19/08/2022 - Celebrating its half-century milepost, the gathering offers a splendid programme of jubilation, conversation and interaction on all things cinema

It all started in the small port town of Drøbak outside Oslo, where a brave Northern Côte d'Azur contender entered the cinema arena in 1973. Rain was persistent and guests had to bring their own bed linen. Highlights include the presence of François Truffaut, the grand award of The Golden Shrimp and a 3000 NOK profit for the arrangers. Despite these triumphs, the feast was moved to other locations and gradually established itself in Haugesund, the fixed site of the Norwegian International Film Festival since 1987 (by which time any shellfish treats were had on plates and not on stage).

Unfolding 20-26 August, the 50^th anniversary edition counts 400 industry and media actors and callers and around 70 features and 20 shorts in the official programme. World premieres include the opening film War Sailor [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a proper epic befitting the jubilee, directed by Gunnar Vikene (Falling Sky, Vegas [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and starring Kristoffer Joner, Pål Sverre Hagen and Ine Marie Wilmann. The film, with the highest budget in Norwegian film history, deals with a group of Norwegian sailors at sea as WWII breaks out in 1939. More epic scope of dramatic yesteryears is depicted in Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe’s adaptation of the Swedish literature classic The Emigrants [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], getting its national premiere here. The closing film, yet another world premiere, is Love Proof from Sweden’s Richard Hobert, starring Rolf Lassgård and Livia Millhagen. Other programme highlights include Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Notre Dame on Fire [+see also:
trailer
film profile], presented in person by the director, as well as a handpicked array of recent festival favourites, including Berlin and Cannes award winners such as Alcarràs [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carla Simón
interview: Carla Simón
interview: Giovanni Pompili
film profile], Nelly & Nadine [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Magnus Gertten
film profile], Holy Spider [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ali Abbasi
interview: Ali Abbasi
interview: Zar Amir Ebrahimi
film profile] and Close [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eden Dambrine
interview: Lukas Dhont
interview: Lukas Dhont
film profile].

The latest Palme d’Or recipient, Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ruben Östlund
interview: Ruben Östlund
film profile], will open the New Nordic Films industry days, running 23-26 August (read news and news). On Tuesday 23 August, the five nominees for the 2022 Nordic Council Film Prize will be revealed with all the selected directors in attendance. Ten young talents to watch are presented in the Next Nordic Generation programme on Wednesday 24 August. This year also sees the launch of the Haugesund Children’s Film Convention, taking place 23-24 August with keynotes, panel discussions and screenings. Other panels and symposiums will cover industry talks on Artistic Freedom vs. Sustainability on Saturday 20 August and, on Monday 22 August, a splendid programme rolls out, dedicated to Liv Ullmann, who will be in attendance, actress-writer-director-Norwegian extraordinaire as well as Honorary President of this very festival since decades back.

As for the grand awards, true to tradition, they will be the centre of attention on opening night, as the Amanda ceremony with the annual presentation of the national film awards will open the entire festival tomorrow with direct broadcast on NRK 2 from 19.30 local time.

Full programme here.