The Northern Film Festival features a celebrated Danish actress and director as its standout highlights.

LEEUWARDEN. The Northern Film Festival is set to welcome esteemed guests, Danish actress Trine Dyrholm and Oscar winner Thomas Vinterberg, to Leeuwarden. This year’s festival will take place from November 13 to 17 and will open with the Irish film Kneecap.

“We are thrilled to have Dyrholm and Vinterberg at our festival,” says Henriëtte Poelman, director of the Northern Film Festival, about the special guests. “Their presence is a wonderful and inspiring addition to our already impressive program, both for visitors and fellow filmmakers.”

The Northern Film Festival annually awards the Award for Special Contribution to Northern Cinema, And this year it goes to Trine Dyrholm. As a Spotlight guest, she will personally accept the award on opening night. Additionally, she will engage in an extensive public Spotlight Talk about her work.

Retrospective on Dyrholm

The festival will feature a retrospective on Dyrholm, showcasing her two newest films along with four older titles, including the recent Poison (Désirée Nosbusch), based on the renowned play Gif  by Lot Vekemans.

One of Dyrholm’s earlier films is Festen (1998), a film for which she collaborated with Thomas Vinterberg. This project earned the Danish director the European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year. Vinterberg won an Oscar for Best International Film in 2020 with Druk. The Northern Film Festival will premiere the first episodes of his new series Families Like Ours in the Netherlands. On Thursday, November 14, the director will be present for an in-depth discussion about the series and his films.

Opening Film and Theme

The opening film of the 44th edition of the Northern Film Festival is the quirky Irish film Kneecap. “The film has made a significant impact at film festivals like Sundance and Galway, impressing both audiences and critics,” says Poelman. ”Kneecap presents in a unique and energetic way the importance of language for cultural identity.”

This year’s theme is “In Motion.” Poelman states, “There is so much in the world that is changing: people are searching for a safe place to live, nature is transforming, and new insights are emerging. Each movement has its own impact, and with every experience, our perspective grows. At the Northern Film Festival, we come together and connect. Film brings something into motion.”

Program Lines

All titles are divided into various program lines. The Memmetaal line, introduced last year, will continue, showcasing films from small language regions. For instance, the opening film “Kneecap” is in Irish Gaelic, with screenings also in Sámi and Catalan. Additionally, there will be the usual lines such as Nordic Focus, Dutch Unconventional, Noorderkroon, and Sounds & Cinema, along with the special “Wadleven,” featuring films about the Wadden region.

The full program will be announced on October 16 on the website of NFF.