Michael Graversen
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Michael Graversen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 August 1980 |
| Alma mater | National Film and Television School |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Website | www.michaelgraversen.com |
Michael Graversen (born 27 August 1980) is a Danish documentary filmmaker. He graduated from the National Film and Television School in England[1] and directs documentaries often of an existential or socially-relevant character. His work has won awards and been selected for festivals including IDFA and CPH:DOX.[2]
Biography
[edit]In 2015, Michael Graversen directed Dreaming of Denmark.[3] For over 3 years the director followed the underground life of the Afghan boy Wasiullah – one of the many unaccompanied refugee children that disappear in Europe after they receive a rejection on their asylum claim. The film was nominated for a F:ACT Award[4] at CPH:DOX and was broadcast in prime time at DR1.[5] Subsequently, the film has toured international festivals, TV and won awards – most recently the Amnesty International Award[6] at Giffoni International Film Festival.
In 2013, Michael Graversen directed the predecessor No Man's land.[7] The film is a portrait of an asylum center in Jægerspris for unaccompanied minor refugees and was selected for numerous festivals including IDFA.[8]
Dreaming of Denmark premiered at the peak of the refugee crisis in Europe and the director has regularly appeared in Danish[9][10][11] and international[12] media advocating for the rights of refugees and in particular the unaccompanied minors. Michael Graversen was one of the first to make films about and document the lives of the unaccompanied refugee children in Europe.[13] In 2016 he received the Salaam Film Prize 2016[14] as a result of his work.
In 2012, Michael Graversen directed The Last Night Shift about women keeping lone dying people company in their final hours.[15] The director has also worked with experimental and poetic film as An Anxious Mind (selected for Australian Experimental Film Festival[16]) which is about Michael Graversen's own experience of having been affected by childhood cancer. Michael Graversen's first film was Toxic Ground about a pollution scandal in his hometown Grindsted. Toxic Ground aired on DR2 and was selected for CPH:DOX and created a lot of debate. Subsequently, a public meeting in Grindsted was held and a bill was presented in Danish parliament.[17]
Filmography
[edit]- Dreaming of Denmark (2015)
- No Man’s Land (2013)
- The Last Night Shift (2012)
- An Anxious Mind (2012)
- The Pact (2011)
- Toxic Ground (2006)
Awards and selection of festivals
[edit]- IDFA, official selection[18]
- CPH:DOX, nominated for F:ACT Award[19]
- Amnesty International Award, Giffoni International Film Festival[20]
- Best Documentary 2nd prize, Giffoni International Film Festival[21]
- Freestyle Award at Mo&Friese International Children’s Film Festival[22]
- Helsinki International Film Festival[23]
- Thessaloniki Documentary Festival[24]
- Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Amsterdam[25]
- Nordische Filmtage, Lübeck,[26]
- Japan Prize, International Educational Program Contest[27]
- One World, Romania[28]
- Human Rights & Arts Film Festival, Melbourne[29]
- Salaam Film Prize 2016[30]
- Olympia International Film Festival[31]
- Uppsala International Short Film Festival[32]
- Belo Horizonte International Short Film Festival[33]
- World Film Festival, Estonia[34]
- Watch Docs International Human Rights Film Festival[35]
- Document Human Rights Film Festival, Glasgow[36]
- BUFF International Children's Film festival, Malmø[37]
References
[edit]- ^ "NFTS doc hits headlines after broadcast on danish tv", NFTS News, 2013
- ^ "The Danish Film Institute" about Michael Graversen
- ^ "Dreaming of Denmark" fact sheet at Danish Film Institute
- ^ "Dreaming of Denmark" at CPH:DOX
- ^ "Dreaming of Denmark", DR TV, 15 November 2015
- ^ "Double success of Dreaming of Denmark: Amnesty International Award and the second prize at Giffoni International Film Festival", 2 August 2016, Doc Incubator
- ^ "No Man's Land" fact sheet, Danish Film Institute
- ^ "No Man's Land" at IDFA
- ^ "We have a responsibility towards unaccompanied minor refugees", 5 November 2015, dr.dk
- ^ "Close the children's asylum centres", Berlingske, 4 August 2016
- ^ "The live in the shadows and will never be a part of society", information.dk, 8 April 2016
- ^ "Documentary highlights plight of children seeking asylums", 6 May 2016, ABC News
- ^ "Michael Graversen talks about “Dreaming of Denmark”", Cinepivates film magazine, 15 March 2016
- ^ "Salaam Film Prize 2016", 14 September 2016
- ^ "Debate about a special kind of job made for a full house", Kristeligt Dagblad, 2. juni 2012
- ^ "Australian Experimental Film Festival", 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Toxic Ground (Jorden er giftig)" at IMDB
- ^ "No Man's Land", IDFA, November 2013
- ^ "F:ACT Award nominees", cphdox.dk, November 2015
- ^ "Topical doc wins Amnesty Award", dr.dk, 28 July 2016
- ^ "Giffoni 2016 winners", cineuropa.org, 26 July 2016
- ^ "2014 Winners", moundfriese.de, May 2014
- ^ ""Helsinki International Film Festival", hiff.fi, 23 September 2016". Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ "Thessaloniki doc fest tunes into refugee crisis", Ekathimerini, 11 February 2016
- ^ "Human Rights Watch Film Festival", ff.hrw.org, 29 January 2017
- ^ "Nordic Film Days Lübeck", leubeck.de, 4 November 2016
- ^ "Japan Prize", NHK, 26 October 2016
- ^ "One World", oneworld.ro, 23 March 2016
- ^ "Human Rights and Arts Film Festival, Melbourne", hraff.au, 7 May 2016
- ^ "Salaam Film Prize", salaam.dk, September 2016
- ^ "Olympia International Film Festival", olympiafilmfestival.gr, 30 November 2014
- ^ "Uppsala International Short Film Festival", shortfilmfestival.com, October 2013
- ^ "World Movements Exhibition", davidayoun.fr, September 2014
- ^ "World Film Festival", worldfilm.ee, March 2014
- ^ "Watch Docs", watchdocs.pl, 7 December 2013
- ^ "Document Film Festival, Glasgow", documentfestival.org, 23 October 2016
- ^ "BUFF, Malmø", buff.se, 22 March 2017[permanent dead link]