The Celebration (1998)
Festen (original title)Reference View | Change View
- R
- 1h 41min
- Drama
- 19 Jun 1998 (Denmark)
- Movie
At Helge's 60th birthday party, some unpleasant family truths are revealed.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 28 wins & 22 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Ulrich Thomsen | ... |
Christian
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| Henning Moritzen | ... |
Faderen
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| Thomas Bo Larsen | ... |
Michael
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| Paprika Steen | ... |
Helene
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Birthe Neumann | ... |
Moderen
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| Trine Dyrholm | ... |
Pia
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Helle Dolleris | ... |
Mette
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Therese Glahn | ... |
Michelle
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Klaus Bondam | ... |
Toastmasteren
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| Bjarne Henriksen | ... |
Kokken
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Gbatokai Dakinah | ... |
Gbatokai
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Lasse Lunderskov | ... |
Onklen
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| Lars Brygmann | ... |
Receptionisten
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Lene Laub Oksen | ... |
Søsteren
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Linda Laursen | ... |
Birthe
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John Boas | ... |
Farfar
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Erna Boas | ... |
Farmor
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Bent Henningsen | ... |
Statister
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Poul Kajbæk | ... |
Statister
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Vibeke Dalset | ... |
Statister
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Janne Thomsen | ... |
Statister
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Anette Jakobsen | ... |
Statister
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Poul Petersen | ... |
Statister
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Gulli Sejrsen | ... |
Statister
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Vibeke Kaiser | ... |
Statister
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John Johnsen | ... |
Statister
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Dan Eilertsen | ... |
Statister
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Søren Søgreni | ... |
Statister
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Annette Jakobsen | ... |
Statister
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Kate Goldschmidt | ... |
Statister
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Jens Nørring | ... |
Statister
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Bent Kaiser | ... |
Statister
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Maria Myrgård | ... |
Statister
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Peter Krag | ... |
Statister
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Stig Poul Hansen | ... |
Statister
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Kaj Rasmussen | ... |
I Køkkenet
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Robert Strandgård | ... |
I Køkkenet
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Gry Worre Hallberg | ... |
I Køkkenet
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René | ... |
I Køkkenet
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Christine Louise Jørgensen | ... |
Børn
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Dorte Olofsen | ... |
Børn
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Kasper Olofsen | ... |
Børn
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Emilian Sejersen | ... |
Børn
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Susanne Funck | ... |
Børn
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Rosmarie Jørgensen | ... |
Børn
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Lasse Jacobsen | ... |
Børn
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Sigrid Aalbæk Jensen | ... |
Børn
(as Sigrid Aalbæk)
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Mikkel Jacobsen | ... |
Børn
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Birgitte Simonsen | ... |
Christian's Friend (uncredited)
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| Thomas Vinterberg | ... |
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Thomas Vinterberg | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Thomas Vinterberg | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Mogens Rukov | ... | (screenplay) |
| Thomas Vinterberg | ... | (after an idea of) |
Produced by
| Svend Abrahamsen | ... | co-producer |
| Dag Alveberg | ... | co-producer |
| Birgitte Hald | ... | producer |
| Morten Kaufmann | ... | line producer |
| Johan Mardell | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| Lars Bo Jensen | ||
Cinematography by
| Anthony Dod Mantle | ||
Editing by
| Valdís Óskarsdóttir | ... | (as Valdis Oskarsdottìr) |
Editorial Department
| Thomas Caspersen | ... | synchronization: location |
| Jan Gundtofte-Bruun | ... | synchronization: location |
| Vagn Rose | ... | assistant editor |
| Jacob Thuesen | ... | trailer editor |
Casting By
| Rie Hedegaard | ||
| Lene Seested | ||
Production Management
| Tove Jystrup | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Eigil Jacobsen | ... | assistant director (as Eigil Jakobsen) |
Sound Department
| Morten Holm | ... | sound designer |
| Bruno Langiano | ... | foley artist |
| Ad Stoop | ... | boom operator |
| Nick Watson | ... | sound consultant: Dolby |
| Kasper Val Bjerregård Larsen | ... | sound engineer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Peter Hjorth | ... | technical supervisor |
Stunts
| Thomas Bo Larsen | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Peter Hjorth | ... | additional camera operator |
| Lars Høgsted | ... | still photographer |
Music Department
| Lars Bo Jensen | ... | musician: piano |
