A new wave swept through the Croisette yesterday. As part of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, DOGMA 25 was officially unveiled — a cinematic initiative born in Denmark that, three decades after the historic DOGMA 95 manifesto, calls for a return to meaningful, handcrafted filmmaking. Behind the project are five renowned and daring Danish filmmakers: May el-Toukhy, Milad Alami, Annika Berg, Isabella Eklöf, and Jesper Just. United as a collective, the directors have drafted a new “vow of chastity,” renewing the original principles with even more radical rules. The initiative emerges as a direct response to what they see as an industry ruled by algorithms, rushed productions, and bloated crews. “DOGMA 25 is a rescue mission and a cultural uprising,” they declared during the launch. “We stand together to defend artistic freedom as a shield against meaninglessness and powerlessness.”

The manifesto outlines ten rules built around three core principles: a return to physical reality, aesthetic restraint, and economic and geographic accountability. Among the standout requirements are a complete ban on internet use during the creative process, handwritten scripts, filming only in real locations using borrowed or reused materials, having at least half of the film without dialogue, and allowing makeup only when narratively justified.

The spark for the project was ignited by May el-Toukhy, who, in late 2024, approached Zentropa with the idea of creating a space for innovation and reflection. Since then, DOGMA 25 has taken shape with the support of DR, Nordisk Film Distribution, and funding from the Danish Film Institute (DFI). International sales will be handled by TrustNordisk.

The movement has already received backing from key figures in Danish cinema. Thomas Vinterberg and Lars von Trier, the founders of DOGMA 95, gave their blessing: “In 1995, we made films in times of peace. In 2025, new dogmas arise in a world of war and uncertainty. We wish you luck in your march to reconquer Danish cinema.”

Industry voices quickly rallied behind the initiative. DR’s Henriette Marienlund called it “a necessary step to make room for new voices,” while Kenneth Wiberg of Nordisk praised its timeliness in an oversaturated market. TrustNordisk’s managing director Susan Wendt highlighted the value of telling original stories with creative courage. And Tine Fischer of the DFI summed it up: “DOGMA 25 is exactly what we need: radical filmmakers collectively committed to artistic freedom.”