Nordic International Film Festival 2023 Programming

18 - 22 OCTOBER NEW YORK CITY

www.nordicfilmfest.org

Index 3

Index

4

About

5

Team

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The Box New York

7-29

Film Selection

30

Our Partners

31

Awards Ceremony

32-33

Polestar

34

Thank You

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Based in New York City and founded in 2015 by the Swedish film producers Linnea Larsdotter and Johan Matton, Nordic International Film Festival (NIFF) has quickly grown to become a cultural element in the competitive film festival landscape. Since its inception, NIFF has taken every opportunity to showcase the talent of Nordic actors, directors, producers, screenwriters and filmmakers while successfully introducing them to the international film market.

The festival’s long-term goal is to become a Nordic Film Market, or rather the Nordic Market in North America - to encourage filming in the Nordic region and create a platform for Nordic filmmakers to sell and show their films in the US. Larsdotter and Matton aim to put NIFF on the map as the largest Nordic Market and Nordic Film Festival in the world, where work from all over the world is respected and honored while perspectives are simultaneously opened to Nordic Film.

In addition to their efforts to put a spotlight on those filmmakers hailing from Nordic countries, NIFF’s programmers have also made it their mission to seek out and champion diverse filmmakers of all demographics, regardless of ethnicity, religion or worldview. Every year, NIFF screens films that encourage discussion regarding the present social and political climate and creates an environment and atmosphere that facilitates in-depth discussion about those films, specifically the social and environmental issues they raise. It is with these actions that Nordic International Film Festival has earned its place as a torch in inclusive filmmaking, casting light on issues struggling to be seen and raising awareness regarding the importance of the arts in a challenging world climate.

Our Team

About NIFF Linnea Larsdotter Mikkelä President Alexis Di Gregorio Festival Manager Kathleen Donachie CFO Franca Pachen Head of Programming Jacqueline Patchen Director of Partnerships Director of Couture Delia Adkins Harper Jepsen Administrator Courtney Powell Social Media Programmer

Follow us on Instagram to get the latest festival updates!

Emon Maasho Elle Kunnos de Voss Ingrid Rudefors Nicole Epps Dawn Reinholtz Justin Stiver Sabina Lindmark

Jury

“What we set out to do was to create a film festival that is truly for the filmmakers.

Many out there take advantage of the dreams and ambitions of artists, and we wanted to be the change.”

- Linnea Larsdotter, Founder

Board

Join us this year at Nordic International Film Festival as we celebrate the privilege to come together and raise our hands (and our glasses) to the art of film. We can’t wait to see you.

Christiane Seidel - Head of Jury Danelle Eliav Samantha Soule Michelle Tesoro Daniela Ruah Anna Gutto Gjermund Gjesme Johan Hallström Jacob A Ware

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Leiv Igor Devold

Norwegian Dream

THE BOX is the premier global destination for late night entertainment, internationally renowned for award- winning design, exclusive clientele, extraordinary service, and innovative live theatrical productions attended by over 3 million people.

Robert (19), a Polish immigrant working at a fish factory in Norway, has come to earn money to pay off his mother’s debts. Robert realizes he has feelings for his colleague Ivar (19). For fear of losing his position within a group of Poles at the factory, he hides his feelings, especially

Nordic Narrative Feature

Norway, Poland, Germany

when it turns out that Ivar is doing vogue, and is an aspiring drag queen.

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Wednesday, October 18, 2023 7:00 PM The Box, New York

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 7:00 PM 9:00 PM The Box, New York

7

Mischa Meyer

The 9th Step

In the Shadow of Palms USA

International Feature

North American Premiere Lithuania

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After a turbulent decade of deep addiction, Linas’ life is finally on track. However, after a sudden custody agreement, Linas finds himself living with his estranged seventeen-year-old daughter Ieva. Both Linas and Ieva struggle to accept the new household dynamics and as much as Linas is trying to rebuild their relationship, Ieva is unforgiving. Ieva’s rebellious friend, Maya – dealing with her own family issues – takes refuge at their place where Linas welcomes the distraction and her playfulness.

‘In the Shadow of Palms’ is an intimate portrait of three lives on the outskirts of Los Angeles. A father, mother and son each tell their individual stories of struggle and perseverance in the concrete jungle, and the inspiring ways they find hope in this cinematic documentary.

Thursday, October 19, 2023 4:30 PM 5:45 PM Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater

Thursday, October 19, 2023 6:15 PM 6:45 PM Marjorie S. Dean Little Theater

Docuemantary Short

Irma Puzauskaite

9

Clara Charrin

Andrés Hidalgo

Documentary Short

World Premiere USA

10

World Premiere Ecuador

Every summer, the small coastal town of Shengjin in Northern Albania turns into a hot spot for Albanian and Kosovar tourists. Since the late summer of 2021, Shengjin and the hotel complex at the heart of the town, the Rafaelo, have also become the unlikely home for thousands of Afghans. Following the fall of the Afghan government to the hands of the Taliban, American and Canadian organizations have been evacuating Afghan citizens and placing them in Albania (among other countries) while they process their visas. Over 2,500 refuges have found a temporary home in The Rafaelo alongside transient tourists.

A mom from the slums in Guayaquil, Ecuador goes on a never ending journey in her fight against cancer.

Thursday, October 19, 2023 6.15 PM - 6.45 PM Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater

Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:30 PM 8:00 PM Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater

International Short

Yawash Yawash

The Journey

The Journey portraits a revealing and distressing tale based on the true story experienced by hundreds of low-income families with children who are fighting cancer in Ecuador.

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Ahmad Alyaseer

Caitlin M Davis

Our Males and Females New York Premiere Jordan

Documentary Short

World Premiere USA

12

A father and mother are faced with the painful task of washing and shrouding their deceased transgender daughter. Shrouding is an Islamic religious practice that is deemed obligatory to carry out upon death. But when no one agrees to wash her and shame falls onto the family, how far is the father willing to go to make sure his Claire returns to her whimsical childhood haven on Cape Cod, where the waves whisper of her late mother’s secrets. Life upended after a cruel diagnosis, Claire’s mind is trapped between reality and fleeting memories; the resurfacing of a long-buried past. Her unannounced return to the Cape is met with hostility from her sister Anne, wear y of Claire’s incessant need for attention and skeptical of her condition. Their connection is at once tender and challenging, teetering on absurd. Haunted by the water, the two wade through the treacherous tides of their opposing memories and brace to confront the ghost of their mother’s legacy.

“son” is washed?

Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:30 PM 8:00 PM Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater

Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:30 PM 8:00 PM Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater

International Short

Bodies of Water

13

Inka Achté

Joseph Amenta

Golden Land

Soft

International Feature

New York Premiere Canada

Taking place over one summer, three adolescent

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Thursday, October 19, 2023 8:30 PM 9:45 PM Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater

queer friends become enraptured in the nightlife scene of underbelly Toronto, but their bond is tested when a friend of one of them goes missing.

When Mustafe and his family move back to Somaliland after 25 years in Finland, their search for gold soon turns into something more profound. When Mustafe Hagi prayed to Allah for an adventure three years ago, little did he know what would be coming his way. Two months later copper and gold were discovered on his family’s land in Somaliland. After receiving the news, he immediately decided to leave his boring and safe life in Finland and, after 25 years, move his family to his native country.

Against all the odds, will the family be able to make their home in Hargeisa, or are they doomed to live their life as outsiders, just as in Finland? Will Mustafe be able to really open a gold mine in an area which is still not entirely free from the clan disputes which originally fuelled the Somalian civil war? And if so, will the mine make enough profit for Mustafe to be able to achieve something useful for his native country?

Friday, October 20, 2023 5:00 PM 6:15 PM Scandinavia House

Documentary Feature

New York Premiere Finland, Norway, Sweden

15

Torbjörn Martin

Dissonance

Matilde Sköld

One Minute North American Premiere Sweden

Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis

International Premiere Sweden

As her due date approaches, Farah’s fear of

Two young women are moving into a new

childbirth intensifies. Feeling unsupported by

apartment when they spot two people waving to

the medical system, Farah and her partner Johan

them from an apartment across the street. When

retreat to his family’s country house. But she

they realize it’s their doppelgangers, seemingly

finds no relief from her nightmarish thoughts that

existing one minute ahead in time, the situation

threaten to completely overtake her connection

quickly goes from intriguing to terrifying.

to reality, until a chance encounter with a pregnant cow changes everything.

