53rd Norwegian International Film Festival

53rd Norwegian International Film Festival
Opening filmThe Battle of Oslo by Daniel Fahre
Closing filmEagles of the Republic by Tarik Saleh
LocationHaugesund, Norway
Founded1973 (1973)
AwardsAmanda Award
DirectorsTonje Hardersen
Hosted byThe Norwegian Film Festival Board
No. of films75
Festival dateOpening: 16 August 2025 (2025-08-16)
Closing: 22 August 2025 (2025-08-22)
Websitewww.filmfestivalen.no

The 53rd Norwegian International Film Festival was held from 16 to 22 August 2025. The festival presented 75 feature-length films alongside a broad selection of events, including the New Nordic Films market, the Next Nordic Generation competition, and the Amanda Award ceremony scheduled for 16 August. It opened on 17 August with the world premiere of The Battle of Oslo by Daniel Fahre.[1]

The festival closed on 22 August with 2025 Egyptian Arabic-language political thriller film Eagles of the Republic written and directed by Tarik Saleh.[2] The Audience Award went to Christy by Brendan Canty, and The Ray of Sunshine award was awarded to Madly, by Paolo Genovese.[3]

Events

Haugesund Walk of Fame

On 16 August 2025 'Haugesund Walk of Fame', an award in the form of granite blocks laid in Haugesund's Haraldsgata was conferred on Lise Fjeldstad,a Norwegian actress and Thorbjørn Harr, a Norwegian actor, recognising their contributions to stage and screen.[4]

The Amanda Awards 2025

Main article: Amanda Award
Linnéa Myhre host of the Amanda Award

The 53rd edition held the 41st Amanda Award ceremony hosted by Vegard Larsen and Linnéa Myhre on 16 August. The awards honoured achievements in 21 categories.[5]

Masterclass with John M. Jacobsen

John M. Jacobsen honoured at the festival

The festival will pay tribute on 17 August to Norwegian film producer John M. Jacobsen, by hosting a masterclass and a special screening of the 2010 Norwegian dark fantasy film Troll Hunter co-produced by him.[6]

Norwegian ArchFest

The 7th edition of the architecture film festival Norwegian ArchFest, organized by the Department of Urban Development in Haugesund Municipality and takes place with the Norwegian International Film Festival, will have Oscar-nominated Norwegian actress, screenwriter and director Mona Fastvold as the guest. She will open the festival with her 2024 epic period drama film The Brutalist by Brady Corbet.[7]

The 2025 Film Festival Exhibition

Haugesund Art Association, The Norwegian International Film Festival and Haugalandmuseet–Haugesund Art Gallery organized a Vernissage at Haugesund Art Gallery of Maiken Stene's exhibits on 17 August.[8]

Jury

Amanda Awards

  • Espen Aukan, Norwegian screenwriter and playwright
  • Cengiz Al, Norwegian actor and dancer
  • Kathrine Thorborg Johansen, Norwegian actress
  • Grethe Bøe, Norwegian actress, director and crime writer
  • Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken, Norwegian film director and screenwriter
  • Are Sjaastad, production designer
  • Martin Ask Eriksen, visual effects artist
  • Oskar Dahlsbakken, Norwegian cinematographer
  • Jon Endre Mørk, editor
  • Vegard Ronæss Soldal, sound designer
  • Kjetil Bjerkestrand, Norwegian keyboardist, composer, arranger and record producer
  • Thorvald Nilsen, producer
  • Guri Neby, producer
  • Nell Knudsen, Costume designer for film, TV and theatre. Based in Oslo and Prague

Next Nordic Generation

  • Bahareh Badavi, a Norwegian playwright
  • Bjørn Eivind, a Norwegian filmmaker
  • Marte Hansen, producer, writer, and production Manager

Official selection

Main Programme

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
Alpha Julia Ducournau France, Belgium
A Private Life Vie privée Rebecca Zlotowski France
The Balconettes Les Femmes au Balcon Noémie Merlant France
The Battle of Oslo Blücher Daniel Fahre Norway
Christy Brendan Canty United Kingdom, Ireland
The Great Lillian Hall Michael Cristofer United States
Köln 75 Ido Fluk Germany, Poland, Belgium
Late Shift Heldin Petra Volpe Switzerland, Germany
Leave One Day Partir un jour Amélie Bonnin France
Nouvelle Vague Richard Linklater France
Orwell: 2+2=5 Raoul Peck France, United States
Peacock Pfau – Bin ich echt? Bernhard Wenger Austria, Germany
The Portuguese House Una quinta portuguesa Avelina Prat Spain, Portugal
Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer Tolga Karaçelik United States, Turkey
Sorry, Baby Eva Victor United States
Young Mothers Jeunes mères Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne Belgium, France

Nordic Focus

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
100 Litres of Gold Teemu Nikki Finland, Italy
A Light That Never Goes Out Lauri-Matti Parppei Finland, Norway
Beginnings Begyndelser Jeanette Nordahl Denmark
The Cat Kingdom John Hellberg and Bernhard Rasmusson Sweden
The Dance Club Lisa Langseth Sweden
Eagles of the Republic Tarik Saleh Sweden, France, Denmark, Finland
Welcome to the Moon Aske Bang Denmark

