Festival Starter Pack
Is this your first time attending a film festival? Here you’ll find a suggested program full of great films to watch throughout the week.
Monday 24.08
The first day of the festival would a natural choice be the opening film. But since this one is sold out, this is the day to sample the program with two solid, but very different films.
MOUSE // 18.15
At Cinemateket in Oslo, you can catch the beautiful MOUSE. The film is a poignant coming-of-age drama set in the early 2000s that follows a young girl who must find a new direction in life after a close friendship suddenly ends. The film’s most beautiful question lies in the title: How do you stop making yourself small?
BITTER CHRISTMAS // 20.30
At Vega Scene, you can catch the new film by Pedro Almodóvar, BITTER CHRISTMAS. When you watch an Almodóvar film, you are always in safe hands, and his newest film is a colorful and entertaining melodrama.
Note that the film is in Spanish with Norwegian subtitles.
Tuesday 25.08
On the second day, the festival is well on its way, and there are several films to choose from. If you have some free time during the day, you can start by having your lunch along with the outdoor screening of WOMEN IN OVERSIZED MEN’S SHIRTS at Birkelunden. After this you should watch some films in the cinema, but if you want to end the day with a drink, you can head to the open house party at Dansens Hus from 21.00.
THE DEER HUNTER with pizza // 17.30
You can have an all-nighter with the classic THE DEER HUNTER in the Wine Bar at Carls. This is a culinary cinema screening, so we will serve pizza with deer meat alongside the film.
THE MURDER OF BENJAMIN // 17.30
If you prefer an ordinary cinema screening, you can catch THE MURDER OF BENJAMIN at Klingenberg. The film retells the powerful story of the murder that shook the country, and the film’s director, cast and crew will be present for the screening. After the film there will be a panel discussion.
PAPER TIGER // 20.45
End the evening with the epic crime drama PAPER TIGER starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller. The film premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Wednesday 26.08
On Wednesday, you can follow a similar path as on Tuesday with an outdoor screening at Birkelunden. In the evening there are several options, but if you prefer a party, we recommend the Pix Pub Crawl from 18.30.
WEIGHTLESS // 15.45
At Vega Scene, you can catch a screening of the Danish drama WEIGHTLESS, where both the director and the producer will be present for a Q&A after the screening.
THE BELOVED // 20.30
If you liked SENTIMENTAL VALUE, you should catch the Cannes favourite THE BELOVED at Cinemateket i Oslo, which tells a similar story in a widely different way. The film stars Javier Bardem in one of his best performances to date.
Thursday 27.08
Start early with a free screening of BLÜCHER in Sofienberg Church at 15.00. After this film you can stay for a second film there with a special screening of GRITT at 18.00.
EVERYBODY DIGS BILL EVANS // 17.30
Start the afternoon with EVERYBODY DIGS BILL EVANS at Klingenberg. The film stars Anders Danielsen Lie, who will be present for a Q&A with Audun Vinger before the film.
GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE // 20.30
In the evening, you can catch the very entertaining sci-fi film GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE. The film has several stars in the cast, and is directed by Gore Verbinski, who was behind the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films.
Friday 28.08
Now that you are well into the festival it is a good idea dig deeper and challenge yourself with a dark and provocative double bill. To process the films you can end the night at the FJORD party at 22.30 at Kunstnernes Hus.
ROSEBUSH PRUNING // 17.00
At Klingenberg, you can watch the provocative ROSEBUSH PRUNING. The film stars Elle Fanning, Callum Turner, Jamie Bell and Pamela Anderson, to name a few.
HER PRIVATE HELL // 20.45
If you want to watch another provocative film, you can catch Nicolas Winding Refn’s new film, HER PRIVATE HELL at Vega. The film split the audiences when it premiered in Cannes, and you will not leave the cinema indifferent.
Saturday 29.08
Saturday is the day for three very good films with strong performances. At the evening you should also drop by the festival’s official closing party at Gehør from 21.30.
QUEEN AT SEA // 14.00
Start the day with the gripping drama QUEEN AT SEA at Klingenberg, starring Juliette Binoche.
KJÆRAST // 17.00
A bit later, you can watch yet another gripping drama. This one is by both Erik Poppe and Jon Fosse. The film has a premiere screening at Klingenberg with cast and crew present.
Note that the film is in Norwegian with subtitles in Norwegian.
ROSE // 21.00
The last film of the day is ROSE. Sandra Hüller is brilliant in this beautiful period drama, for which she won Best Actress at the Berlinale earlier this year.
Sunday 30.08
It is the last day of the festival, and the last chance to watch several films. Today it is a good idea to focus on the smaller, hidden titles.
EVERYTIME // 13.15
This powerful and intelligent drama premiered at Cannes, where it won the main prize in the Un Certain Regard section.
THE PLAGUE // 16.00
After EVERYTIME you should watch THE PLAGUE, which premiered in Cannes last year.
MORS DRENGE // 18.30
Continue the day with the Danish documentary MOMMY’S BOYS. The film follows five brothers’ attempt to understand their miserable and demanding mother, twenty years after she passed away.
TRULY NAKED // 20.45
Close out the festival with TRULY NAKED. The film follows Alec, a shy, introverted teenager who works on his father's porn film production alongside school. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, where it was warmly received — particularly for the way it manages to be a sweet and intelligent film about young people's relationship to intimacy, sex and porn.