Additional Crew
| Mie Andreasen | ... | production staff |
| Jens Arentzen | ... | consultant |
| Michael Christiani Havemann | ... | legal adviser |
| Peter Hjorth | ... | technical supervisor |
| Signe Leick Jensen | ... | production staff (as Signe Jensen) |
| Torben Stig Nielsen | ... | production staff |
| Alex Panagakis | ... | publicist |
| Jon Stephensen | ... | public relations |
| Karina Strand | ... | production staff |
| Camilla Thomsen | ... | production staff |
| David C.H. Østerbøg | ... | production staff (as David Østerbøg) |
Thanks
| Jens Arentzen | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
| Trine Breum | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
| Susanne Bruun de Neergaard | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to, Skjoldenæsholm Hotel og Konferencecenter |
| Per Fly | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
| Karin Trille Høy | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to (as Trille Høy) |
| Jørgen Kromann | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to (as Jørgen Kromann Larsen) |
| Ole Christian Madsen | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
| Birgitte Simonsen | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
| Ingerlise Vinterberg | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
| Carsten Walbom | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
| Lone Walbom | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to (as Lone) |
| Maria Walbom | ... | acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to |
Production Companies
- Nimbus Film (presents)
- Danmarks Radio (DR) (in collaboration with)
- Nordisk Film & TV-Fond (with support from)
- SVT Drama
Distributors
- Triangelfilm (1998) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Europafilm (1998) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Les Films du Losange (1998) (France) (theatrical)
- October Films (1998) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Alfa Films (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Arthaus Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Atalanta Filmes (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Blue Light (1999) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Budapest Film (1999) (Hungary) (theatrical)
- Cinemien (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Dendy Films (1999) (Australia) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Golem Distribución (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Kino Bez Granits (1999) (Russia) (theatrical)
- Alliance Atlantis Home Video (1999) (Canada) (VHS)
- Gativideo (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
- Maywin Media (1999) (Russia) (video) (CIS)
- PolyGram Home Video (1999) (United States) (VHS)
- Sandrews Video (1999) (Sweden) (VHS)
- Scanbox Entertainment (1999) (Denmark) (VHS)
- Homescreen (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
- Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
- Focus Features (2004) (United States) (DVD) (subtitled)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2004) (United States) (DVD) (distributed by) (subtitled)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD) (subtitled)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (video) (VOD) (subtitled)
- 101 Films (2016) (United Kingdom) (subtitled)
- Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO) (2016) (Netherlands) (tv) (NPO2)
- Mission (2018) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming) (subtitled)
- The Criterion Collection (2022) (United States) (Blu-ray) (subtitled)
- Cult Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
- Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
- Versátil (Brazil) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cannes Film Festival (festival)
- Mainstream (mix studio)
- Panorama (casting)
- Skjoldenæsholm Hotel og Konferencecenter (acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to)
- Toronto International Film Festival (festival)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
When a father turns 60, his large family gathers at a castle to celebrate him. Everybody likes and respects him deeply--or do they? The youngest son is trying to live up to his father's expectations; he runs a grill-bar in a dirty part of Copenhagen. The oldest son runs a restaurant in France; the sister is an anthropologist. The older sister has recently committed suicide and the father asks the oldest son to say a few words about her, because he is afraid he will break into tears if he does it himself. The oldest son agrees without argument. Actually he has already written two speeches. A yellow and a green one. At the table, he asks the father to pick a speech. The father chooses green. The oldest son announces that this is the Speech of Truth. Everybody laughs, except for the father, who looks nervous: he knows that his oldest son is about to reveal the secret of why his sister killed herself. Written by Jonas L. |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Every family has a secret. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,300,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Since this is a Dogme-film, there cannot be any non-diegetic (artificial) sounds added, no post-production. The camera also needs to be hand-held. So when Christian falls to the floor in the reception and sees his sister, Christian himself had to hold the camera when falling. To achieve the "dizzy" sound, the original cameraman swung the microphone around in the air. See more » |
| Goofs | In an early scene, a cameraman can be seen reflected in a bedroom mirror (director Thomas Vinterberg noticed this but kept it in). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Bag om filmen 'Festen' (1998). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I Skovens dybe stille ro See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
[subtitled version] Michael: Nice one, Dad. Good speech. Well done. But I think you'll have to go now so we can eat our breakfast. Faderen: Of course, of course. Faderen: [to his wife] Coming? Moderen: I'll stay here. See more » |