SCANDINAVIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2021 – Feature 5 Swedish Films
Highlights of the Scandinavian Film Festival
The Scandinavian Film Festival returns exclusively to Palace Cinemas this July with a specially curated programme of films and events, showcasing the best in new Nordic cinema.
The Festival will open with WILDLAND (Kød & Blod). Set in Denmark’s underbelly, Jeanette Nordahl’s striking Scandi-noir follows an impressionable teenage girl who is placed in the care of her estranged aunt, (an incredible Sidse Babett Knudsen), the head of a family crime syndicate.
From Finland comes the GAMES PEOPLE PLAY (Seurapeli). A group of old friends gather at an idyllic Finnish seaside villa to celebrate a surprise birthday, where old feelings and power struggles rise to the surface, starring Laura Birn and Christian Hillborg.
At the Centrepiece of the Festival is THE COUNTY (Héraðið), Grímur Hákonarson’s eagerly anticipated follow-up to the global hit Rams. THE COUNTY is a rousing, David-and-Goliath comedy about a dairy farmer’s wife (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir) who takes on the corrupt local co-op in her remote Icelandic valley.
Rising Norwegian star Josefine Frida Pettersen (Skam) shines in Jorunn Myklebust Syversen’s provocative new drama DISCO about a young evangelical dance champion whose faith is tested, prompting her to search for radical solutions.
This year’s Special Presentation is the Swedish film TIGERS (Tigrar)
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERECrowned Best Nordic Film at the Göteborg Film Festival 2021, Tigers is the enthralling true story of Martin Bengtsson, a former Inter Milan player, who lifted the lid on a world where everyone has a price tag. Festival Director Elysia Zeccola said: “We emerge from hibernation with a stunning selection of the best Nordic cinema, including award-winning films direct from the 2021 Göteborg Film Festival featuring the brightest stars from the region.”
Celebrating its 50th anniversary and featuring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann, The Emigrants follows a struggling farming family in mid-19th Century Sweden who decide to embark on the arduous journey to new hope in America.
AUSTRALIAN PREMIEREBased on music by legendary Swedish artist Tomas Ledin (ABBA), this musical comedy follows successful businesswoman Isabella’s (Malin Akerman) return to her hometown, where she learns that her teenage love (Christian Hillborg) is getting married.
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERENiki has just turned 35 and is suddenly forced to come to grips with all her relationships and past choices in life in this charming comedy about mother-daughter relationships.
AUSTRALIAN PREMIEREThe deeply moving 2020 Göteborg Film Festival’s Opening film is a surreal drama about a mother and daughter who embark on a trip to Stockholm, yet their plan is derailed when the mother begins acting strangely.
The SACC will organise pre-movie networking drinks in each Chapter city (highlighted below) if covid restrictions allow:
Sydney: 6 – 28 July, Palace Norton, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinemas
Canberra: 7 – 28 July, Palace Electric
Melbourne: 8 – 28 July, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema
Adelaide: 13 July – 4 August, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas
Perth: 14 July – 4 August, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX & Palace Raine Square
Brisbane: 15 July – 4 August, Palace James St, Palace Barracks
Byron Bay: 16 July – 1 August, Palace Byron Bay
Stay tuned as we roll out event details for each city once dates become available.
For more information, visit scandinavianfilmfestival.com and follow us on Insta/Facebook @ScandiFilmFest.
