The Contest (2013): cast, story & where to watch
2013 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 2013, The Contest is a family film directed by Martin Miehe-Renard, running about 96 minutes.
What it’s about. Being a stranger doesn’t necessarily mean to be coming from the farthest away. Karl and his mother are about to learn this when they move from the west coast of Denmark to the ethnically and religiously mixed area of Nørrebro in Copenhagen. Sawsan, a Danish-Turkish girl in Karl’s new class, takes him under her wings and tries to integrate him into the big city, with all its slang and hipness. Sawsan is far more experienced and blunt than most – especially compared to Karl, this young Danish boy from the provinces. Sawsan’s big dream comes true when one of her songs is chosen for the Danish version of the Eurovision Song Contest for kids. Sawsan’s father of course says no, but Karl has a plan.
Who’s in it. The Contest stars Sylvester Byder as Karl Højby Hansen, Malika Sia Graff as Sawsan, Line Kruse as Eva and Ali Kazim as Kumail, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, The Contest has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Contest page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Contest tend to enjoy Spirited Away, Back to the Future, The Lion King and Coco.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Contest (2013)?
- In GB, The Contest is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Contest worth watching?
- The Contest holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Contest?
- The Contest stars Sylvester Byder, Malika Sia Graff, Line Kruse, Ali Kazim and Natali Vallespir.
- When was The Contest released?
- The Contest was released in 2013, with a runtime of about 96 minutes.