Film Festivals of Norway

Cinema of Norway

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Norway has a rich cinematic history dating back to the early 20th century. The Norwegian Film Industry has undergone significant changes over the years, influenced by social, political, and economic factors.

Film Industry of Norway receives substantial support from the government through institutions such as the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI). Funding is provided for both Feature films and Documentaries.

Norway often engages in International Co-Productions to enhance the quality and reach of its films. Collaboration with other Nordic countries and European partners is common.

Norwegian Cinema has produced several internationally acclaimed filmmakers. Film Directors like Joachim Trier, Erik Poppe and Bent Hamer have gained recognition for their work.

Norwegian Films have received attention at major international film festivals, contributing to the global recognition of Norwegian Cinema.

Norwegian Filmmakers explore a variety of genres including drama films, thriller movies, comedy films, and documentaries. The industry is known for producing films that often reflect the country's cultural and social aspects.

The use of the Norwegian Language can sometimes limit the International Marketability of Films. However, some Norwegian Films, such as those by Joachim Trier have found success internationally.

Norwegian Films have won awards at prestigious film Festivals, further establishing the country's presence on the Global Cinematic Stage. For example, Kon-Tiki was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2013.

Film Festivals of Norway

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The Norwegian International Film Festival:

The Norwegian International Film Festival, Norway’s major Film Festival is scheduled mid-late August every year. Its main programme is devoted to Feature Films for Theatrical Release. Titles are selected on Artistic Merit. The festival cooperates closely with Norwegian and Scandinavian Film Distributors in selecting films for screening at the festival, and Nordic bodies/sales agents for screening at New Nordic Films. Films selected should ideally be signed for Norway, but the festival also makes a point of inviting a limited number of films that we feel should be of interest to a Norwegian and Scandinavian audience. Whenever possible, such invitations are routed through a Norwegian or Scandinavian film distributor.

The Film Festival centre of Norway is Haugesund, the gateway to fjords and mountains with the North Sea at its doorstep. When we experience the endless variety of its surroundings. Participation in the festival is restricted to film and cinema professionals, members of the press/media and official representatives of local and national government bodies.

New Nordic Films is an annual market at the long established Norwegian International Film Festival. It is one of the most important meeting places for Nordic films and the Nordic film industry. During four eventful days, New Nordic Films offers a unique opportunity for International Film Distributors, TV-companies, film festival directors and members of the press to see the latest Nordic films of significance and to meet with an assembled Nordic film industry. The films presented represent different genres, but all aim to please a market of wide range, in and outside the Nordic countries. Nordic Feature Films have for many years now been highly appreciated both at home and internationally. The currently high artistic level in the Nordic film production makes it especially satisfying to arrange New Nordic Films. New Nordic Films is arranged with support from Nordic Film & TV Fund of Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs.

 Tromsø International Film Festival:

Tromsø International Film Festival is a popular film festival for audience, and at the same time an important meeting point for Norwegian and International film industry. Tromsø International Film Festival screens challenging quality Films for a local, national and international audience. Tromsø International Film Festival is set in the dark polar nights, which give's TIFF the unique possibility to screen films outdoor. The outdoor cinema is located at the main square in the heart of Tromsø. The program includes a selection of short films and documentaries from the Films from the North program, along with special screenings and various other events.

Films from the South Festival:

The Films from the South festival open doors is the largest film festival in Oslo. Norway presents films and filmmakers from Asia, Africa and Latin America for an expanding audience, under the slogan "See the world from a different angle". The Silver Mirror Award is given each year to the best Film in the main competition. In addition, the festival awards the Best Documentary and the Best First or Second Feature Film from Debut Filmmakers (New Voices Award).

Films from the South (Norwegian: Film fra sør) is an International Movie Festival held annually in Oslo, Norway. Movies from Africa, Asia, and Latin-America are shown. The festival has its origin in the Student Film Club of University of Oslo and has become one of Norway's most popular film festivals. It has approximately 20,000 visitors each year. The festival functions as a rendezvous to Ethnic Norwegians and people with multicultural backgrounds.

 Bergen International Film Festival :

The International Film Festival of Bergen (BIFF), which started in 2000, is held since every year in October. Since then, it has only been improved according to the quality of its films. Today it is the leading and largest Film Festival in Norway with about 160 films and more than 60,000 loyal viewers. The festival focuses on Documentaries from around the world, but viewers can also enjoy Science Fiction Films, Short films, Virtual Reality shows and more. The movies are mainly screened at the “Magnus Barefoot Cinema Centre” and other venues in the city.

The Bergen International Film Festival of NJ showcases top independent films from filmmakers, as well as new talent. The diverse array of films selected by a committee includes feature films and Short films from all genres, as well as Documentaries and Screenplays. The festival is hosted in Bergenfield New Jersey. The festival will kick off in style and spirit with a red carpet and after party, as well as plenty of opportunity for networking with other filmmakers,  film actors and attendees. We harness an Atmosphere of Community and encouragement to support each other in the film arts. The festival includes an Awards Ceremony and after party to offer opportunities for interacting and networking with other filmmakers, actors, and film festival goers.

BIFF offers the best and biggest programme in Norway presenting an International Competition Programme and a number of sidebars: Documentaries, Cinema Extraordinaire, new technologies, Norwegian Shorts Competition, Fantasy Films/Midnight Craze etc.

 Kosmorama Trondheim International Film Festival :

The annual International Film Festival in the city of Trondheim, Norway first held in 2005. The Kosmorama Film Festival is owned and run by the limited company Filmfest Trondheim AS which is a subsidiary of Trondheim Kino AS. Trondheim Kino is entirely owned by the Municipality of Trondheim which during the autumn of 2003 took the initiative to establish a Film Festival. The festival’s goal is to strengthen the Film Medium in the region of Middle Norway and to contribute to innovations in the intersection between film, culture and business life.

The Arctic Film Festival :

The Arctic Film Festival is a sustained effort to empower Norwegian Film Directors about the importance of Social Impact Films and educate the general public about the implications that Global Warming brings to our lives. As the world heats up, Greenland melts and the Midwest floods, filmmakers are devoting more resources to create Climate Change Filmmaking. AFF aim at: Raising awareness of Global Warming through a Cinematic Experience for Audiences and filmmakers challenge and reflect on global-scale problems. Provide a unique opportunity to Screen Artists' work the world's Northernmost Inhabited areas and where the Negative Climate Implications are most notorious.

Arctic Film Festival is an Annual Film Festival held in September in the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard's town, Longyearbyen. The festival is organized by Copenhagen-based production company HF Productions and is a United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) smart initiative. It is the Northernmost Film Festival in the world.

Arctic Film Festival was first started in September 2019, and is held annually at the only screening venue in Longyearbyen, Kulturhuset. The event takes Filmmakers on Environmental Excursions in the Arctic Region and programs roundtable discussions moderated by HF Head of Production Benn Wiebe.