The competition program is ready!

The competition program is finally here!

After months of tough decision-making, the final selections for the competition program are ready for the 45th Norwegian Short Film Festival.

Four selection committees have worked hard to choose between 2233 submissions, and four competition programs containing a total of 156 films are now ready. These are divided between the categories Norwegian Short Film, Short Documentary, Norwegian Music Video and International Short Film.

Below you can read the selection committees' statements about the selection process and the themes of the films that will compete for the prices at this year's festival in Grimstad June 8th - 12th.

NORWEGIAN SHORT FILM

Of a total of 195 submissions, 52 Norwegian short films have been chosen for the competition program. See the full program here.

“In the process of selecting films to the Norwegian Shorts program, we have had an emphasis on highlighting originality, a will to utilize and develop the medium’s characteristics, as well as heartfelt connections in the storytelling.
This year’s selected films are signed by both well-known, established filmmakers as well as new, up and coming breaths of fresh air, and we have put together a diverse program with a wide range of voices, genres, and expressions.
195 films were submitted to us this year, and several other, well-made and strong films would have deserved a place in the program.”

Selection committee for Norwegian Short Film
Unni Straume, Tove Undheim, Shahrukh Kavousi

SHORT DOCUMENTARY

Out of 301 submissions, 27 short documentaries have been chosen for the competition program. In the screening programs in Grimstad, the international documentaries will be shown together with International Short Film and the Norwegian documentaries will be shown together with Norwegian Short Film. See the full program here.

“This year’s selection committee got an insight into the production of Norwegian short documentaries over the last year. We have seen variations in expressions presented to us, and we have discovered new talents we’re excited to see more from.

Despite each film being unique, we have noticed some common elements this year, the most obvious, in our opinion, being experimentation in visual styles and storytelling techniques. Classical dramaturgy is not a common characteristic in this year’s works.
Fresh and original ways to present well known events is some of what the audience can expect to see this year, along with several portraits of performers and artists.
Many of the submitted films seem to be made on a shoestring budget, but this does not mean they’re not well produced. Behind every film lies many hours, hard work, and a determination to describe life and the world we live in. We clearly see great potential in the filmmakers who have submitted their films to the festival this year, and we hope you as the audience will be enthused by what you are about to see.

It has also been a delight to watch the international films submitted. Poetic films opening doors to beautiful spaces in our minds, aesthetics giving us a sense of calm, and political films highlighting the injustice of our world. Films that mirror ourselves and show us what it means to be a human being.
What we’ve seen has strengthened our faith in film as a medium, it has inspired and moved us.
We hope you will enjoy!”

Selection committee for Short Documentary
Racha Helen Larsen, Halvor Nitteberg, Sverre Kvamme

NORWEGIAN MUSIC VIDEO

Out of 66 submissions, 22 Norwegian Music Videos have been selected for the competition program. See the full program here.

“Nostalgia, working classes, childhood, gaming, collages, and surrealism are recurring themes in this year’s entries, and it is with humbled joy we have put together this program. In encountering so many wonderful, independent works, it is tempting to give them the opportunity to talk to each other. We hope we have succeeded in doing so, and we wish you all a great experience!”

Selection committee for Norwegian Music Video
Juno Jensen, Kristin Winsents

INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM

Out of 1622 submissions, 55 international short films have been chosen for the competition program. See the full program here.

It has been a privilege to watch this year’s international short films. Entries have come from every corner of the world, and they are proof that there is great power in the short format. The stories are compelling, entertaining and informative, and they offer new and fresh perspectives. We have been on a thrilling ride also in terms of diversity: In geography, in stories, and last, but not least; representation, in front of and behind the camera. It is obvious to us that breadth in diversity and representation enriches a production. The films we have seen are a display in variation and innovation in themes, dramaturgy, expressions, genres, and formats.
We have experienced pain and hurt, the bitter sweet, the absurd, the comical, the dramatic, the grotesque, and the beautiful - our entire emotional spectrum has been on a fantastic, often animated, roller coaster ride.
Of more than 1600 submitted films we have ended up with 55 films in competition, needless to say we have been forced to make many tough decisions in this process.

This year’s selection of stories will touch and enrich, challenge and entertain, and let us experience - or escape from - the reality, as seen by other sets of eyes.
We have seen it all, yet we hunger for more - and we hope you will feel the same!

Have a wonderful festival!"

Selection committee for International Short Film
Armita Keyani, Elisa Fernanda Pirir, Neil Young, Draga Vidovic,
Julie Pichard, Anika Salvesen, Bård Ydén, Anita Svingen