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Friday, October 20, 2023 6:45 PM 7:00 PM Scandinavia House

Friday, October 20, 2023 6.45 PM - 7.15 PM Scandinavia House

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Aleksi Salmenperä

Bubble Nordic Feature

New York Premiere Finland

Network and Chill Come and hang out with us in our industry lounge

The story of 16-year old small town girl Evelina,

on Saturday, October 21st, hosted in Volvo Hall

whose world collapses when she finds out her

at Scandinavia House. Decked out and designed

mother is having an affair with a woman. Like all

by Duxiana, with plant-based treats from Björk

teens, Eveliina thinks liberally, and wants her own

Café & Bistro and beverages from Oslo Brewery,

freedom of thought and action - but that thinking

BKE Kombucha and Red Jacket Orchard.

does not really extend to her own parents. She tries to stop her mother’s affair at all cost and

Buy a ticket to any screening at Scandinavia

get her parents to fall in love again, with both

House to get access to this VIP space.

dramatic and comedic consequences.

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Friday, October 20, 2023 7:30 PM 9:00 PM Scandinavia House

Saturday, October 21, 2023 Scandinavia House

19

Fabian Munsterhjelm

You & Me & the Milky Way

Thank You in Your Language

Nordic Shorts A

North American Premiere Denmark

20

International Premiere Finland

An actress (Pirjo Lonka) has to create a selftape in a hotel room as soon as possible for the role of her life. The attempt gets distracted by an unsuspecting cleaner. The two end up helping each other but a rather simple question makes a series of misunderstandings spiral out of control: what is thank you in your language?

At the reception for her newly published poetry collection, Klara is eager to celebrate with her old friend Simone. But Simone is hesitant. She turns down all of Klara’s festive ideas as she’s reluctant to fall into habits of the past. Longing to feel the symbiosis-like connection they once had, Klara makes the drastic decision to spike Simone’s drink with MDMA . As a result, Klara and Simone reach the level of confidentiality and mutual understanding they used to share. The night end abruptly when an accident has fatal consequences for the continued relationship of the two young women.

Saturday, October 21, 2023 2:00 PM 3:00 PM Scandinavia House

Saturday, October 21, 2023 2:00 PM 3:00 PM Scandinavia House

Nordic Shorts A

Marie Gøtzsche

21

Kimmie Falstrøm Rebecca Schønberg

Ida Åkesson-Hansson

Stand By

International Premiere Sweden

International Premiere Denmark

The pain after another failed pregnancy can be difficult to manage and a counsellor urges a woman to write a letter to her unborn child. Several years later, the woman finds a forgotten document, ltmuc.doc, on her laptop. The film depicts what was then too difficult to type out in words.

Nordic Shorts A

Nordic Shorts A

Letter to My Unborn Child

As Hannah gives consent to disconnect her comatose mother from life support without her sister’s approval, she grapples with sharing the heartbreaking truth. The story unravels the delicate balance between unresolved family dynamics and an exploration of acceptance, love, and the complexities of life’s most profound decisions.

22

Saturday, October 21, 2023 2:00 PM 3:00 PM Scandinavia House

Saturday, October 21, 2023 2:00 PM 3:00 PM Scandinavia House

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Tind Soneby Wäneland

Jade Aksnes

Angelboy

Grill US Premiere Norway

Nordic Shorts B

Nordic Shorts B

International Premiere Sweden

Klara struggles to balance the consequences of her boyfriend’s actions and her own moral guidelines. He could be the love of her life - but can she really forgive everything?

Society as we know it is gone. In Sweden it is summer Tara is denied electricity bill support by Social Services, who tells her to simply get a free grill instead - a task that leads Tara into uncomfortable situations. Inspired by true events, “Grill” offers a satirical look at how a rich country in Scandinavia deals with poverty.

24

Saturday, October 21, 2023 3:30 PM 5:00 PM Scandinavia House

Saturday, October 21, 2023 3:30 PM 5:00 PM Scandinavia House

25

Matti Johansson

Kathrine Skibsted

Paris, Tumba

ANNIE FOREVER

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At an upper-class restaurant Lars is meeting his son, Frederik, Saga is forced to leave a life in Paris and return home to her parents in the Stockholm suburb of Tumba. After a shattered relationship and without a job or money, she has to revive an existence she thought she had left behind.

