Programme elements
The Noordelijk Film Festival is distinguished by a unique international programme with a focus on the North. The festival offers a broad programme beyond film. On this page, you will find all information about the programme components in 2023.
Nordic Focus
Every year, we fly out from Friesland to the North’s most beautiful cinematic settings: from Iceland, through Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands to the Scandinavian countries and the Baltics. Northern Focus is the main programme of the Northern Film Festival, offering a strong selection of the latest international feature films and documentaries from this great northern region. Many films are specially imported from abroad and cannot (yet) be seen in Dutch cinemas and film theatres. This is also the reason why many films are subtitled in English.
Within the programme you will find a unique mix of feature films; from absurd, black or light-hearted comedy to historical, psychological or social drama, from a-typical action or crime thriller to arthouse, mystery and film noir. With the documentaries, we also present a nice picture of the cultural diversity within our broad Northern Europe. Be surprised, amazed and moved. Go on an adventure and discover films you would otherwise never see!
Noorderkroon
The Northern European selection of the main programme shares the screen with promising and professional films of all shapes and sizes from its own region. With the Noorderkroon programme, we provide a stage and stepping stone for professional filmmakers, up-and-coming talents, students and even amateur filmmakers, through the screenings and competition where the Noorderkroon Awards are distributed. You can find the 2022 winners here.
The films in this programme were all made by directors or producers living in or from Friesland, Groningen or Drenthe. It may also be that the story is set in one of these provinces. In any case, there is a strong connection to our own regional north. Lots of films in this selection will also have their premiere at the festival and makers will often be present for a Q&A!
Spotlight: Trine Dyrholm
Each year, the Noordelijk Film Festival highlights a director, actor, or actress who has made significant contributions to cinema. This year, that honor goes to the Danish actress Trine Dyrholm, a prominent figure in Danish cinema for decades. The festival honors her with a Spotlight program featuring five of her notable films: Festen, Kollektivet, Nico 1988, Birthday Girl, and Poison.
On the opening night, Dyrholm will receive the Award for Special Contribution to Northern Cinema, which she will personally accept. On Thursday, November 14, she will also be present for an extensive Spotlight interview that is open to the public, allowing fans and cinema enthusiasts to engage with her insights and experiences in the industry.
This recognition underscores not only Dyrholm’s remarkable body of work but also the festival’s commitment to celebrating the richness and diversity of Northern cinema.
Prison Pictures
This years festival theme is In Motion, but what if you’re literally trapped and unable to go anywhere? With the program Prison Pictures, the Noordelijk Film Festival presents four films set in prisons. Three films will be screened at the old prison Blokhuispoort: the Danish drama Sons, the documentary into the Abyss by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, and a preview of the brand-new film and Oscar contender Sing Sing.
For a true experience, we will also screen a film inside an operational prison: the Penitentiaire Inrichting Leeuwarden on Holstmeerweg. Within the thick prison walls, you’ll watch the Danish documentary The View. After the screening, there will be a discussion with the prison director, an inmate, and the director of the film. Bet you’ve never watched a film like this before!
Sounds & Cinema
This year, there is extra sparkle in the Noordelijk Film Festival. With the Sounds & Cinema programme, we present brilliant music documentaries and the occasional feature film where music plays a major role. Get carried away by the sounds of the arctic, the melancholy in Moluccan songs or the New York jazzy sound of a contemporary Danish composer. Of course, the film screening of a silent classic with live music is not missing this year either.
Films in the Memmetal
The majority of our visitors do understand Frysk. But what about Basque, Sami, Nauvhal, Kannada or Marathi? This year, the Noordelijk Film Festival presents a programme of films from so-called small language areas. The memmetal as an important expression of a (cultural) identity is something we know how to do in Friesland. But then how come so few films are made entirely in Frisian? Around that theme, we will organise a panel discussion with filmmakers and policymakers.
Wadleven
The Noordelijk Film Festival aims to organize a greener film festival, informing and inspiring the audience with new insights. The thematic program Wadleven emphasizes this commitment through a selection of interesting documentaries and beautiful nature films. These films provide new insights into topics such as climate change and more sustainable ways of taking care of planet earth.
Some of these films will also feature introductions or Q&A sessions.
Talent & Industry
New Noardic Wave and the Noordelijk Film Festival are joining forces for a diverse and ambitious program filled with masterclasses, workshops, panels, and networking events to get you moving!
This initiative is in collaboration with partners such as Screen Talent NL, CineNord, Screen Noord, Filmfluencer, and Actors Directors Collective.
Want to know more about New Noardic Wave. Check their website here.
Specials
Our specials programme consists of a number of special events that are slightly different from ‘just film’. Many of these film screenings are organised in collaboration with other parties. How about a special archive programme in collaboration with the Fries Film and Audio Archive, a Film & Food special with delicious dishes by ROAST or this year’s smash hit: a secret cinema at a secret location!
Series
Millennium, Wallander, Borgen, The Killing, The Bridge; these are a handful of titles from a seemingly inexhaustible source of Scandinavian inspiration. Time and again, Danish and Swedish television productions in particular manage to capture audiences en masse. For the third year in a row, the Noordelijk Film Festival will introduce a brand new series and screen the first two episodes of it.
School performances
Through school screenings, more than two thousand primary and secondary school students are introduced to fine northern children’s films and the film festival. We collaborate with Schoolkade’s arts menu, but also invite all other schools in the province. A suitable film has been selected for each age group and free teaching materials are offered with each film, which are specially developed to accompany the films. More information on school screenings and film education can be found here.