Setting sail to the North: 191 Nordic-Baltic films take over Lübeck

The 67th Nordic Film Days Lübeck will transform the city into a European centre for Nordic and Baltic cinema from 5–9 November. At a press conference on 9 October at the Haus der Kaufmannschaft, festival directors Susanne Kasimir and Thomas Hailer, joined by Lübeck’s senator for culture and education Monika Frank, unveiled the festival’s full line-up.

The gathering opens with the German premiere of The Last Viking (Den Sidste Viking), Anders Thomas Jensen’s sixth feature. Known for his darkly humorous storytelling, Jensen brings together an acclaimed ensemble including Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Mads Mikkelsen, and Sofie Gråbøl.

The Narrative Feature programme features 13 films from across the Nordic and Baltic region. Highlights include A Light That Never Goes Out (Jossain on valo joka ei sammu, Finland/Norway), Home Sweet Home (Hjem Kære Hjem, Denmark), Never Alone (Ei koskaan yksin | Nie Allein, Finland/Estonia/Sweden/Austria/Germany), and The Last Paradise on Earth (Seinasta paradis á jörð, Denmark/Faroe Islands). Other selections explore themes from social dynamics to personal survival, including F (Värn, Sweden/Denmark/the Netherlands/Poland/Finland/UK/Switzerland) and The Visitor (Svečias, Lithuania/Norway/Sweden).

Next, the Documentary programme presents 12 works, including Facing War (Norway/Belgium), Fatherhood (Tre fedre, Norway/Germany/UK), Legacy (Sweden), and Mr. Nobody Against Putin (Denmark/Czech Republic), alongside innovative subtitled and multi-language productions such as Not Made For Politics (Estonia/France) and The Long Road to the Director’s Chair (Norway).

Meanwhile, the German festival will also screen seven standout drama series from the region, including the Swedish thriller 8 Months (Doktrinen), the Sámi tales A Sámi Wedding (Heajastallan – Bryllupsfesten) by Åse Kathrin Vuolaband Shut Up (Oro Jaska) by Silje Burgin-Borch and Vegard Bjørsmo, the Norwegian dark comedy A Better Man(Ølhunden Berit) by Thomas Seeberg Torjussen, and the Danish multi-generational drama Generations (Generationer) by Anna Emma Haudal.

“While the world around us spins from one crisis to the next, the filmmakers at our festival are creating worlds full of inspiration,” says Hailer. “Cinema becomes a laboratory of hope where change can emerge from divided visions.” Kasimir adds: “For the first time, audiences can enjoy a modern ticketing system that makes it easier than ever to access our increasingly diverse slate of films and events.”

Other festival highlights include the Young Audience section (33 films for children from four years old), and Immersion 360° at Klingenberg Square’s Infinity Dome, featuring the German premiere of Yael Bartana’s Life in the Generation Ship. Moreover, the Retrospective showcases 31 films inspired by Nordic painting and pictorial art.

The Lübeck Meetings, celebrating its 15th anniversary, remains a key industry platform, including the Future North Programme, which counts alumni Johannes Vang, Gabrielė Urbonaité and Jackie Gillies among this year’s competition entries.

Finally, twelve jury and audience prizes with a total endowment of €67,500 will be awarded, with the Honorary Award going to Norwegian helmer Bent Hamer. The Lübeck Script Development grant recipients will be announced at the opening ceremony, whilst other prizes are reserved for the 8 November closing gala.

The Last Viking, Never Alone, Redoubt, Facing War, Fatherhood, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, A Sámi Wedding, Shut Up and A Better Man are supported by NFTVF.