Presenting The Norwegian International Film Festival

What is your film festival’s mission?

Our mission is to be Norway’s major film festival, and to be the essential meeting place for the Nordic film industry. We aim to promote Nordic and international films and to be a place for discussion related to the film industry and cultural politics.

What role does your film festival play in supporting your film’s community?

The Norwegian int. Film Festival offers national press coverage for the film presented, and it functions as showcase for the Norwegian cinema managers who nearly all attends the festival. The festival also host the Amanda Awards (Norwegian Oscar) who promotes and celebrates Norwegian films with a live gala-show on national TV.

What is something people look forward to every year at your film festival?

People look forward to see artistic films, many of them winners from Cannes and Berlin, as well to Nordic and national premiers. We have a large amount of Norwegian industry delegates who look forward to sneak previews of upcoming films and special presentations. Our marked New Nordic Films present brand new Nordic films, work-in-progress and a co-production marked – so many of our participants look forward to close different deals and, of course, also to meet festival friends.

How long has your film festival been around?

The Norwegian film festival was organized for the very first time in 1973 in the town of Drøbak. It was started by KKL (National Association of the municipal cinemas), in that time all cinemas in Norway were owned by the municipalities. The festival moved around the different cities/cinemas until it established permanently in Haugesund, on the west coast of Norway, in 1987.

What do you want audiences to take away from your film festival?

I want the audience to experience the joy of cinema. We have a children’s section at the festival and I love to watch hordes of eager children to rush to their seats ready for a magical experience. That is what it is all about. To lose yourself in a great film and leave the auditorium either highly uplifted or deeply shaken. Then we have succeeded.

Visit The Norwegian International Film Festival website here.

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