French Touch

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
Adam's Interest L'intérêt d'Adam Laura Wandel Belgium, France
In the Nguyen Kitchen Dans la cuisine des nguyen Stéphane Ly-Cuong France
Meteors Météors Hubert Charuel France
The Party’s Over Classe Moyenne Antony Cordier France
Summer Beats Ma Frère Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret France

Amanda Nominees

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
Armand Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden
Dreams (Sex Love) Drømmer Dag Johan Haugerud Norway
Loveable Elskling Lilja Ingolfsdottir Norway
Safe House Før Mørket Eirik Svensson Norway
The Ugly Stepsister Den stygge stesøsteren Emilie Blichfeldt Norway, Poland, Sweden, Denmark

Norwegian Archfest

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
The Brutalist Brady Corbet United States, United Kingdom, Hungary
E.1027: Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea Beatrice Minger, Christoph Schaub Switzerland
The Great Arch l'inconnu de la grande arche Stéphane Demoustier France
The Residence Dalloway Yann Gozlan France, Belgium
Schindler Space Architect Valentina Ganeva United States

Special Showing

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
Breathless (1960) À bout de souffle Jean-Luc Godard France
Diamond (2024) Diamanti Ferzan Özpetek Italy
Fatherhood (2025) Tre Fedre Even G. Benestad, August Baugstø Hanssen Norway
It Was Just an Accident یک تصادف ساده Jafar Panahi Iran, France, Luxembourg

Young Films

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
Hacking Hate Simon Klose Sweden, Denmark, Norway
Holy Cow Vingt Dieux! Louise Courvoisier France
Kneecap Rich Peppiatt Ireland, United Kingdom
Memoir of a Snail Adam Elliot Australia

Cinemagi

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
The Badgers Grevlingene Paul M. Lundø Norway
Dancing Queen in Hollywood Aurora Gossé Norway
Hi Frida Hola Frida André Kadi, Karine Vézina France, Canada
Honey Natasha Arthy Denmark
Maybe Elephants Kanskje det var elefanter Torill Kove Norway, Canada

Prespektiver

English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)
Coexistence, My Ass! Amber Fares United States, France
DJ Ahmet Georgi M. Unkovski North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia
Gaucho Gaucho Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw United States, Argentina
Rebuilding Max Walker-Silverman United States

Next Nordic Generation

These are the nominated films in this section:

English title Original title Director(s) Production company(ies)
Astro TV Magdaleena Jakkila Aalto ELO Film School
Dream Daddy Johanna Milerud HDK-Valand
The Lightning Rod Helmi Donner Aalto ELO Film School
My Name Is Hope Sherwan Haji
Pannbiff Pommes Chicken Teriyaki Matti Johansson Stockholm University of the Arts
Hillestad Poter På Snø Edvard Stangvik Westerdals, Kristiania University Campus
Recast Severi Vilkko Aalto ELO Film School
The Seekers Helena Hyvärinen
Soft Armor Gine Kippenbroek National Film School of Denmark
Under A Broken Wing Sarah Carlsen

Awards and winners

The Audience Award was won by Christy by Brendan Canty and Ray of Sunshine Award by Madly by Paolo Genovese.[9][10]

  • Storyline Production Award: The Greatest Illusion, by Benjamin Ree
  • The Ray of Sunshine (digital fine print by Camilla Thuv): Madly, by Paolo Genovese
  • The Audience Award (diploma): Christy by Brendan Canty
  • The Norwegian International Film Festival and Liv Ullmann’s Honorary Award (Statuette by Nina Sundbye): Birger Vestmo
  • Next Nordic Generation Award (diploma): Sherwan Haji for My Name Is Hope
  • Honourable Mention: The Lighting Rod by Helmi Donner
  • Best Project Award (diploma): Wannabe by Patricia Bbaale Bandak
  • Honourable Mention: Silverwhite by Martti Helde

Special awards

Lise Fjeldstad recipient of the Haugesund Walk of Fame
Thorbjørn Harr recipient of the Haugesund Walk of Fame

References

  1. ^ Economou, Vassilis (31 July 2025). "Haugesund set to host the 53rd Norwegian International Film Festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  2. ^ Annika Pham (30 July 2025). "Norway's Haugesund Fest Announces Full Program and Guests, Headed by Oscar-Nominated Mona Fastvold, 'Vikings' Thorbjørn Harr". Variety. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  3. ^ Marta Balaga (21 August 2025). "'Wannabe,' 'The Greatest Illusion' Win at Haugesund, Brendan Canty's 'Christy' Convinces the Audience 'It's Worthwhile to Stand Together'". Variety. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Haugesund Walk of Fame". Norwegian International Film Festival. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  5. ^ "The Amanda Awards 2025". Norwegian International Film Festival. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Masterclass with John M. Jacobsen". Norwegian International Film Festival. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Mona Fastvold til Norwegian ArchFest i Haugesund" [Mona Fastvold at Norwegian ArchFest in Haugesund.]. Rush Print (in Norwegian). 30 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Welcome to the Vernissage – The 2025 Film Festival Exhibition". Norwegian International Film Festival. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  9. ^ Economou, Vassilis (22 August 2025). "Christy and Madly triumph at Haugesund". Cineuropa. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  10. ^ Economou, Vassilis (22 August 2025). "Wannabe wins the Best Pitch Award at Haugesund, as Storyline introduces a new prize". Cineuropa. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
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