Elk Film: seeking out the unseen

“In 2002, I travelled to Afghanistan and was struck by how many photographers went to the same street to take the same photo – flooding the world with identical war-torn images of such a diverse country,” says Andreas Dalsgaard, CEO of Elk Film. “No one took notice of the handmade Arnold Schwarzenegger posters outside bodybuilding gyms – so I decided to go inside.”

ACCESS DRIVEN

That principle is what guides Elk Film, the Copenhagen-based documentary production company Andreas co-founded in 2013. With a team of filmmakers, anthropologists, researchers and producers, Elk Film is in the business of telling the stories that would otherwise go untold. Whether it’s gangs and power brokers in Haiti, bodybuilders in Kabul, or the quiet personal journeys behind social change, they make films that challenge the narratives we’re used to – and replace them with something more human, complex and surprising.

To tell stories like these, Elk Film invests a significant amount of time trying to get access. Access to people and places, and ultimately, access to deeper truths. “Decency, research and perseverance – that’s how you earn the right to tell someone’s story,” explains Andreas. Their team combines fieldwork with journalistic rigour, often spending months or even years building trust.

RISK HEAVY

The kind of stories Elk Film produces don’t come without risk. In one instance, they had to evacuate a production crew with UN help. And the psychological toll can be just as intense.  “It’s a hard field,” says Andreas. “Psychologically demanding, for everyone involved – in front of and behind the camera. The intensity can lead to PTSD-like symptoms. That’s why we work with psychologists. It’s the least we can do.”

There’s also financial risk. “It’s a hard business to turn a profit in,” explains Andreas. To help manage that, Elk Film secured an EU-guaranteed loan from EIFO. “We created a model where we initiate the development of ten documentaries, knowing maybe half will make it to production. It’s less risky for our investors than betting everything on a single film.”

BETTING ON DEPTH

In a media environment defined by speed, Elk Film is betting on depth. Even as true crime and celebrity docs dominate the streaming charts, there’s growing appetite for films that go further – emotionally, ethically, and intellectually. “With social media, and the fast world we are living in – I think there’s a demand for films that are slower but more depth-rich. Independent films can cover topics that big streaming companies wouldn’t dare touch,” Andreas explains. Elk Film follows the same impulse that first struck Andreas in Afghanistan: to seek out the unseen stories.

Elk is now looking to expand its model: developing podcasts and books based on the research and relationships that begin in their documentaries. It goes without saying: their DNA will remain the same.

Location: Copenhagen
Financial Intermediary: EIFO
SME: Elk Film
Sector: video production
Number of employees: 15
Financing purpose: product financing
EIF financing: InvestEU