Children and young people on camera — rules and responsibilities on set

Many productions need children and young people in front of the camera — in commercials drama productions documentaries or children's programmes. Because children are not covered by ordinary rules for adult work a separate set of rules applies for when and how they may participate and who is responsible for their wellbeing during the process.

§From the police to the Labor Authority

Until the end of 2024, it was the police who issued work permits for children under 13 to participate in film and TV productions. From 1 January 2025, this task has been transferred to the Labor Authority, which now processes applications and makes an individual assessment of the specific child and specific production before granting permission. The producer must apply in good time — not assume that permission will come quickly by filming day.

§What applies for different ages

§The childminder's responsibility

On fiction, feature film, and short film productions where children participate, there must be a child care worker present throughout the shooting period. The child care worker's task is to take care of the child and ensure its well-being — not to instruct or direct it artistically. The role is an independent responsibility that lies alongside the director's and production manager's, and must be staffed regardless of how short the shoot is.

• 01Seek work permission from the Working Environment Authority in good time if the child is under 13 years old
• 02Plan the cutting so scrap can be reused for smaller items or wedge shapes
• 03Book a childminder for the entire recording period, not just the actual filming in front of the camera
• 04Use industry's common guidelines — developed by among others DR the Producers Association the Danish Actors Union and the Danish Film Institute — as a practical checklist

§What do the rules specifically mean for the recording plan?

In practice, the rules mean that a production with a participating child must have a different filming schedule than a production with only adults. School days must be respected, which often means filming at weekends, holidays or in short blocks after school. The total length of the filming day must take into account the child's age, and there must be time for breaks, play and rest, which is not just 'extra time', but a fixed part of the planning. A production manager who plans a scene with a child in the same way as a scene with adult actors will typically discover that the schedule does not hold.

§The industry's common guidelines

Beyond the legal requirements, DR, the Producers' Association, the Danish Actors' Union and the Danish Film Institute have jointly developed guidelines for children and young people's participation in film and TV productions. The guidelines go beyond minimum legal requirements and describe, among other things, how to talk to a child about a scene, how to handle emotionally demanding content, and how parents are involved throughout. Many production companies use the guidelines as a fixed part of their internal quality assurance, regardless of whether the production is large or small.

§Why it is not just administrative procedure

The rules on children and young people in film and television exist because a child cannot assess their own work situation in the same way as an adult participant. A production that skips the work permit or leaves the child carer empty on paper not only exposes itself to legal risk – it exposes a child to a situation no one is responsible for. Having the rules in order is therefore as much part of caring for the participants as it is about obeying the law.