Nordic Film Festival, London

For the first time, there is set to be a Nordic Film Festival opening in the UK from 30 November until 5 December. Taking place across London at Riverside Studios (Hammersmith), Ciné lumière (South Kensington) and Prince Charles Cinema (Leicester Square), the festival aims to celebrate the best in Nordic filmmaking, both past and present, by bringing together a varied mix of independent films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Opening with a special Gala screening of critically acclaimed director Susanne Bier’s Love Is All Your Need (featuring Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm), the Nordic Film Festival will then go on to close with the UK Premiere Gala screening of Lisa Langseth’s debut feature Pure starring Alicia Vikander (A Royal Affair, Anna Karenina). With Nordic cinema thriving in the UK, (most obviously with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), the time is right to celebrate the growing independent filmmaking scene.

Aside from the exciting programme planned for the opening and the closing nights, the festival as a whole also plays host to a selection of inspired films. Among these films will be those screened at Riverside Studios, these include: Festen, a party where a celebratory toast takes a turn and uncovers the darkest of family secrets, Helsinki Forever, is Peter von Bagh’s montage of Helsinki using clips from respected filmmakers from the past years, and Punk Syndrome, a documentary that follows Finland’s biggest punk band, of whom all four have mental disabilities. The Prince Charles Cinema will present Troll Hunter, a mysterious film that focuses on a group of students, intent on exposing a suspected bear poacher, and who unwittingly discover a government secret. Finally, Ciné lumière, will also be screening Babette’s Feast, a touching contemporary classic exploring the use of food as an expressive medium through which Babette (a French political refugee) inspires and revives the lives of those who offer her asylum.

In order to entertain and educate, the majority of the films open with a short introduction from the filmmakers and those concerned with the film industry. The Nordic Film Festival is set to be an insightful look into the talents and story telling abilities of the Nordic film making community.

Nordic Film Festival, 30 November – 5 December, across the city of London, www.day-for-night.org/nordic-film-festival.

Credits
All images courtesy of the Nordic Film Festival.
1. Helsinki Forever, Peter von Bagh.
2. Oslo August 31st, Joachim Trier.
3. Olafur Eliasson-Space is Process, Jacob Jorgensen+Henrik Lundo.
4. Babette’s Feast, Gabriel Axel.