Dogma 25: Finally, A New Revolutionary Film Movement

At last, a new revolutionary film movement!

We’ve all been waiting for someone to stand up, rebel against major film studios, and bring worldwide cinema back to its place. There hasn’t been a major film movement recently, except maybe the Romanian New Wave and Mumblecore.

Luckily, we don’t have to wait anymore. During the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, something unique happened. Five directors, Isabella Eklöf, Milad Alami, May el-Toukhy, Jesper Just, and Annika Berg, announced the Dogma 25.

Let’s see what it’s about without further ado.

What Is Dogma 25?

Dogma 25 is a radical and avant-garde filmmaking movement by Swedish and Danish directors: May el-Toukhy, Milad Alami, Annika Berg, Isabella Eklöf, and Jesper Just. The announcement at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival symbolically marked this movement’s beginning.

If it sounds familiar to you, you’re right. It’s an extension of the famous Dogme 95 by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. It also has Vows of Chastity and a Manifesto.

Dogma 25 Manifesto and Vows of Chastity

The Dogma 25 Manifesto and Vows of Chastity are a collection of rules that the directors of this movement vow to follow. They invented and decided that these rules have to be applied when making Dogma 25 movies.

Let’s see the 10 Vows of Chastity for Dogma 25. I made a paraphrased and shorter version, but the essence remains. I must, since Google, we’ll view it as plagiarism, even though it doesn’t make sense. Anyway, here we go:

1. The screenplay has to be handwritten by the director and original. The goal is to nurture the intuition that flows from the dream, through the hand, and onto the paper.
2. At least half the movie has to be without dialogue. A cinematic approach is necessary since we have faith in the audience and believe in visual storytelling.
3. No internet in any creative process. Our movies must rely on real people instead of digital.
4. We vow to keep budgets down to retain a final say in everything. Therefore, funding will be accepted only with no content-altering conditions.
5. We’ll work in close collaboration to strengthen our shared vision and build trust easily. Behind the camera, there mustn’t be more than ten people.
6. Each movie has to be shot where the narrative takes place.
7. No makeup, no manipulation of bodies and faces, unless it’s part of the narrative. Like with the location, we’ll also portray the human body without a filter.
8. Each movie’s production aspect has to be found, used, rented, or borrowed. We’ll use objects that already exist and renounce consumerism’s destructive culture.
9. To avoid long processes that destroy the creative flow, each movie must be made in no more than one year.
10. Last but not least, the idea is to make each movie as if it were our last.

Dogma 25 Directors

Let’s move on and dive a bit deeper into the Dogma 25 directors.

• May el-Toukhy: A Danish-Egyptian director, May is known for Queen of Hearts, which came out in 2019. Long Story Short is another film she made in 2015. Believe it or not, May also directed two episodes of The Crown.
• Milad Alami: A Swedish director who made The Charmer and the Opponent. Alami is best known for his short film, Mommy.
• Annika Berg: A Danish director, Berg has always been experimenting with non-linear forms and styles. She’s known for her short film, SIA. Her full-length debut was Team Hurricane.
• Isabella Eklöf: Maybe the most acclaimed of this group, Isabella is a screenwriter and director. She is known for co-writing Border and writing and directing Holiday. She has also won several awards at various events, including the European Film Awards and the Bodil Awards.
• Jesper Just: The only “alien” in this group, Just is a worldwide acclaimed Danish artist. However, he made a film trilogy, A Voyage in Dwelling.

Dogma 25 ‘Has the Blessing’ by Vinterberg and Trier

It’s a plus that Dogma 25 got “a blessing” from Vinterberg and Trier, who are the original protagonists of the Dogme 95 movement. Moreover, from Zentropa, Trier’s production company. 

The two legendary directors even made a statement saying their movement revolted against conformity during peace. Today, in a world of uncertainty and war, they wish the new movement the best of luck.

What’s even more impressive is that this movement got support from the Danish Film Institute Director, Tine Fischer.

Final Words on Dogma 25

As movie buffs, we all hope the new movement will bring its own authenticity, while keeping the original radical enthusiasm. In addition, we hope it will be an inspiration to upcoming young directors worldwide.

If you love radical and unconventional movies, you should be excited since a film movement like this hasn’t happened for quite some time.

Luckily, it’s finally here!