NORDIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 16-20 Oct ONLINE WITH FOCUS ON DIVERSITY REACHES TOP FEMALE %

ENGLISH ORIG PRESS RELEASE TEXT ( please see at the end for Swedish text!! )

NORDIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WILL HOLD A COVID SAFE DRIVE-IN IN COLLABORATION WITH A24 AND ROOFTOP FILMS IN NEW YORK CITY.

NIFF will kick off on October 15th at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York. The opening night film is the Scandinavian produced A24 film ‘Midsommar.’ On our 2nd night, October 16th, we will screen A24’s ‘The Kill Team’ with Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård. The founders Johan Matton and Linnea Larsdotter are very pleased with this year’s official line up.

A QUOTE FROM THE SWEDISH FOUNDERS LINNEA LARSDOTTER & JOHAN MATTON

“We’re thrilled that in current times we’re all faced with, we’re able to showcase films from the Nordic regions and with Nordic talent, with climate-consciousness in mind. We’re very proud of the lineup this year, thankful to A24 and Rooftop Films for their partnership with the drive-in events, and look forward to celebrating with our filmmakers in a virtual setting”, says NIFF Director/Founder Johan Matton and Creative Director/Founder Linnea Larsdotter.

Stay safe in your car and enjoy #NIFF2020

Please find tickets onwww.nordicfilmfest.org

Our program with synopsis and images:

https://www.nordicfilmfest.org/official-selection-...

NIFF IS A CLIMATE CONSCIOUS FESTIVAL

NIFF will always strive to be at the forefront, leading the way into the future. In previous years, we have carbon compensated for all filmmaker's flights to our festival. Since we won’t have guests flying to us this year, we have made sure to purchase carbon offsets for all cars attending our drive-in nights, through our collaborators at Cool Effect. NIFF is also running on no plastic, all recycled materials, and exclusively plant-based food.

NIFF HAS 250 PERCENT MORE FEMALE DIRECTORS

Here is the comparison of gender analytics at NIFF vs. the top 250 grossing films in the US for 2019:

(Source: Women in TV Film 2019 Celluloid Ceiling Report)

*-% of female directors at NIFF 2020 is 250% more than % of female directors in the top 250 grossing films in US 2019 (13%)

-% of female producers at NIFF 2020 is 62.9% more than % of female producers in the top 250 grossing films in US 2019 (27%)

-% of female writers at NIFF 2020 is 117.9% more than % of female writers in the top 250 grossing films in US 2019 (19%)

-% of female cinematographers at NIFF 2020 is 363% more than % of female cinematographers in the top 250 grossing films in US 2019 (5%)

NIFF STANDS WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER

NIFF has always been an avid fighter for equality and it is such an easy choice for us to stand with the Black Lives Matter Movement. We believe that inequality can only be fixed by acknowledging the roots of injustice. It is no secret that some voices and narratives have been given more presence than others. It is our hope that conscious efforts to promote and highlight underrepresented stories will lead to the systemic change that needs to happen.

This year marks the beginning of NIFF’s redoubled efforts to bring representation and opportunity to all aspects of our festival. From this year on, NIFF will calculate and publish our diversity statistics - both behind and in front of the camera - in order to be as transparent as possible about the stories we are promoting. It is our hope that our community will join us as we grow and learn.

Until equality is a given, we will fight to make it so. 50% of this year’s Official Selection ticket sales will go to organizations supporting Black Lives Matter. We hope that this contribution will help bring the diverse voices we so badly need, to the big screen. It is a small step, but it is one we very happily take.

We invite discussions and suggestions and we thank you for supporting the voices that need to be heard.

PROGRAM AND TICKETS

In a year like no other, NIFF stays true to its identity to only include the most artistically interesting films in its Official Selection. The lineup showcases films from all Nordic countries, including the Faroe Islands, and 9 other countries worldwide.

Access to our online festival will be purchasable either by category, by individual feature films, or as an all-access pass. We also offer up "Programmer's Pairings," curated bundles of films from across various categories.

The festival will go live online on 16 October - 20 October, on the new Swedish streaming platform Shortly.film

Tickets and VIP passes will go live on October 2nd

Please find our program and info atwww.nordicfilmfest.org

PARTNERS

We are so grateful for our partners, collaborators, and sponsors, The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, New York, Fotografiska, The Swedish Villa, Film i Väst, New York Film Academy, Rooftop Films, A24, and all of the Nordic Consulates of New York, we couldn’t have done this without you.

