Norwegian Gaza-related Life is Beautiful and Danish As the Tide Comes In lead Nordic IDFA slate

In the film Life is Beautiful-Al Haya Helwa representing Norway in the main competition of the world’s biggest documentary film festival, Palestinian filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly (Ambulance) tells of his own experience of being stuck in Norway while visiting the Tromsø Film Festival in 2014, as the borders to Gaza where his home is based, close indefinitely. It will take him seven years to finally be reunited with his family.

Commenting on his IDFA selection Jabaly said he is proud for the recognition of his work and to represent both Norway and Palestine at such a major film festival.

“For me, it's when you harvest the fruit in the right season, but this time the season turns into something else,” he said, elaborating on the current Israeli-Hamas conflict, causing destruction in Gaza. “I feel so sad about what's happening in my hometown in Gaza. It's tragic and horrific and our families are in danger, I have lost connection to most of my friends, I don't know where they are or how are they doing or even if they are still alive, said the director, stressing that he “always wanted to show the hope, the beauty of Gaza, its people, its struggle, and its survival.”

“I think the only way to keep moving is to share this hope, this beauty, and also see the world is recognizing us. My motto of hope is 'Life is Beautiful' I always said that and I will always say that... that's how I want to see our life", Jabaly pointed out.

The film was first presented at IDFA Forum while in development and received NOK 2.3 million in development and production support from the Norwegian Film Institute. It was produced by Stray Dogs Norway’s Kristine Ann Skaret and Sarah-Winge Sørensen, with Mohanan Yaqubi serving as executive producer. First Hand Films handles world sales.

The second Nordic film in the main competition - out of 11 international entries - is the Danish film As the Tide Comes In by Copenhagen-based Basque filmmaker Juan Palacios, winner of a Next Wave - honourable mention at CPH:DOX 2019 for Inland.

In his new film co-directed by Sofie Husum Johannesen, the director who graduated in environmental studies and film, turns to the tiny Danish island of Mandø and its 27 inhabitants, as they fight for survival on their island, threatened by the rising sea levels due to climate change.

The film was produced by Kasper Lykke Schultz for Elk Film, with support from the Danish Film Institute and co-financing from TV2.

Last year the Danish film Apolonia, Apolonia won the top IDFA prize from the international competition section.

Denmark has the largest presence among Nordic titles at IDFA’s main competition and various sections with four selected films. Two of those are competing at the Youth Documentary section:

• Eternal Father (31’) by Ömer Sami is the director’s graduation film from the National Film School of Denmark, produced by Alma Dyekjær. The director attended the last Nordic Talents event with the film and pitched his new project Putting Scott to Rest.
• Girl Away from Home (22’) is co-directed by Oscar-nominated Simon Lereng Wilmont (A House Made of Splinters) and Ukrainian director Alisa Kovalenko. The film follows 13-year-old Nastia, an elite gymnast from Kyiv, forced to move to Germany with her grand-mother due to war in Ukraine. The co-directors follow her as she gradually rebuilds her life and regains confidence, partly thanks to the power of sport. The film was produced by Maria Stevnbak Westergren for Toolbox Film. Autlook Film Sales handles sales.

The fourth Danish IDFA entry is Echo of You (Ekko af kærlighed) by Zara Zerny, making its world premiere at the Luminous section.

The film which competes for best first feature-length film follows a group of Danish men and women, over the age of 80, all of whom have lost their life partner and try to cope with the losses. The film was produced by Manna Film’s Maria Møller Kjeldgaard with support from the Danish Film Institute, and co-financing from DR.

Norway has another two films at IDFA besides Life is Beautiful:

• Hiding Saddam Hussein by Halkawt Mustafa is world premiering at the Frontlight section. Through unique access, the director has filmed the farmer Alaa Namuq who dug the hole where the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein hid for 235 days, while 150,000 US soldiers were hunting him down. The film was produced by Mustafa for Hene Films, with Janne Hjeltnes and Anders Herein.
• Songs of Earth by Margreth Olin is screening at IDFA's new Signed section showcasing films from renowned filmmakers. The film has been successfully touring world festivals since its world premiere at CPH:DOX and is representing Norway at the Academy awards, submitted both for the International Feature Film and Documentary categories.

Sweden is bringing three films to IDFA:

• Breaking Social by veteran director Fredrik Gertten (Push), is bowing at the Signed section. The impressive global research into the social contract and cohesion, with reflections from Dutch historian Rutger Bregman is produced by WG Film. Cinema Delicatessen handles the Dutch release.
• Motherland by Hanna Badziaka, Alexander Mihalkovich is an IDFA Best of Fests entry. The film has toured numerous earlier festivals following its DOX:Award at CPH:DOX. Sisyfos Films is producing, with Lightdox handling sales.
• Son of the Mullah by the multi-awarded Swedish/Iranian Nahid Persson (My Stolen Revolution, Prostitution Behind the Veil) will screen at the Frontlight section. The film which documents Iranian journalist Roohollah Zam’s life in exile in France was produced by RealReel Doc.

Meanwhile the Syrian/Qatari/Swedish Chasing the Dazzling Light by Yaser Kassab will screen at the Envision competition.

Finland is present in the Short Documentary competition with How to Please by Elina Talvensaari, winner of a Jussi best doc 2021 for Lady Time. The film which follows Iraqi Wed Al-Asadi as he gets stuck in the labyrinth of the Finnish asylum system, is produced by Aamu Film Company.

Iceland will be represented in Amsterdam by the minority co-production Smoke Sauna Sisterhood by Anna Hints, selected for the Best of Fests. The multi-awarded film was co-produced by Iceland’s Ursus Parvus.

More than 250 films from 80 countries will be showcased at IDFA’s 36^th edition, unspooling November 8-19. The opening film is Ukraine’s A Picture to Remember by Olga Chernykh.