THE DIRECTOR
Louise Unmack Kjeldsen
Louise Unmack Kjeldsen began her career in 1998 shortly after graduating from the Danish School of Journalism. Over the past 25 years, she has worked tirelessly to give a voice to people in vulnerable situations. Her films are marked by deep empathy, strong visual storytelling, and a cinematic narrative style. A recurring hallmark of her work is her focus on topics that are often considered taboo.
With her 2019 film Fat Front, about body positivity, she received international recognition. Earlier, she directed State of Women (2016), a documentary portraying courageous women around the world who fight for equality and human rights.
The Production Companies
Hansen & Pedersen
Founded in 1997 by producer Malene Flindt Pedersen and director Anders Riis- Hansen, Hansen & Pedersen develops and produces high-quality documentary films and series for Danish and international audiences. The company has built a clear profile: films that tackle relevant topics, portray strong characters, and inspire reflection.
Their work ranges from social and political issues to environmental, cultural, and personal stories with strong narrative depth. Notable productions include Fat Front (2019), Into the Ice (2022), Colombia in My Arms (2020), From the Wild Sea (2021), and Organised Wilderness (2017). Many of these films have screened at major international festivals and won multiple awards.
Hansen & Pedersen stands for documentary excellence, careful development, and international collaboration. Their mission is to create films that transcend borders and explore complex topics with emotional depth and visual strength.
Kloos & Co.
Since 2002, Kloos & Co. has been producing internationally acclaimed, high- quality documentary films for cinema and television. The company is known for tackling socially relevant topics with a distinctive creative vision and for its close, collaborative partnerships with authors and directors — from concept to completion.
Its award-winning productions include Pre-Crime (2017), Hi, AI (2019), The Other Chelsea (2010), and You Drive Me Crazy (2012). Kloos & Co. has also been involved in several major international co-productions, such as Last Men in Aleppo (2017, Oscar® nominee), Into the Ice (2022), Chuck Norris vs. Communism (2015), Putin’s Kiss (2011), Bugs (2016), and A Modern Man (2017).
Their films have been screened at over 100 renowned festivals worldwide — including IDFA, Berlinale, CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, and Sundance — and broadcast on leading networks such as ARTE, ZDF, BBC, and PBS. Kloos & Co. is a member of AG DOK and actively contributes to the international documentary community through mentoring, panels, workshops, and pitching forums.
With every project, Kloos & Co. aims to make social issues visible and to offer fresh cinematic perspectives on the world.
Ten Thousand Images
Ten Thousand Images is an independent Norwegian production company founded in 2014 on the Nesodden peninsula near Oslo. Since then, it has produced or co- produced more than a dozen feature-length documentaries and several short films. The company is known for its strong editorial voice, artistic integrity, and international collaborations.
Its award-winning productions include No Word for Worry (2014), Nowhere to Hide (2016) — winner of the IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary and a double Emmy nominee — and Hidden Letters (2022), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, won Best Documentary at the Bergen International Film Festival, and was shortlisted for the Academy Awards in 2023. Other co-productions include Life of Ivanna (2021) and Myanmar Diaries(2022, Berlinale winner).
Ten Thousand Images works with partners around the world on projects that bridge social, ecological, and cultural themes. In addition to documentaries, the company also develops short and feature-length fiction. Its goal is to use storytelling as a tool for awareness and change — locally and globally.
The Researchers
Pauline Maki
Pauline Maki is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a leading expert on how hormonal changes affect the brain. Her research explores how hot flashes and sleep disturbances influence cognitive function in menopausal women. Her studies have shown that women with frequent hot flashes exhibit small brain changes similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s patients. She has also found that nighttime hot flashes are associated with higher concentrations of Alzheimer’s biomarkers in the blood — suggesting that hot flashes may be more than a nuisance symptom; they could be an early indicator of cognitive decline.
Jayashri Kulkarni
Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University in Melbourne, Jayashri Kulkarni conducted a pilot study on depressed women in menopause, exploring whether treatment with estradiol — rather than antidepressants — might benefit this group. If proven effective, her findings could revolutionize the treatment of a significant number of midlife women affected by depression.
Anette Tønnes Pedersen
Anette Tønnes Pedersen is a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, a clinical lecturer at Rigshospitalet in Denmark, and also works in general medicine at the University of Copenhagen. She has been researching menopause, early hormonal changes, and women’s health for many years.
Silje Mæland
Silje Mæland is a Professor of Global Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Bergen, Norway. With extensive experience in researching health, work, and social participation, she also plays a key role in communicating scientific insights to the public. Silje engages in debates, seminars, and lectures to highlight how health systems and employers can better support women during and after menopause.
Alexandra Paget-Blanc
Working in Pauline Maki’s neuropsychology research team, Alexandra Paget-Blanc is currently recruiting Black and Latina women for a new study. Research shows that these groups tend to enter menopause earlier and experience more severe symptoms, particularly related to sleep. Her work aims to understand whether these differences stem from genetic, social, or economic factors.