Director, journalist, author, cycling commentator. Born 14/6 1937.
Growing up in Aarhus, Leth spent a lot of time at the local velodrome, where his uncle was manager, and he became fascinated by cycling. In his youth, he was an active cyclist and table-tennis player. Leth studied literature at Aarhus University and ethnography at Copenhagen University.
In 1959, Leth found work as a journalist and critic (jazz and film), and he was also a writer of sports and travel features. He debuted as a poet in 1962 and has since published a number of essays, poetry collections and non-fiction books.
Leth made his first film in 1963, 'Stop for Bud', a documentary portrait of jazz pianist Bud Powell, and he became a central figure on the experimental documentary film scene in the 1960s.
Leth's documentaries are sensuous, personal and distinguished by the director's singular timing and rhythm. As a Danish film critic notes: "Curiosity and a sense of beauty are forces driving Leth's films. With admirable, tenacious consistency he has cultivated his fascination with surfaces."
Leth tends to highlight the mythological and epic aspects of his subjects. This is most apparent in his sports films, including 'Stars and the Water Carriers' (1974) and 'A Sunday in Hell' (1977), about two cycling races, the Giro d'Italia and the Paris-Roubaix spring classic, respectively. For a number of years, Leth also commentated the Tour de France for the Danish broadcaster TV 2.
Films like 'Life in Denmark' (1972) and '66 Scenes from America' (1982) meticulously catalogue people and places, while films such as 'Dancing Bournonville' (1979), 'I Am Alive' (1999) and 'I Am Talking to You' (2013) are lyrical artist's portraits. In 2003, Leth co-directed 'The Five Obstructions' with Lars von Trier. The film presents five remakes of Leth's 1968 classic, 'The Perfect Human'. Apart from documentaries, Leth has made a few fiction films, notably 'Haïti Express' (1983).
Leth himself is portrayed in Tómas Gislason's documentary 'Heart and Soul' (1994) and in Amir Labaki's '27 Scenes about Jørgen Leth' (2009). In 2005, Leth published the first volume of his memoirs, 'The Imperfect Human – Scenes from My Life', spurring heated debate in the Danish media. Leth has since published several more volumes of his memoirs.
Growing up in Aarhus, Leth spent a lot of time at the local velodrome, where his uncle was manager, and he became fascinated by cycling. In his youth, he was an active cyclist and table-tennis player. Leth studied literature at Aarhus University and ethnography at Copenhagen University.
In 1959, Leth found work as a journalist and critic (jazz and film), and he was also a writer of sports and travel features. He debuted as a poet in 1962 and has since published a number of essays, poetry collections and non-fiction books.
Leth made his first film in 1963, 'Stop for Bud', a documentary portrait of jazz pianist Bud Powell, and he became a central figure on the experimental documentary film scene in the 1960s.
Leth's documentaries are sensuous, personal and distinguished by the director's singular timing and rhythm. As a Danish film critic notes: "Curiosity and a sense of beauty are forces driving Leth's films. With admirable, tenacious consistency he has cultivated his fascination with surfaces."
Leth tends to highlight the mythological and epic aspects of his subjects. This is most apparent in his sports films, including 'Stars and the Water Carriers' (1974) and 'A Sunday in Hell' (1977), about two cycling races, the Giro d'Italia and the Paris-Roubaix spring classic, respectively. For a number of years, Leth also commentated the Tour de France for the Danish broadcaster TV 2.
Films like 'Life in Denmark' (1972) and '66 Scenes from America' (1982) meticulously catalogue people and places, while films such as 'Dancing Bournonville' (1979), 'I Am Alive' (1999) and 'I Am Talking to You' (2013) are lyrical artist's portraits. In 2003, Leth co-directed 'The Five Obstructions' with Lars von Trier. The film presents five remakes of Leth's 1968 classic, 'The Perfect Human'. Apart from documentaries, Leth has made a few fiction films, notably 'Haïti Express' (1983).
