On the second day of the festival, a merry troupe of participants took up the Danish game of Kongespil at the Cinema on the Slope.

Danish Ambassador Ole Henrik Frijs-Madsen and Adviser Tomislav Gugo took us through the world of the so-called Viking chess.

The rules of the game are quite simple, except there is a twist. The goal is to avoid hitting the King figure in the middle, but to knock down the opponent’s pawns, using 6 wooden sticks. However, each pawn that is knocked down becomes a pawn for the team that knocked it down. Meanwhile, the King doesn’t move until the end, or ende!

“It’s similar to bocce, but with a greater sense of community. Danish families love playing it together”, said Zoi, skillfully knocking down blocks as if Viking blood was coursing through her veins. Kongespil is a game in which the winner seems decided, but things can change in an instant.

“This game used to be played with enemy skulls, but today it’s wooden blocks.” – explained Tomislav Gugo.

“Skulls are also biodegradable”, joked Milena Zajović, Cinehill selector. With or without skulls, the game of Kongespil uses biomaterials. Cinehill is a sustainable and green festival, where, in addition to films, the focus is on raising awareness about nature conservation.

After participating in the game, Ambassador Ole Henrik Frijs-Madsen addressed the subject of sustainable tourism. He praised Cinehill for its environmental awareness and cited several examples from his homeland. One of Denmark’s initiatives is an exchange they do with tourists – an hour of free kayaking in exchange for a couple of scraps of waste from the water.

Our Cleaning Bears, who remind festival visitors of recycled ashtrays located at numerous festival locations, also took part in the conversation. They stressed that all the proceeds from the cans and bottles that visitors put in the marked containers is donated to the Kuterevo Bear Refuge.

Every beer you drink can either pollute the environment or help a little bear. Remember, it’s up to you!