Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festivals Not to Miss in 2018
Film experiences in the dark of the cinema.
An idyllic setting by the archipelago.
Outdoor cinema experience.
A short experience for film lovers Picture this: boat trips while eating fresh shrimp in the archipelago, and bright summer nights with film experiences in the dark of the movie theatre. “For our many international guests, this is a special experience and why they love to visit the Norwegian Short Film Festival in Grimstad – a true gem in southern Norway,” says festival manager Anita Svingen.
utes. The goal is that this too will be an Oscar-qualifying category, like the festival already is for the Norwegian short film competition, making the festival an even stronger international player.
By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: The Norwegian Short Film Festival
Submissions for 2018 are open until 15 February for all filmmakers in the short film category. In addition to the award programmes, the festival also presents film experiences, seminars and debates, making it a must-see for budding filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike.
The Norwegian Short Film Festival is the second oldest film festival in Norway, celebrating 40 years in 2017. It is an important debut arena for up-and-coming filmmakers, but also a great showcase for the established industry as a platform for screening free and independent film. Today it is seen as a key meeting place for the film industry – a place to transfer skills between generations to develop Norwegian film. “We are a small festival, both in name and location, but each year some of the biggest film festivals such as Sundance, Toronto and Berlinalen come to us and showcase their programmes,” Svingen says proudly. The competition for international short film attracts filmmakers and festivals from the rest of the world to Grimstad, and the festival arranges for bonds to be tied between the Norwegian and the international film communities. 70 | Issue 108 | January 2018
“The short film does not have many viewing options in cinemas or on television, so the festival becomes a unique setting for film lovers, especially in this genre. We show a large selection of both the best short films and documentaries that are produced in Norway, but also special programmes and international short and documentary films,” says Svingen. “However, we do wish for more people to open their eyes to the world of shorts. Today, with the digital platforms, we are in the golden age of short film, so we try to introduce audiences outside the industry to various programmes and films and would like to invite anyone to come and discover the wonderful world of short films.” This year, the festival strengthens its focus on short documentaries and launches the competition programme Short Doc, for Norwegian and international documentaries of up to 40 min-
Ruben Østlund opening the installation The Square in 2016 – a gift to Grimstad for its 200th anniversary.
Web: www.kortfilmfestivalen.no Facebook: kortfilmfestivalen Twitter: @Kortfilmfest Instagram: @kortfilmfestivalen