CPH:DOX 2026 - When Pigs Fly

Is your heart a defining part of who you are? Does it hold memories of first kisses, shattered dreams, summer days, and a life lived? Or is it just a muscle that pumps blood around your body? All this is more than just philosophy. Science is close to being able to transplant hearts from pigs to humans, and with curiosity and empathy, ‘When Pigs Fly’ explores the relationship between ourselves and our four-legged fellow creatures. 

Denise Riedmayr's film takes place on a farm and follows two veterinarians who, in their own ways, share their daily lives with pigs. One helps breed pigs so that they can best be used to donate their hearts to humans. The other has dedicated his life to understanding the inner lives of pigs, their welfare and well-being. In a world that usually only appreciates pigs when they are in the refrigerated section, we are given a completely different perspective on an animal that is closer to us than most of us would admit.