Written by: Athésia

HURTIGRUTEN SCANDINAVIAN FILM FESTIVAL

The 2025 Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival, is back in town presenting the best new cinema from the Nordic region this July 17th until the 10th of August at Palace Cinemas. Festival goers are invited to plunge into a unique cultural journey through Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland with this year’s brilliant and diverse line up featuring award-winners, box office hits and thought provoking debuts from a new generation of filmmakers in tandem with the latest new films from the region’s most loved actors and directors.

The Opening Night Gala of the 2025 Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival in Sydney will take place on Thursday 17th of July at Palace Moore Park Cinema, featuring the screening of NUMBER 24 (Nr 24), by multi award winning director John Andreas Andersen (The Burning Sea, The Quake). Number 24 is a gripping new spy drama depicting the extraordinary true story of a modest young ‘every-man’ drawn into the resistance movement during World War II.

Some of the highlights of the program are:

QUISLING: THE FINAL DAYS (Quislings siste dager). Set in 1945 Norway, this bold and fascinating drama from acclaimed director Erik Poppe (The King’s Choice, ScandiFF 2017) follows the post-liberation trial of the country’s infamous and controversial head of state Vidkun Quisling, in a stirring meditation on complicity, faith and the capacity for self-deception.

The powerful and visually stunning drama THE MOUNTAIN (Fjallið) is the first officially vetted sustainable production in Iceland and has been awarded the prestigious Green Film Sustainability certification. Starring Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney (daughter of singer Björk), it explores how the cosmos and a road trip to the Icelandic highlands offers comfort to a family whose life is upended by a twist of fate.

Starring Festival favourite Trine Dyrholm is SECOND VICTIMS (Det andet offer), a Danish-set medical drama. Featuring stellar performances from Dyrholm and Özlem Saglanmak (Borgen), this timely reflection on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals today follows a neurologist on a shift that will change her life forever, exploring the weight of guilt and the power of compassion.

Debut director Paula Korva’s Finnish comedy/drama SUDDEN OUTBURSTS OF EMOTIONS (Kenraaliharjoitus) is the story of an ordinary couple who decide to open their relationship to new sexual encounters to reignite their passion. Although everything seems fine to start, emotional chaos is soon unleashed in this witty and heartfelt story.

From Sweden is LIVE A LITTLE (Leva Lite), a bold and intimate story about two best friends on a couch surfing adventure across Europe, navigating uncertainty and intimacy as they strive to find themselves.

MY UNCLE JENS (ONKEL JENS), is a charming and entertaining drama about family ties and culture clashes, a young teacher’s peaceful life in Oslo is upended when his Kurdish uncle unexpectedly comes to stay with him.

MY FATHER’S DAUGHTER (BIRU UNJÁRGA) is a delightful drama and debut feature from Egil Pedersen, a Sámi teenager’s life dramatically shifts when her true father emerges, forever altering her world.

ODD FISH (LJÓSVÍKINGAR) is an endearing story imbued with humour that follows two childhood friends who get a long-awaited opportunity to run their seafood restaurant all year round and face unexpected personal challenges.

THE QUIET ONES (DE LYDLØSE) Based on the incredible true story of Denmark’s biggest-ever robbery, this suspenseful heist thriller follows an intrepid group of criminals in their preparations for the task, with a stellar ensemble cast including Gustav Giese, Reda Kateb, Christopher Wagelin and Amanda Collin.

100 LITRES OF GOLD (100 LITRAA SAHTIA) A box office hit in Finland, this summery black comedy is a tribute to the small provinces, local pride and to sahti, the liquid gold traditional brew of Finland.

LONG GOOD THURSDAY (MIELENSÄPAHOITTAJAN RAKKAUSTARINA) Imbued with deadpan humour this heartfelt and entertaining comedy from Mika Kaurismäki sees Finnish comedy icon Heikki Kinnunen return as the fur hatted The Grump, whose life is awakened when he falls in love with a free-spirited artist.

To discover more movies featured during the festival, head to scandinavianfilmfestival.com

Listing details:

Sydney: 17 July – 10 August, Palace Norton St, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema
Adelaide: 23 July – 13 August, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Brisbane: 23 July – 14 August, Palace James St, Palace Barracks
Perth: 24 July – 13 August, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Palace Raine Square
Byron Bay and Ballina: 24 July – 13 August, Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
Melbourne: 11 July – 3 August, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor Theatre
Ballarat: 11 July – 3 August, Palace Regent Cinema
Canberra: 16 July – 10 August, Palace Electric

For more information, visit scandinavianfilmfestival.com