COMPETITION SECTIONS & AWARD

OFFICIAL COMPETITION

FEATURE FILM | INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The Headliner Award | Best Feature Film (Cash Prize)
The Storyteller Award | Best Script (Cash Prize)

MADE IN DENMARK | NATIONAL COMPETITION
Made in Denmark Award (Cash Prize)

SHORT FILM | INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Short Wonders Award | Best Short Film

HEADLINER DOCS | INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Headliner Docs Award

EXPERIMENTAL & MUSIC + VISUALS | INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Beyond Borders Award

HORROR / AFTER HOURS COMPETITION
After Hours Award | Best Horror Film

STUDENT FILM COMPETITION
Best Student Film Award

Student films from around the world compete for one spot in the official festival lineup. The selected film is eligible for both the Best Student Film Award the Made in Denmark Award and the Short Wonders Award.

The Made in Denmark category highlights films produced in Denmark or directed by Danish filmmakers.

Created to support emerging and established Danish talent, this section reflects our commitment to the national film community.

All films selected for the Official Competition compete for this year's Copenhagen Headliner Film Festival Awards.

ACTING & TECHNICAL AWARDS

ACTING AWARDS (Across all sections)
Best Acting Performance

SOUND & VISION AWARDS (Across all sections)
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Design

OUT OF COMPETITION

Specially invited films presented outside the official competition. These screenings celebrate outstanding contemporary cinema and are not eligible for festival awards.

HEADLINER CLASSICS

Landmark films that continue to inspire audiences and filmmakers, presented in restored or special editions.

HONORARY AWARDS

The Headliner Humanity Award

The Headliner Humanity Award honors a film that engages with human dignity, social responsibility, and the ethical challenges of our time. The award recognizes cinema that fosters empathy, reflection, and a deeper understanding of the world we live in. The Headliner Humanity Award honors productions that embody this spirit and demonstrate a commitment to social or environmental responsibility.

The Headliner Legacy Award | Lifetime Achievement

The Legacy Award is presented in recognition of a lasting and significant contribution to cinema. The award honours an individual or collective whose work has shaped film culture and continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers.