Celebrating 10 Years of the Nordic International Film Festival
The Nordic International Film Festival (NIFF) is marking its tenth anniversary in 2024, celebrating a decade of promoting Nordic cinema, inclusivity, and sustainability. Founded in 2015 by Swedish actors and producers Linnea Larsdotter Mikkelä and Johan Matton, NIFF has grown into the largest Nordic film festival outside Europe, held annually in New York City.
Brought to fruition with the help of a long list of Nordic brand sponsors such as Volvo, Absolut, Norse Airways, The Scandinavia Box, and Orrefors with Swedes in the States and Variety as media sponsors, this celebratory anniversary event is set to top previous years.
Twenty-one viewings, three international premiers, and nine North American premieres are set to take place during the film fest with ‘The Idiot’ and ‘Elskling’ being the most anticipated showing during the fest. Other favorites during the film festival are the short docs ‘Life of Eberling’ and ‘The Remaining Ones’.
Although opening night is invite-only, anyone can participate in the film festival’s viewings with tickets being purchased on NIFF’s official website.
Leading the Way in Sustainability
NIFF is also a pioneer in promoting sustainability within the film industry. It was the first film festival in the world to climate-compensate for all air travel associated with the event, taking a proactive approach to reducing the environmental impact of filmmaking and global participation. This commitment to sustainability extends to their policies for attendees. Festival organizers encourage visitors and filmmakers to wear recycled or second-hand clothing, discouraging the purchase of new outfits for red carpet-events. In addition, all food, snacks, and drinks served during the festival will be entirely plant-based, further reflecting NIFF’s dedication to minimizing its carbon footprint and promoting environmentally conscious lifestyles.
Championing Inclusivity
A distinctive feature of NIFF’s programming is its commitment to diversity and equality, exemplified by its emphasis on films that pass the Bechdel Test. Created by cartoonist Alison Bechdel, this test evaluates whether a film includes at least two women who have a conversation about something other than a man. NIFF uses the test to keep statistics on which films that feature strong female characters and narratives. By doing so, the festival encourages the creation of films that prioritize gender equity and challenge traditional cinematic norms. Additionally, NIFF incorporates the Vito Russo Test to ensure representation of LGBTQIA+ characters, fostering inclusivity across multiple dimensions of identity.
Looking Forward: A Decade of Transformation
As NIFF celebrates its tenth anniversary, it continues to stand at the forefront of cinematic innovation, diversity, and sustainability. This year’s edition promises a diverse selection of films from Nordic and international filmmakers, retrospectives, panels, and networking events, all underpinned by NIFF’s core values of inclusion and environmental responsibility.
For more information on the Nordic International Film Festival and its upcoming celebration, visit their [official website](https://www.nordicfilmfest.org/festival).
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Opening Night Film
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM – ‘Elskling’
Friday, October 18, 2024
Documentary Shorts
- 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – ‘Entropy’, ‘The League – A Future for Freeskiing’, ‘Fat Dance’
Documentary
- 3:45 PM – 5:30 PM – ‘The Remarkable Life of Ibelin’
International Shorts Block
- 5:45 PM – 7:15 PM – ‘I’m not a robot’, What Woman Wants, God Wants’, ‘Trapped’, ‘The Robbers’
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Feature Film
- 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM – ‘A Place in the Sun’
Nordic Shorts Block A
- 4:30 PM 6:30 PM – ‘Neon’, ‘Goodnight, then’, ‘Game Rules’, ‘Showers’, ‘Bicycle Thief’
Nordic Shorts Block B
- 4:30 PM 6:30 PM – ‘The Remaining Ones’, ‘Rainbow Dick’, ‘Amidst’, ‘Camping in Paradise’, ‘Fest & Stress’,
Feature Film
- 7:30 PM – 9:15 PM – ‘The Idiot’