Film i Väst is a proud partner of the Nordic International Film Festival. Each year, an exclusive selection of short films, funded by Film i Väst, compete in their own category, Aurora Borealis. Film i Väst, Scandinavia’s most successful film fund, co-produces film and tv drama for a Nordic and international audience. They collaborate with established talent, such as Ruben Östlund and Tomas Vinterberg, as well as up-and-coming creators like Ninja Thyberg and Vedran Rupic. Learn more about them at www.filmivast.com.

New York Film Academy (NYFA) is proud to partner with the Nordic International Film Festival for the second year in a row. In awarding an Online Workshop to the festival winner, New York Film Academy reaffirms its commitment to developing a new generation of storytellers. “I’d like to congratulate our alumni Johan and Linnea on putting together another wonderful festival and working so hard to make it safe and accessible to everyone,” said NYFA President Michael Young. New York Film Academy is a leading, regionally accredited, visual and performing arts college that offers hands-on intensive programs across 15 areas of study in New York City, Los Angeles, South Beach/Miami, Gold Coast (Australia), Florence (Italy), and Online. For more information, please visit nyfa.edu

Nordic International Film Festival is always looking for future partners and sponsors who would like to work creatively with us and highlight their brands in the best of lights. Please reach out to us if interested.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

ANNA

(COMPETING FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT)

Competed in the official selection at Cannes Film Festival and Nordic International Film Festival is proud to present it for their New York Premiere

TIN LUCK

(COMPETING FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT)

Competed in the official selection at Rain Dance Film Festival and Nordic International Film Festival is proud to present it for their North American Premiere

INTRODUCING OUR JURY

Anders Tangen

For over 20 years Anders Tangen has passionately produced award-winning drama series, feature films, documentaries and short stories. Anders’ signature TV series, Lilyhammer and Norsemen are hailed by audiences worldwide, and his multi-awarded dramedy series, DAG, received acclaim from both critics and viewers across Europe. He is also known for the tv-series Home for Christmas (Netflix), One Night and Magnus. Through his company, Viafilm (Oslo/Los Angeles), Anders continually pushes at the industry boundaries.

Jacob A Ware

As a SAG Award nominee and a fixture in the indie film scene, he can currently be seen starring in the gritty horror feature An Unquiet Grave (Official Selection at Nightstream 2020, winner for Best Actor at Hollywood Horrofest 2020). He and his creative team Steel Drum In Space (Trish Harnetiaux, Anthony Arkin) have a new film, You Wouldn't Understand, a mind-bending, sci-fi comedy that celebrated it's world premiere (in competition) at Fantasia Film Festival 2020. The film makes it's US premiere at Screamfest LA in October 2020 and it's European premiere at Celluloid Screams the same month. Additionally, the film is an Official Selection at this year's Telluride Horror Show, FilmQuest, Nightmares Film Festival, Berlin Sci-Fi, Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival. Additional festival announcements forthcoming.

Craig DiFrancia

Craig studied at the William Esper Studio in New York City and landed his first role on stage playing Bob Lansky in the off-Broadway production of Beyond Therapy. From that stage appearance, he was cast in his first television role in the mini-series Love Without Borders (2002). Playing a tough yet compassionate police officer, Craig truly shined as an actor and a career was born.

He plunged into the independent film world playing diverse characters and challenging himself with each role he embraced. Craig's recent credits include playing Tino in the upcoming Sound of Philadelphia (2020), Carmine Persico in The Irishman (2019) directed by Martin Scorsese, Dominic in the Green Book (2018, Oscar Best Picture) directed by Peter Farrelly, Marshal Romano on Power (2014), and Officer Chris Maldonado on TV-series Blue Bloods (2010).

Alexander Karim

Award winning producer, screenwriter and actor. He started his career together with his brother Baker in the Swedish short movie Rampljus, which is about an unemployed actor in Helsingborg, the film was a great success and won, among other things, Best Film in the category "Heavyweight" at the November Festival in Trollhättan. Karim played the title role in the short film Malcolm (2002), a film he also wrote the script for. Malcolm won both the Audience Award and the Jury Award at the Gothenburg Film Festival in 2002, and was nominated for a Golden Bug and was nominated for Critics' Week in Cannes. Karim's short film The Apple Tree (2003), which is about two African brothers' struggle in cold Sweden, was also nominated in Cannes. Karim is globally known for his success role in Dying of the Light (2014).

NORDIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Is the largest Nordic film festival outside of Europe.

NIFF is an annual festival which takes place in New York City, celebrating nordic and international films. NIFF strives to uncover fresh independent films and honor great work from already established filmmakers. NIFF's programmers encourage filmmakers from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and countries to submit their work.

The festival's mission is to create a cultural hub where nordic and international filmmakers meet and begin collaborations for future projects in addition to supporting independent film in New York City. NIFF is supported by the consulates of every Nordic country and proudly makes introductions between filmmakers and potential collaborators all around the world, from production companies in Sweden to artist retreats in the Faroe Islands. NIFF is proud to be at the forefront of film festivals navigating equality, diversity and sustainability. Please read more at www.nordicfilmfest.org

Hashtags, info and Social

#NIFF2020

Festival:

@niffofficial (IG and Twitter)

facebook.com/niffofficial

Founders:

@johanmatton @nomadlinnea

NORDIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Websitewww.nordicfilmfest.org

Press contact: info@nordicfilmfest.org

IN SWEDISH ( free translation by The Swedish Villa)

Nordic Film Festival presenterar en covid-säkrad filmfestival – i linje med klimatutmaningarna

Den svenska New York baserade grundarna Linnea Larsdotter och Johan Matton arrangerar en Covid-säker drive-in-festival i samarbete med bl.a. A24, Rooftop Films och Volvo, tar Nordic Film Festival nästa steg och minskar bristen på kultur och evenemang under 2020.

NIFF startar 15 oktober på Brooklyn Army Terminal i New York. Under invigningsvällen visas den skandinaviskproducerade A24-filmen ”Midsommar”. Andra kvällen visas A24:s ”The Kill Team” med Alexander Skarsgård.

Åskådarna kommer att sitta Covid-säkert i varsin bil #niff2020.

Biljetter till drive in visningarna finns på www.nordicfilmfest.org här köper man även biljetterna till festivalen som sänds live online.

En festival i framkant

NIFF strävar alltid för att vara i framkant. Tidigare år har festivalen klimatkompenserat för filmskaparnas flygavtryck på väg till festivalen. I år, när ingen flyger in, har NIFF valt att klimatkompensera för de bilar som används i drive-in-visningarna. NIFF:s policy är att festivalen ska vara plastfri, endast använda återvunnet förpackningsmaterial och endast erbjuda växtbaserad mat.

Black Lives Matter

NIFF vill bidra till förändring, och för 2020 års festival innebär det att 50 procent av intäkterna från de online-sålda biljetterna doneras till organisationer som stöttar Black Lives Matter-rörelsen. Listan kommer publiceras på NIFFS hemsida.

Program och biljetter

NIFF håller sig sann till sin identitet och mission, och därför visas endast konstnärligt intressanta filmer i festivalens ”Official Selection”. Visningarna inkluderar filmer från nio länder, bland annat Island.

Tillträde till online-festivalen kan köpas för en filmkategori, en film, eller som ett inträdespass till hela festivalen. Dessutom finns det kurerade ”Programmer´s Pairing”-paket med filmer från samtliga kategorier.

Festivalen sänds live online på www.nordicfilmfestival.com mellan 16 oktober och 20 oktober, med hjälp av den svenska plattformen Shortly film.  

Biljetter till onlinefestivalen finns på www.nordicfilmfest.org

Hela programmet finns här https://www.nordicfilmfest.org/official-selection och mer information finns på www.nordicfilmfestival.com

Partners

NIFF är fantastiskt stolta och tacksamma för den fina partnerlistan med sponsorer och samarbeten: The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York, Fotografiska New York, The Swedish Villa, Film i Väst, New York Film Academy, Rooftop Films, A24 och de nordiska konsulaten i New York. Inget hade varit möjligt utan dessa!

Nordic International Film Festival kommer alltid att se framåt, och hitta de lösningar, partners och samarbeten som kan ge de mest moderna, kreativa och relevanta upplevelserna.

Hashtags, info och SoMe

#NIFF2020

Festival:

@niffofficial (IG and Twitter)

facebook.com/niffofficial

Founders:

@johanmatton @nomadlinnea

NORDIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Websitewww.nordicfilmfest.org

Press contact Sverige: leila@theswedishvilla.com 

Press contact: info@nordicfilmfest.org