Profile image of Peter Elfelt

Peter Elfelt

Directing

Birth Date

January 1, 1866

Place of Birth

Elsinore, Denmark

Date of Death

February 18, 1931

Biography

Peter Elfelt was a pioneering Danish photographer and filmmaker, recognized as Denmark's first filmmaker. Initially establishing himself as a prominent portrait photographer in Copenhagen, he became the royal court photographer in 1900. In 1897, Elfelt began producing documentary films, capturing significant national events and daily life in Denmark. He directed Denmark's first fiction film, The Execution (1903). Over his career, Elfelt produced approximately 200 films, many of which have been lost, but his contributions laid the foundation for Danish cinema.

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