2023 Competition Titles and Opening Films
Opening films
Setting the scene for the 2023 festival will be The Gullspång Miracle (dir. Maria Fredriksson) and Fár (dir. Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter) on 21 September at Cinema Panora.
Following The Gullspång Miracle‘s world premiere at Tribeca in New York – and its Best Editing win at the same festival – the stranger-than-fiction documentary will now celebrate its highly-anticipated Nordic premiere, as will the Cannes Special Mention Winner short film Fár.
The Gullspång Miracle by Maria Fredriksson & Fár by Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter.
Competition Programme
The Last Seagull by Tonislav Hristov.
Best Nordic Documentary
“Each selected film has made a strong impression on us for different reasons, they are all unique stories with strong audiovisual and artistic ambitions. Together they shape our story of 2023 – from football lovers in Iceland to lynx followers in Finland, stretching from the Nordics and further out into the world.”– Cecilia Lidin & Manolo Diaz Rämö, documentary programmers.
The Best Nordic Documentary Award is presented to one of the 15 films in competition. The award goes to the director(s) of the winning film.
The cash award of 11.000 € is sponsored by the Nordic public broadcasters DR, NRK, RUV, SVT and YLE.
Competition films
Apolonia, Apolonia, (Apolonia, Apolonia), Lea Glob, 116 min, Denmark, 2022.
Heartist, (Heartist), Marianna Mørkøre & Beinta á Torkilsheyggi, 61 min, Faroe Islands, 2023.
Hypermoon, (Hypermoon), Mia Engberg, 78 min, Sweden, 2023.
Lynx Man, (Ilveskuiskaaja), Juha Suonpää, 80 min, Finland, Estonia, 2023.
Motherland (Motherland), Hanna Badziaka & Alexander Mihalkovich, 95 min, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine, 2023.
Praying for Armageddon, (Praying for Armageddon), Tonje Hessen Schei, 98 min, Norway, Finland, Sweden, 2023.
REVIR – Everything You Hold Dear, (REVIR – En fortælling om det dyrebare), Peter Hammer, 84 min, Denmark, 2023.
Songs of Earth, (Fedrelandet), Margreth Olin, 91 min, Norway, UK, Germany, 2023.
Soviet Barbara, the Story of Ragnar Kjartansson in Moscow, (Soviet Barbara, sagan um Ragnar Kjartansson í Moskvu), Gaukur Úlfarsson, 90 min, Iceland, 2023.
The Gamer, (Pelaaja), Petri Luukkainen & Jesse Jokinen, 80 min, Finland, Germany, 2023.
The Home Game, (Heimaleikurinn), Smári Gunnarsson & Logi Sigursveinsson, 79 min, Iceland, 2023.
The Last Seagull, (Viimeinen rantaleijona), Tonislav Hristov, 77 min, Finland, Norway, Bulgaria, 2023.
Theatre of Violence, (Theatre of Violence), Lukasz Konopa & Emil Langballe, 106 min, Denmark, Germany, 2023.
Vintersaga, (Vintersaga), Carl Olsson, 82 min, Sweden, Denmark, 2023.
We Are Still Here, (Mii leat ain dás), Gunilla G. Bresky, 79 min, Norway, Sweden, 2023.
Tuulikki by Teemu Nikki, Nun or Never! by Heta Jäälinoja, I Think of Silences When I Think of You by Jonelle Twum, After Mourners by Hanna Högstedt & Superdupermegagigasingel by Håkon Anton Olavsen.
Best Nordic Short Film
“This year’s filmmakers use film as a powerful tool for change, igniting dialogue and sparking debate. And whilst there is certainly no dearth of films addressing weighty matters, rest assured, there is also an abundance of brilliantly entertaining, funny, and soul-enriching films that will undoubtedly bring smiles to your faces.” – Lucile Bourliaud & Sam Groves, short film programmers.
The Best Nordic Short Film Award is presented to one of the 23 films in competition. The award goes to the director(s) of the winning film. The prize-winning film will qualify for consideration in the Short Film Category of the annual Academy Awards.
The cash award of 5.000 € is sponsored by the association of Danish Film Directors and Swedish Film Directors.
Competition films
A Home on Every Floor, (Det finnes ingen naboer her lenger), Signe Rosenlund-Hauglid, 11 min, Norway, 2023.
A Piece of Work, (A Piece of Work), Deniz Eroglu, 29 min, Netherlands, Denmark, 2023.
A Study of Empathy, (En Undersøgelse af Empati), Hilke Rönnfeldt, 15 min, Denmark, Germany, 2023.
After Mourners, (Eftersörjare), Hanna Högstedt, 25 min, Sweden, 2023.
Arne Meets Death, (Arne möter Döden), Lars Vega, 29 min, Sweden, 2022.
Countdown (Ödesåren), Martina Carlstedt, 25 min, Sweden, 2023.
Erik, (Erik), Mikkel Bjørn Kehlert, 19 min, Denmark, 2022.
Fár (Fár), Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter, 6 min, Iceland, 2023.
I Think of Silences When I Think of You, (I Think of Silences When I Think of You), Jonelle Twum, 9 min, Sweden, 2023.
Ivalu, (Ivalu), Anders Walter & Pipaluk Kreutzmann Jørgensen, 17 min, Denmark, Greenland, 2022.
Night Stop, (Night Stop), Khadar Ayderus Ahmed, 13 min, Finland, 2022.
Norwegian Offspring, (Norwegian Offspring), Marlene Emilie Lyngstad, 45 min, Denmark, 2023.
Notello Hus, (Notello Hus), Simon Folger & Olof Bendz, 12 min, Sweden, 2023.
