Welcome to the 43rd Norwegian Short Film Festival!

Finally, the big day is here!

The future of this edition was uncertain at a point, so we are very happy to present the festival’s digital edition to you!

We made the decision to go digital last April, after many rounds with other options. What would be a good alternative time? October? November? Would there be a new wave in this pandemic? Would Grimstad be as welcoming a place in snow and darkness? And would we be able to give you a complete festival experience?

Canceling was never an option. The Covid-19 outbreak hit in the middle of our submissions period, but with the submissions rate being stable it was obvious that filmmakers were still interested in participating. The short film format has fewer arenas, and a digital edition was without a doubt the best solution.

That’s why we have gone all in to create the best festival possible! The term “team effort” has never been more descriptive, requiring a shift in tasks from everyone involved. We have created a brand new digital platform and website, while trying hard to keep the feeling of Grimstad ever present. Is this even possible to do online?

All the festival programs are in our daily planner, with suggested times for screenings and events that are NOT live streamed. The programs can be accessed throughout the festival, but some are linked to a live event and we suggest you take a look at the films before joining us for our live Q&aAs or a panels. We already know you’re excited to see the competition films this year, but we urge you to take a look at all the programs - we are very proud of all our content this year! 

With 68 hours of content in five days, it goes without saying you have to make an effort - there is a lot to take in. And with summer, sun and heat hitting us, we hope you’ll spend time with us as we for the first time will enter your spaces!

So, how to get the festival feeling?
Follow our Daily Planner like many others. You can join the Facebook group “Hestetorget” (named after the square and meeting place outside Grimstad Culture House), founded by short film enthusiasts, where you can socialize and chat about the films and programs.

Many will get together privately to watch films in their back yards or living rooms, in keeping with the social distancing recommendations. We truly wish we could have seen you all in the theaters in Grimstad, but we will come back with a vengeance in 2021!

For nå begynner festivalen! Den vil gå sin seiersgang fra et studio på Sentralen i Oslo og vi er veldig stolte av det vi har fått til.

Stay safe, get your festival pass, and enjoy the festival! 

God film!

Festival Director Anita Svingen,
on behalf of the amazing festival team