Leth himself is portrayed in Tómas Gislason's documentary 'Heart and Soul' (1994) and in Amir Labaki's '27 Scenes about Jørgen Leth' (2009). In 2005, Leth published the first volume of his memoirs, 'The Imperfect Human – Scenes from My Life', spurring heated debate in the Danish media. Leth has since published several more volumes of his memoirs.
| Title | Year | Function | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music for Black Pigeons | 2022 | Direction, Screenplay | DK/Documentary |
| I Walk | 2020 | Direction, Appearance, Archival footage | DK/Documentary |
| The Butler | 2019 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Lyrikporten – 28 danske digtere | 2016 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Født til filmen | 2015 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Den hvide mand | 2014 | Voiceover | DK/Experimental |
| Sort sne | 2014 | Voiceover | DK/Experimental |
| Der er ikke andet end det der er | 2014 | Voiceover | DK/Experimental |
| I Am Talking To You | 2013 | Direction, Appearance, Screenplay | DK/Documentary |
| Laamb | 2013 | Narrator | DK/Documentary |
| The Cavalry | 2013 | Appearance | TV series |
| The Erotic Human | 2010 | Direction, Narrator, Screenplay, Cinematographer | DK/Feature |
| Han skal dog dø | 2010 | Appearance | DK/Experimental |
| Klown | 2010 | Sig selv | DK/Feature |
| ABCinema | 2009 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Det meste af tiden | 2009 | Direction, Appearance, Poems | DK/Short fiction |
| Weightless - a recording session with Jakob Bro | 2009 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Fiction | 2008 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| The yellow jersey | 2008 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Leth om Laudrup | 2008 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Tropical Mix | 2007 | Direction | DK/Experimental |
| Monument | 2007 | Direction | DK/Experimental |
| The Jørgen Leth Collection | 2007 | Direction | Anthology |
| Sanselighedens pris | 2007 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Tavi - ånden der steg op fra havet | 2006 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Historien bag kameraet | 2006 | Appearance | TV documentary |
| Aarhus | 2005 | Direction, Appearance, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Ghosts of Cité Soleil | 2005 | Executive producer | DK/Documentary |
| The five obstructions | 2003 | Direction, Script, Himself - Director | DK/Documentary |
| Drømmere | 2002 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Nye scener fra Amerika | 2002 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Monas verden | 2001 | Rygestemme | DK/Feature |
| Vejen tilbage | 2001 | Consultant | DK/Documentary |
| Jeg er levende - Søren Ulrik Thomsen, digter | 1999 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Haiti. Uden titel | 1996 | Direction, Script, Cinematography | DK/Documentary |
| Ra-ra | 1994 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Heart and Soul | 1994 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Michael Laudrup: A Football Player | 1993 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Traberg | 1992 | Direction, Script | DK/Feature |
| Notes on Love | 1989 | Direction, Script, Production, Appearance | DK/Experimental |
| Dansk litteratur | 1989 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Udvalgte ord fra tog | 1989 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Så langt øjet rækker - Dokumentarisme i Danmark | 1989 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Notater fra Kina | 1987 | Direction, Voiceover, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Danish Music at the Louisiana | 1987 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Moments of Play | 1986 | Direction, Voiceover, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Haiti Express | 1983 | Direction, Script, Dialogue | DK/Feature |
| Pelota | 1983 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| 66 scener fra Amerika | 1982 | Direction, Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Gadeartister i New York | 1982 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Step on Silence | 1981 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Peter Martins: A dancer | 1979 | Direction, Voiceover | DK/Documentary |
| At danse Bournonville | 1979 | Direction, Voiceover | DK/Documentary |
| Kalule | 1979 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Sanct Hansaften-spil | 1979 | Direction | TV film |
| En forårsdag i helvede | 1977 | Direction, Script, Executive producer | DK/Documentary |
| Good and evil | 1975 | Direction, Script, Production, Production design, Narrator | DK/Experimental |
| Klaus Rifbjerg | 1975 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Den umulige time | 1975 | Direction, Voiceover, Script, Production | DK/Documentary |
| Stjernerne og vandbærerne | 1974 | Direction, Voiceover, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Eddy Merckx in the Vicinity of a Cup of Coffee | 1973 | Direction, Appearance, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Life in Denmark | 1972 | Direction, Appearance, Script, Production | DK/Documentary |
| Chinese Ping Pong | 1972 | Direction, Editing | DK/Documentary |
| The Search | 1971 | Direction, Appearance, Idea | DK/Experimental |
| Without relations | 1970 | Direction, Script | DK/Experimental |
| Teatret i de grønne bjerge | 1970 | Direction, Production, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Motion Picture | 1970 | Direction, Script, Production, Editing | DK/Experimental |
| Dyrehaven, den romantiske skov | 1970 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Dyrehavefilmen | 1969 | Direction, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Krag-filmen | 1969 | Direction, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Rødovrefilmen | 1969 | Direction | DK/Experimental |
| The Perfect Human | 1968 | Direction, Narrator, Script | DK/Experimental |
| Ofelias blomster | 1968 | Direction, Script | DK/Experimental |
| Nær himlen, nær jorden | 1968 | Direction, Editing, Sound, Voiceover | DK/Documentary |
| Se frem til en tryg tid | 1965 | Direction, Script, Editing | DK/Experimental |
| Stop for Bud | 1963 | Direction, Script, Production, Editing | DK/Documentary |
| A Conversation with Jørgen Leth | Appearance | Documentary |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Release year | Festival | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Dragon | 1972 | Krakow Film Festival 1972 | Livet i Danmark |
| Best Documentary Short Film | 1996 | Chicago International Film Festival 1996 | Haiti. Uden titel |
| Grand Prix | 2004 | Odense Internationale Film Festival 2004 | De fem benspænd |
| FIPRESCI Jury Prize | 2004 | Zagreb Motovun Film Festival 2004 | De fem benspænd |
Det Danske Filminstitut registrerer international festivaldeltagelse og priser til danske film,
dog primært de titler, som Filminstituttet varetager i sin festivaldistribution,
og primært i forbindelse med de festivaler, som Filminstituttet har prioriteret at samarbejde med.
