026 concludes, the awards highlight a vibrant year for documentaries addressing pressing issues like environmental collapse, cultural erasure, and social fragmentation. Films like Whispers in May and The Great Experiment now gain international visibility, potentially influencing Oscar nominations and broader conversations. Festival director Tine Fischer commented in a statement that the winners "exemplify the power of documentary to illuminate hidden truths and inspire change." Looking ahead, next year's edition promises to build on this momentum, continuing Copenhagen's tradition as a hub for innovative storytelling.
The ripple effects of these awards extend beyond the festival circuit. For instance, Just Look Up's focus on youth-led climate protests aligns with global movements, while Dream of Another Summer contributes to ongoing narratives about Lebanon's recovery. Directors like Chen and Grossman have already fielded interest from distributors, signaling the commercial potential of festival darlings. In a media landscape increasingly dominated by scripted content, CPH:DOX reaffirms the documentary's vital role in chronicling reality.