Nun or Never!, (Nun or Never!), Heta Jäälinoja, 11 min, Finland, 2023.
Observation, (Observasjon), Christoffer Lossius, 20 min, Norway, 2022.
Offline, (Offline), Mauritz Brekke Solberg & Daniel Fure Schwarz, 16 min, Norway, 2023.
Pissant, (Tissemyre), Frederik Paludan, 28 min, Denmark, 2022.
Porter, (Portør), Lisa Enes, 16 min, Norway, 2022.
Round 2, (Runde 2), Frøydis Fossli Moe, 12 min, Norway, 2023.
Superdupermegagigasingel, (Superdupermegagigasingel), Håkon Anton Olavsen, 29 min, Norway, 2022.
Sweet Like Lemons, (Sweet Like Lemons), Jenny Jokela, 6 min, Finland, UK, 2023.
The Lonely Cougar and the Heartbroken Stud, (The Lonely Cougar and the Heartbroken Stud), Jana Bringlöv Ekspong, 14 min, Sweden, 2023.
Tuulikki, (Tuulikki), Teemu Nikki, 14 min, Finland, 2022.
When The Trees Come av Berglind Thrastardottir.
New Nordic Voice
“With their audacious concepts and captivating methodologies, the films span a diverse spectrum, ranging from heart-pounding thrillers to cleverly crafted comedies and emotionally stirring dramas. It’s a veritable smorgasbord of exceptional talent, brimming with bold ideas and enthralling narratives.” – Lucile Bourliaud & Sam Groves, short film programmers.
The New Nordic Voice competition introduces promising Nordic filmmakers whose works are among their first releases. The award goes to the director(s) of the winning film.
The cash award of 5.000 € is sponsored by AVEK and Film i Skåne.
Competition films
Documentary
A Silent Story,(En tavs historie), Anders Skovbjerg Jepsen, 89 min, Denmark, Sweden, 2023.
Baghdad on Fire, (Baghdad on Fire), Karrar Al-Azzawi, 60 min, Norway, 2023.
Rahčan – Ella’s Riot, (Rahčan – Ellas opprør), Anne Marte Blindheim, 73 min, Norway, 2022.
The Gullspång Miracle, (Miraklet i Gullspång), Maria Fredriksson, 110 min, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, 2023.
Twice Colonized, (Twice Colonized), Lin Alluna, 91 min, Denmark, Greenland, Canada, 2023.
Under Construction, (Wanha Markku), Markus Toivo, 61 min, Finland, 2023.
Short
An Example, (Et eksempel: Dem på gulvet), Selma Sunniva, 26 min, Denmark, 2022.
Madden, (Madden), Malin Ingrid Johansson, 13 min, Sweden, 2023.
Married, (Thorbjørn), Jonas Leibo, 17 min, Denmark, 2023.
My Idiotic Heart, (Mitt idiotiske hjerte), Emma Lund Rasmussen, 27 min, Norway, 2022.
Peptalk, (Peptalk), Lucia Haag, 4 min, Sweden, 2023.
Prelude, (Murtuma), Arman Zafari, 19 min, Finland, 2023.
The Dinner, (Middagen), Marco Lawson, 19 min, Denmark, 2022.
Unborn Biru, (Unborn Biru), Inga Elin Marakatt, 19 min, Norway, 2023.
When the Trees Come, (Þegar Trén Koma), Berglind Thrastardottir, 15 min, Iceland, Germany, 2022.
Brouillarta by Ingvild Søderlind.
Young Nordic
“We are proud to present a selection of films which surprise and challenge, provoke thought and touch our hearts, and give us the opportunity to reflect on our lives and the world we live in.” – Daniel Lundquist & Susanne Månsson Kandell, Young Nordic programmers.
The 11 films in the Young Nordic programme compete for the love of our most critical audience. The festival’s youngest viewers are asked which of the films in this category they like the best, and the competition title with the most votes is then awarded.
The cash award of 1.500€ is sponsored by Nordisk Panorama Film Festival and will be awarded in honour of BUFF, the International Children and Young People’s Film Festival in Malmö, as a celebration of their 40-year anniversary.
Competition films
Birds, (Fugler), Liv Runesdatter, 11 min, Norway, 2023.
Brouillarta, (Brouillarta), Ingvild Søderlind, 15 min, Norway, 2023.
Felt Cute, (Felt Cute), Anna Karín Lárusdóttir, 15 min, Iceland, 2023.
George-Peterland, (Gösta Petter-land), Christer Wahlberg & Sebastian Rudolph Jensen, 15 min, Sweden, 2023.
Home Office, (Hjemmekontor), Endre Lund Eriksen & Daniel Damm, 10 min, Norway, 2023.
Jasmin’s Two Homes, (Jasminin kaksi kotia), Inka Achté & Hanna Karppinen, 14 min, Finland, 2022.
Mano, (Mano), Toke Madsen, 7 min, Denmark, 2023.
Planet Robin, (Robin og planeten), Johan Kaos, 18 min, Norway, Denmark, Romania, 2022.
The Story of Bodri, (Historien om Bodri), Stina Wirsén, 13 min, Sweden, 2022.
Torn, (Splittet), Jahfar Muataz, 26 min, Denmark, Sweden, 2023.
Wait, (Vänta), Martin Jenefeldt, 11 min, Sweden, 2023.
City of Malmö’s Audience Award
All 64 competition titles are also in contention for the City of Malmö’s Audience Award. As its name suggests, only the film most revered by the public is awarded.
The cash award of 2.500 € is sponsored by the City of Malmö.
Photo: Niklas Gyberg Ivarsson.