Asbestos be damned

During his apprenticeship as a plumber, Dan Henriksen was exposed to asbestos during a remodeling. At only 40 years old, Dan Henriksen was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2016, a form of cancer caused by asbestos and almost always fatal. The doctors thus gave him 2-3 years to live. The documentary follows Dan, his wife Tina and teenage daughters Nadja and Julie over a period of 3 years. It gives an honest and nuanced insight into the mechanisms that are set in motion when the constant feeling of the irrevocable farewell is always present. There are the frustrations of the constant limbo when life on some levels is put on hold, where the unbearable thought, "won't he die soon," is uttered. Dan keeps his courage up by having some goals he wants to achieve before he dies, primarily in relationship with his two daughters, but also his fight to change the legislation on asbestos so that no more people are exposed to asbestos and die of mesothelioma.

  • Jakob Carlsen
    Director
  • Jakob Carlsen
    Producer
  • Dan Henriksen
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 14 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 10, 2023
  • Country of Filming:
    Denmark
  • Language:
    Danish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Danish Pressphotographer Of The Year
    Copenhagen
    Denmark
    March 3, 2023
    Danish Premiere
    Best documentary
Director Biography - Jakob Carlsen

CV for Jakob Carlsen
Awards:

2023: "Asbestos be damned" awarded Best Documentary, Danish Pressphotographer Of The Year
2022: Nordic Film of the Year at Nordic Adventure Film Festival, “Don´t scratch”

2019: Danish Film of the Year, at Nordic Adventure Film Festival, “Digging Deep”.

2017: Talent of the Year, at Nordic Adventure Film Festival, ”Trail Builder”.

2016: 1. Price in The Danish Pressphotographer Of The Year contest, TV/Web, ”Trail Builder”.

2014: Honorable mention in The Danish Pressphotographer Of The Year contest.

2012: Finalist at POYi with my book ”Outcast”

2012: ”Outcast” selected as one of 25 winning photo books by PDN.

2009: Winner of POYi ”World understanding award”, with my project ”Outcast” about untouchables in Asia.

2005: Honorable mention in NPPA with my photo essay ”The untouchables of India”

2005: 3. price in NPPA with my photo essay ”Polo in Pakistan”

2004: Recieved the Marty Forcher Fellowship award.

2004: Winner in the PDN Contest with my photo essay ”Polo in Pakistan”

2004: 1. price in World Press Photo, sports feature with my photo essay ”Polo in Pakistan”

2004: Winner of the Editor and Publisher Photos of the year with my photo essay ”Polo in Pakistan”

2004: Honorable mentions in The Danish Pressphotographer Of The Year contest in the category Feature Storys

1997: Honorable mentions in The Danish Pressphotographer Of The Year contest in the categorys Sport and Open Class

1996: 1. price in The Danish Pressphotographer Of The Year contest in the category Feature.

Education and employment:

2004: Joined Agentur Focus, German photo agency.
2003: August, quit my job at ”Politiken” for good.
2002: August, 1-year leave from ”Politiken”, started as freelance photographer in Copenhagen
1999: Employed as staff photographer at ”Politiken”
1999: Graduated from The Danish School of Journalism – Photojournalist
1996: Trainee at ”Politiken” – newspaper in Copenhagen
1995: Accepted at The Danish School of Journalism – Photojournalist
1994: ”Fatamorgana”, school of photography in Copenhagen

Exhibitions

2011 ”Outcast – The Untouchables of Asia. Copenhagen Photo Festival.
2010 ”We are not untouchable”, Copenhagen and Belgium.
2010 ”Familie 365” in DGI byen, Copenhagen.
2010 ”Familie 365” in Gentofte Library.
2009: ”Family 365”, a selfdocumentary project. Outdoor exhibition.
2008: June–september: ” We are not untouchable - 260 million reasons to act” in European Parliament in Bruxelles, in Norway, Stockholm, and the Danish parliament.
2008: Screening at Visa Pour L´image photo festival in Perpignan, France. My project about untouchables in Asia was shown.

Books

2016: ”Langeland, øen bag alle broer”.
2011: ”Outcast – The Repressed People of Asia”. Publishing House Ajour.
2009: ”Family 365”, a selfdocumentary project.

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