You don’t have to be a movie buff to enjoy a film festival, but chances are, after you attend your first one, you’ll be on the lookout for more. Open to everyone, film festivals preview a hand-picked selection of movies, both feature length and short, dramas, documentaries and more, from aspiring filmmakers from around the world. The talent behind the films, experienced and novice both, hope to gain exposure to industry professionals who may be interested in taking their work to the big screen, giving them a chance at stardom and bright lights fame.
Film festivals themselves range from internationally established ones like Sundance, Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada to more regionally focused affairs organized by various groups, including film schools, government organizations, non-profit entities and regional film promoters like the Nordic International Film Festival (NIFF), marking its 10th anniversary this year.
Renowned as the largest Nordic Film Festival outside of Europe and one of the top ten festivals in New York City, the festival was co-founded by Linnea Larsdotter Mikkelä to promote Nordic film and accepts entries from all over the world. They look for diverse independent films with strong characters and storylines, which says Linnea is a powerful way to showcase life in all its incarnations.
“We encourage all filmmakers to submit their films, regardless of ethnicity, religion or worldview,” explained Linnea when we spoke with her on the eve of her annual film festival. “We are especially looking for films about human connection and how humans relate to each other. We want to talk about inclusivity. We’re open to everything, but we do lean very heavily on drama. And that is what our audience expects from us. We include occasional comedy, but that tends to be on the darker side. You know, we’re Nordic. We’re not going to be too cheerful. This is not the vibe.”
I laughed, having just experienced one of the happiest countries in the world along with Finland, Norway. From the stunning scenery to the sensational farm-to-table fare, the outdoor pursuits and warm welcomes I experienced from new friends who woke up cheerful, I have to imagine the films they make there reflect natural Nordic highs.
NIFF co-founder Linnea Larsdotter Mikkelä with Johan Matton.
Photo by Martin Lee
Linnea explained that one of the goals of the festival was to showcase how beautiful the region is, how diverse it is and specifically how the Nordic culture gets reflected in these movies. “The film quality this is spectacularly high,” Linnea shared, saying she “is constantly impressed by the independent Nordic filmmakers who submit their work to her festival. “They are not supported by a studio but still get to make these titles that are so good. Regrettably, I had to turn away many excellent films this year and that always breaks my heart.”
NIFF receives films from two pools of filmmakers, one from the people who submit their works directly and on their own to the festival. The other is the pool of filmmakers that Linnea and her team seek out from agents and production companies.
“We find titles we think would be great, and include them along with the films individuals have submitted to us. We spend two days screening the selected films during the festival, bookending them with panels, lectures and special experiences the cater to the film industry. In celebration of their 10th anniversary, they have launched a monthly screening of a mystery film in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, surprising and delighting audiences with the high caliber films NIFF is known for in Bang & Olufsen’s Soho flagship showroom.
“Each month, eight invited guests enjoy a private screening of a Nordic feature or selection of shorts curated by us here at NIFF. Taking place at Bang & Olufsen’s Soho Flagship, the audience experiences the films in a truly cinematic setting with Bang & Olufsen’s 77 inch Harmony, Beolab 50s and Beolab 28s. The evening includes refreshments, light bites, and luxury goodie bag from one of our partners,” Linnea explained.
NIFF’s Mystery Film night at Bang & Olufsen’s Soho flagship store presents Nordic films on their 77 inch Harmony, Beolab 50s and Beolab 28s with mesmerizing resolution and powerful, motorized speakers.
Building a network of partners has been a priority for Linnea from day one. “One of my partners is the New York Film Academy. I worked closely with them this year to engage their students with the possibilities of a filmmaking career,” explaining that the festival does not have a category for students, but rather includes their work with all the entries. Other longstanding partners include Volvo, Orrefors and more, each dedicated to promoting the Nordic region.
Over the past 10 years her list of sponsors and partners have grown along with the festival.
Linnea remembers “the first year being very green, not knowing exactly what we’re doing but remaining very enthusiastic and ambitious. I often refer to NIFF as a dough, because it just grows on its own. Every year it’s slightly bigger and better.”
“I believe if you have a vision, and you’re working hard to deliver that vision, you can make it happen. We started the festival to give aspiring filmmakers a platform for their work without requiring big submission fees, or having them buy tickets for their own screening. We wanted to do it better, to really honor the filmmakers and celebrate them in a way that doesn’t feel like we are exploiting them. This is someone’s dream that we’re talking about here so we remain committed to delivering an experience that they really enjoy.”
Entrants are invited to submit their work in different categories, with awards being given for Best International Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Nordic Narrative Feature, Best Nordic Narrative Short, Best Lead Performance, Best Supporting Performance, Best Director and Best Cinematography.
“New this year, we will be giving a lifetime achievement award, the Nordic Impact Award, that goes to a filmmaker who has done a lot for Nordic film internationally,” she told us, hinting that the honoree has produced a number of acclaimed films viewers will undoubtedly recognize.
What sets NIFF apart is its passion for authentic storytelling by noteworthy and aspiring filmmakers, where the Nordic culture is accurately represented in human, real life terms.
“I recently returned to Sweden for a much-needed visit home. I grew up in the village of Smygehamn, nestled in the most southern point of the entire country. I rented a house close to my family, but also enjoyed spending time at a Bed and Breakfast that my friends run in a historic lighthouse overlooking the sea,” she said, remarking on the symbolic nature of her return home and her accommodations with regard to the mission of the Nordic International Film Festival.
Nordic landscapes, like this one in Smygehamm, Sweden, ensure film-worthy backdrops, enabling filmmakers to showcase the natural and cultural treasures of the region in the best light.
“We have a saying in Sweden that talks about the kind of experience I had this summer. It basically says that you don’t see the beauty of a familiar place until you have left it behind and returned to see it anew. It’s incredibly beautiful where I come from, but I didn’t think about it when I was living there. But every time I come back home, I experience it a completely different way and am always grateful to spend time there.”
The next best thing to traveling to the Nordic region to experience its irresistible allure in person is a ticket to the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Nordic International Film Festival, in New York City from October 17 – 20, 2024. Here you can experience the sense of community, scenic bliss and cultural inclusivity that Linnea looks forward to showcasing in the Nordic films on offer then. For more information, visit www.nordicfilmfest.org ☐
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