Saturday, October 21, 2023 3:30 PM 5:00 PM Scandinavia House

International Premiere Denmark

Annie struggles with loneliness in her ordinary

Nordic Shorts B

Nordic Shorts B

North American Premiere Sweden

routines but when a friend from the past shows up, it will send her on an inner insightful journey.

Saturday, October 21, 2023 3:30 PM 5:00 PM Scandinavia House

27

Álfrún Örnólfsdóttir

Selma Vilhunen

Band

Four Little Adults

28

New York Premiere Finland

Nordic Feature

Documentary Feature

New York Premiere Iceland

An all female Icelandic band tries to make it big in their middle age.

Juulia is a successful Member of the Parliament with a seemingly perfect marriage with her priest husband Matias. But when Juulia finds out Matias has had a year-long affair with Enni, she collapses. To save her marriage, Juulia invites Enni to be a part of their lives, and they start a polyamorous relationship. When Juulia explores the new rules, she falls in love with young Miska, who seems to be the most mature of the quartet. There is a lot of love in the relationships among the four, but no matter how hard they try, challenges seem to remain.

Saturday, October 21, 2023 5:15 PM 6:30 PM Scandiavia House

Saturday, October 21, 2023 7:00 PM 9:00 PM Scandinavia House

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Film i Väst

Awards Ceremony

Film i Väst is one of Europe’s most successful co-producers and Scandinavia’s preeminent film fund. Since 1992 we have co-produced more than 1 000 feature films, T V-dramas, shorts & documentaries. Over the years, Film i Väst co-productions have also been richly rewarded with nominations and prizes at the world’s most prestigious events, including festivals such as Cannes and Berlin, and galas such as the European Film Awards, the Golden Globes and the Oscars.

New York Film Academy New York Film Academy (NYFA) is a leading film, media, and performing arts college that offers intensive undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificates, and workshops across a multitude of areas of study in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Gold Coast (Australia), Florence (Italy), Beijing (China), and more. NYFA also offers online programs to provide unparalleled “Hands-Online” education experiences that allow aspiring storytellers across the world to access valuable industry knowledge from any where. For more information, please visit nyfa.edu.

“On behalf of New York Film Academy, we wish the entrants to this year’s Nordic International Film Festival the best of luck and success in their festival run,” Michael J. Young, President of New York Film Academy.

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Closing its 9th year, NIFF says thank you and goodnight with a fun filled evening featuring red carpet, goodie bags and the announcement of the winners of Nordic International Film Festival 2023. The evening will conclude with a live performance and DJ set by Virgin Miri.

The Nordic International Film Festival Award made by Orrefors Orrefors has been established in Swedish design tradition since 1898 , characterized by timeless aesthetics , functionalit y, craf tsmanship, and sustainable quality. The Nobel collection from Orrefors was designed in 1991 for the 90th anniversary of the Nobel Prize. The stemware glasses have been used at the prestigious event every year since. “ We are excited to have started this collaboration with Nordic International Film Festival. It feels natural for us to partner with NIFF, which supports Scandinavian filmmakers and connects the Nordic regions with the rest of the world. Orrefors is a leading crystal company with production in Sweden, that represents Nordic glass heritage and Scandinavian design. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership with NIFF, and to share the Orrefors award with the international film community,” says Emon Maasho, CEO & President, Orrefors North America.

The award is made of the highest quality crystal with details etched by hand, customized for the NIFF.

Sunday, November 22, 2023 7 PM - 11 PM Scandinavia House, New York

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An Open Letter of Thanks To Our Partners Here at NIFF, we consider ourselves extremely lucky to do the work we do.

Finding great films and promoting exquisite filmmakers is our passion and our pride. However, none of this would be possible without the support and trust of our incredible partners.

In everything we do, NIFF strives for leadership, ingenuity, and impeccable craftsmanship. We are thrilled to have partnered with companies who share these priorities within their own crafts and are continually honored and humbled by their support.

We hope that you enjoy your time at NIFF and share in our gratitude for our partners. Our vision has been made possible thanks to their collaboration, hard work, and shared vision for the arts.