Media Notes / Dogme '95

2 Following

A film-making movement begun in 1995 by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, in which the story, acting, and themes of a film are favored over the extensive use of special effects or technology.

Films must follow a specific set of rules in order to qualify for Dogme 95 status.

1. All filming must be done on-location. Props and sets are not allowed; if a particular prop is necessary for the story, the location chosen must come equipped with this prop.
2. The sound must not be produced separately from the images, and vice versa. Only diegetic music (i.e. music that exists within the scene that the characters can also hear) is permitted.
3. The camera must be hand-held and not mounted.
4. The film must be in colour, and special lighting is not permitted, save for a single lamp attached to the camera if absolutely necessary.
5. Optical work and filters cannot be used.
6. The film cannot contain any superficial action (such as murders or use of weapons).
7. The film must take place "here and now".
8. Genre movies are not allowed.
9. The film format must be Academy 35 mm.
10. The director must be uncredited.

So far, fewer than 100 films have been identified as true Dogme 95 films, as the strict rules and guidelines are difficult to meet.

Independent directors have begun to stray from the traditional Dogme 95 formula, creating their own, more lenient rules for creating an artistic independent film. Originally, the last point would've been the biggest stumbling block as it virtually guarantees always needing a day job, but with the quality and accessibility of digital video, 35mm has become something of an indulgence for indie filmmakers.

In 2025, on the 30th anniversary of the launch of Dogme 95 at Cannes, the new group of Danish filmmakers (May el-Toukhy, Milad Alami, Annika Berg, Isabella Eklöf, and Jesper Just), with blessings from two of four original founders Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, relaunched the movement and now called Dogme 25. They updated the original manifesto and its vow of chastity, addressed current issues in today's filmmaking (such as rendering art as "content," generative AI images, producing mass-appealing works based on algorithm, etc.), and trying to make the indie film production back to its low-budget DIY root, which was the main goal of Dogme 95.

For the new generation, "DOGMA 25 is a rescue mission and a cultural uprising."

The new and updated set of rules of Dogme 25 follows:

1. The script must be original and handwritten by the director.
2. At least half the film must be without dialogue.
3. The internet is off limits in all creative processes.
4. We’ll only accept funding with no content altering conditions attached.
5. No more than 10 people behind the camera.
6. The film must be shot where the narrative takes place.
7. We’re not allowed to use make-up or manipulate faces and bodies unless it’s part of the narrative.
8. Everything relating to the film’s production must be rented, borrowed, found, or used.
9. The film must be made in no more than one year.
10. Create the film as if it were your last.

---

Dogme '95 films:

• Amerikana
• Cabin Fever aka Når nettene blir lange (not to be confused with the 2002 horror movie of the same name)
• Camera
• The Celebration aka Festen
• Diapason
• Fuckland
• The Idiots
• Interview
• Italian For Beginners
• Joy Ride aka Usfahrt (not to be confused with the 2001 horror movie or the 2023 comedy of the same name)
• Julien Donkey-Boy
• The King Is Alive
• Lovers 1999
• Mifunes Last Song
• Open Hearts
• Reunion aka American Reunion
• Strass
• Truly Human aka Et Rigtigt Menneske

---