Johan Knattrup Jensen

CV

In 2012 I graduated as film director from independent film school Super16 with the critically acclaimed fiction film ‘Verdenssøn’ about the last days of Danish poet Michael Strunge. In recognition of my work I was awarded a grant from the Danish Arts Foundation in 2013.

In 2014 I wrote and directed the innovative film installation 'Skammekrogen // The Doghouse', which opened in Copenhagen Contemporary Art Centre. Through cutting edge virtual reality technology the audience experiences the characters' individual, subjective points of view. The work received praise in all major newspapers, topped with a ravishing 5 hearts in Politiken. In the following years the installation toured around the world at film festivals and art institutions, and lifted me to the international elite within VR and art film.

From 2015-2020 I was the artistic director of progressive studio Makropol, focusing on immersive art and VR film. During this period I wrote and directed a multitude of mind-bending work, including 'Ewa Out Of Body', which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, and 'Anthropia', a 400m2 film installation, which opened at Copenhagen Contemporary in 2017. My work has ben presented at the most influential art and film festivals worldwide receiving international praise, including the Grand Prix Innovation from FNC and Reflet d'Or from GIFF.

'Anthropia' even received the great honor of providing an exclusive viewing for both Lars von Trier and Olafur Eliasson.

After the premiere of 'Martyr' at Kunsthal Charlottenborg in 2020, I chose to work independently in pursuit of longer narratives and bigger character arcs. In the following years I collaborated with legendary producer Peter Aalbæk and famed film studio Zentropa in the development of both features and TV series.

In 2023 I marked my return to mainstream cinema with the premiere of 'Homecoming' at Odense IFF, produced by the visionary studio Hyæne Film, with whom I currently develop new work.

In 2023 the prestigious Production Bridge at the Venice Biennale chose me as 1 out of 14 directors from around the world to present new work in development.

I am currently the head writer of 'Nationens Mareridt', a true crime podcast, produced by Ally. The podcast is currently running on its 5th season, with both Apple and Spotify listing the show on their top 10 of best, new podcasts of 2023.

Filmografi