Published: : May 22, 2025, 10:14 AM
A New Cultural Movement Emerges at Cannes
Thirty years after the groundbreaking Dogma 95 movement reshaped global cinema, a new collective of five Danish and Swedish filmmakers has launched Dogma 25, unveiling a bold and politically charged cinematic manifesto at the Cannes Film Festival. In sharp opposition to digital algorithms and the increasing artificiality of film, this new movement positions itself as both a “cultural uprising” and a “rescue mission.”
Filmmakers May el-Toukhy, Milad Alami, Annika Berg, Isabella Eklöf, and Jesper Just announced their manifesto, highlighting a mission to uphold the flawed, human, and unpredictable elements of cinema. They resist the commodification of film and the transformation of audiences into passive consumers.
Dogma 25 has been publicly endorsed by legendary directors Thomas Vinterberg and Lars von Trier, key figures in Dogma 95, along with von Trier’s production company Zentropa. Their joint statement reflected on the historical context: “In ’95, we made films in the certainty of peace. And created a revolt against conformity. In ’25, new dogmas are created, now in a world of war and uncertainty.”
From Dogma 95 to Dogma 25
Dogma 95’s impact was seismic. Its famous “Vow of Chastity” outlined ten strict rules that emphasized realism and artistic purity—no artificial lighting, no genre films, no director credits, and more. This led to classics like Festen and The Idiots, which were pivotal to European cinema in the late 1990s.
Although Dogma 95 dissolved in the early 2000s, its spirit lives on through Dogma 25—now adapted for today's digital and sociopolitical climate. The new manifesto rejects most of the old rules but keeps their radical ethos. Only one original rule remains: shooting must take place where the narrative occurs.
The New Vow of Chastity
Dogma 25 introduces ten new commandments, grounded in three themes: physical reality, aesthetic restraint, and accountability—both economic and geographic. Most provocatively, filmmakers vow to avoid the internet in all creative processes and complete their films within one year.
Here is the complete list of Dogma 25 rules:
Original, handwritten script by the director to nurture intuitive creativity.
At least half the film must be without dialogue, prioritizing visual storytelling.
No internet involvement in any creative phase.
Only accept funding with no strings attached, protecting artistic control.
Maximum 10 crew members behind the camera, encouraging trust and cohesion.
Shoot where the story takes place, ensuring authenticity.
No cosmetic alterations unless justified by the narrative—faces and bodies must remain natural.
Use only existing items (borrowed, found, or reused), rejecting consumerism.
Finish the film within a year, to maintain creative momentum.
Make the film as if it were your last, emphasizing sincerity and urgency.
A Call for Artistic Freedom
Dogma 25 calls out the growing dominance of commercial, algorithm-driven filmmaking and seeks to restore cinema as an art form with integrity and individuality. By reducing scale and maximizing collaboration, the movement aims to return filmmaking to an organic and intuitive process.
Danish Film Institute Director Tine Fischer praised the initiative, calling it essential for reexamining even the most successful systems. She acknowledged Denmark’s international film achievements but stressed that continued innovation and freedom of expression are crucial in a changing world.
Supporting Dogma 25 from its conception to its Cannes launch, the institute sees this new wave as a radical act of artistic defiance, breathing fresh life into Danish—and potentially global—cinema.
In the words of its founders, Dogma 25 is “a cultural uprising” for a new cinematic age—one that challenges conformity, embraces imperfection, and fights for the soul of film.