Registreringen af festivaldeltagelse og priser til danske film, der ikke er i festivaldistribution,
foretages kun for "launch"-festivaler ifølge Filminstituttets prioriterede festivalliste. Se listen over prioriterede festivaler.
Festivals
| Festival | Festival date | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Warszawa, Against Gravity | 2023-05-12 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Sao Paulo It's All True Int. Documentary FF | 2023-04-09 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| ZagrebDox | 2023-03-26 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Thessaloniki Documentary Festival | 2023-03-02 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Bilbao Int. Festival of Documentary and Short Film | 2022-11-11 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 2022-11-09 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage | 2022-11-02 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival | 2022-10-25 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Ghent Flanders Int. Film Festival | 2022-10-12 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Lisbon Int. Documentary Film Festival | 2022-10-06 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Venice International Film Festival | 2022-08-31 | Music for Black Pigeons |
| Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival | 2020-10-27 | I Walk |
| Moscow - Royal Danish Embassy | 2020-10-21 | I Walk |
| Sao Paulo It's All True Int. Documentary FF | 2020-09-24 | I Walk |
| Warszawa, Against Gravity | 2020-09-04 | I Walk |
| Bologna, Biografilm | 2020-06-05 | I Walk |
| ZagrebDox | 2020-03-15 | I Walk |
| Helsinki Doc Point Documentary Film Festival | 2020-01-27 | En forårsdag i helvede |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 2019-11-20 | I Walk |
| Sao Paulo It's All True Int. Documentary FF | 2015-04-09 | De fem benspænd |
| Dokufest Prizren | 2011-07-23 | De fem benspænd |
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | 2011-07-01 | Det erotiske menneske |
| CPH:DOX | 2011-06-17 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Sao Paulo It's All True Int. Documentary FF | 2011-03-31 | Det erotiske menneske |
| ZagrebDox | 2011-03-06 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2011-01-28 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Les Arcs European Film Festival | 2010-12-11 | Det perfekte menneske |
| Thessaloniki International Film Festival | 2010-12-03 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 2010-11-18 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Lithuania Scanorama Film Forum | 2010-11-11 | Det erotiske menneske |
| CPH:DOX | 2010-11-04 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Bergen International Film festival | 2010-10-20 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Lisbon Int. Documentary Film Festival | 2010-10-14 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 2010-09-09 | Det erotiske menneske |
| Lithuania Scanorama Film Forum | 2008-11-13 | De fem benspænd |
| Sevilla Festival de Cine | 2008-11-07 | Det perfekte menneske |
| Tehran, Cinéma Vérité, Documentary Film Festival | 2008-10-15 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Warszawa, Against Gravity | 2008-05-09 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Sheffield Doc/Fest | 2007-11-07 | Livet i Danmark |
| Lisbon Int. Documentary Film Festival | 2007-10-18 | De fem benspænd |
| Taipei Film Festival | 2007-06-22 | Det perfekte menneske |
| Helsinki Doc Point Documentary Film Festival | 2007-01-24 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Sheffield Doc/Fest | 2006-10-30 | Aarhus |
| München Documentary Festival | 2006-05-05 | Haiti. Uden titel |
| Sao Paulo It's All True Int. Documentary FF | 2006-03-23 | Aarhus |
| Prague, One World Human Rights Film Festival | 2006-03-02 | De fem benspænd |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2006-01-27 | Aarhus |
| Odense Internationale Film Festival | 2005-08-11 | Aarhus |
| Jeonju International Film Festival | 2005-04-28 | De fem benspænd |
| Tel Aviv Docaviv Int. Documentary Film Festival | 2005-04-07 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 2005-04-03 | 66 scener fra Amerika |
| Sao Paulo It's All True Int. Documentary FF | 2005-03-29 | De fem benspænd |
| ZagrebDox | 2005-02-22 | De fem benspænd |
| Reykjavik Film Festival | 2004-11-17 | De fem benspænd |
| Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival | 2004-10-26 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Lisbon Int. Documentary Film Festival | 2004-10-24 | De fem benspænd |
| Helsinki Film Festival - Love & Anarchy | 2004-09-16 | De fem benspænd |
| Sarajevo Film Festival | 2004-08-20 | De fem benspænd |
| Odense Internationale Film Festival | 2004-08-09 | De fem benspænd |
| Zagreb Motovun Film Festival | 2004-07-26 | De fem benspænd |
| Melbourne Film Festival | 2004-07-21 | De fem benspænd |
| Wellington - New Zealand Film Festival | 2004-07-16 | De fem benspænd |
| Cape Town, Encounters South African Int. Documentary Film Festival | 2004-07-16 | De fem benspænd |
| Jerusalem Int. Film Festival | 2004-07-08 | De fem benspænd |
| Marseille Festival International du Documentaire | 2004-06-26 | En forårsdag i helvede |
| Sydney Film Festival | 2004-06-11 | De fem benspænd |
| München Documentary Festival | 2004-05-07 | De fem benspænd |
| Vilnius International Film Festival | 2004-04-30 | De fem benspænd |
| Buenos Aires Festival de Cine Independiente | 2004-04-14 | De fem benspænd |
| Hong Kong International Film Festival | 2004-04-06 | De fem benspænd |
| Buenos Aires, Mar Del Plata Int. FF | 2004-03-11 | De fem benspænd |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2004-01-23 | De fem benspænd |
| Sundance Film Festival | 2004-01-15 | De fem benspænd |
| Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | 2003-11-22 | De fem benspænd |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 2003-11-20 | De fem benspænd |
| Oslo International Film Festival | 2003-11-20 | De fem benspænd |
| Mannheim-Heidelberg, Int. Film Festival | 2003-11-20 | De fem benspænd |
| CPH:DOX | 2003-11-07 | De fem benspænd |
| Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage | 2003-10-30 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Valladolid International Film Festival | 2003-10-24 | De fem benspænd |
| Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival | 2003-10-23 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Bergen International Film festival | 2003-10-16 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Sheffield Doc/Fest | 2003-10-13 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Rio de Janeiro Film Festival | 2003-09-25 | De fem benspænd |
| Malmö Nordisk Panorama | 2003-09-23 | De fem benspænd |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 2003-09-04 | De fem benspænd |
| Odense Internationale Film Festival | 2003-08-11 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Locarno, Festival internazionale del film | 2003-08-06 | Livet i Danmark |
| SilverDocs AFI Documentary Festival | 2003-06-18 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| New York Tribeca Film Festival | 2003-05-03 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Jeonju International Film Festival | 2003-04-25 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Moscow - Royal Danish Embassy | 2003-04-05 | Det gode og det onde |
| Paris, Cinéma du Réel | 2003-03-07 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2003-01-24 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 2002-11-21 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Oulu Nordisk Panorama | 2002-09-24 | Nye scener fra Amerika |
| Odense Internationale Film Festival | 2002-08-12 | Drømmere |
| Sao Paulo It's All True Int. Documentary FF | 2002-04-11 | Drømmere |
| Zagreb Motovun Film Festival | 2001-07-31 | Jeg er levende - Søren Ulrik Thomsen, digter |
| Ghent Flanders Int. Film Festival | 2000-10-10 | 66 scener fra Amerika |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2000-01-28 | Jeg er levende - Søren Ulrik Thomsen, digter |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 1999-11-24 | Jeg er levende - Søren Ulrik Thomsen, digter |
| Odense Internationale Film Festival | 1999-08-16 | Jeg er levende - Søren Ulrik Thomsen, digter |
| Amsterdam, IDFA | 1996-11-28 | En forårsdag i helvede |
| Rio de Janeiro Film Festival | 1985-11-21 | En forårsdag i helvede |
Det Danske Filminstitut registrerer international festivaldeltagelse og priser til danske film,
dog primært de titler, som Filminstituttet varetager i sin festivaldistribution,
og primært i forbindelse med de festivaler, som Filminstituttet har prioriteret at samarbejde med.
Registreringen af festivaldeltagelse og priser til danske film, der ikke er i festivaldistribution,
foretages kun for "launch"-festivaler ifølge Filminstituttets prioriterede festivalliste. Se listen over prioriterede festivaler.
