Beer disasters, orchestra murders and Björk’s daughter: Scandinavia’s best films are coming to Australia
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EntertainmentFilm & TV
23.06.2025

Beer disasters, orchestra murders and Björk’s daughter: Scandinavia’s best films are coming to Australia

Scandinavian Film Festival
Words by Staff Writer

The Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival delivers its most ambitious program yet this winter across Australian cinemas.

Cinema lovers can expect everything from Cannes Grand Prix winners to Icelandic black comedies when the festival returns for its 11th year.

The Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival promises to warm hearts and minds throughout the coldest months with an exceptional selection of Nordic storytelling spanning five countries and countless genres.

Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival 2025

  • 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
  • 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
  • Tickets: Available now through Palace Cinemas

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Number 24

Opening night belongs to Norwegian spy thriller Number 24, a gripping wartime drama from multi award-winning director John Andreas Andersen. The film follows the extraordinary true story of Gunnar Sønsteby, a young accountant who becomes a master of espionage during the Nazi occupation. With meticulous planning and nerves of steel, Gunnar leads the Oslo-gang through increasingly dangerous sabotage operations, all while grappling with the moral complexities of resistance warfare. The film expertly balances pulse-pounding action sequences with thoughtful exploration of wartime ethics, drawing unsettling parallels to contemporary conflicts.

Sentimental Value

The festival’s crown jewel arrives straight from Cannes, where Sentimental Value claimed the coveted Grand Prix. Director Joachim Trier reunites with The Worst Person in the World star Renate Reinsve in this intimate family drama that also features Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning. When a renowned filmmaker attempts to cast his estranged daughter in his comeback film, old wounds reopen and family dynamics shift dramatically. The result is a deeply moving exploration of art’s power to heal fractured relationships, delivered with Trier’s signature blend of emotional honesty and visual poetry.

Quisling: The Final Days

Erik Poppe delivers a bold and provocative examination of Norway’s most controversial wartime figure in Quisling: The Final Days. Set in 1945, the drama follows the post-liberation trial of Vidkun Quisling, whose name became synonymous with treason. Gard B. Eidsvold delivers a towering performance as the defiant politician, while Anders Danielsen Lie plays the pastor attempting to extract some measure of contrition. The film poses uncomfortable questions about complicity, faith and self-deception that resonate far beyond its historical setting.

Second Victims

Danish medical drama Second Victims presents a timely reflection on contemporary healthcare challenges through the story of a neurologist facing a life-changing shift. The film features performances from festival favourite Trine Dyrholm and Özlem Saglanmak, exploring guilt and compassion within the medical profession.

Grand Finale

Iceland’s box office sensation Grand Finale brings the festival to a wildly entertaining close. This pitch-black comedy follows a financially struggling chamber orchestra in Reykjavik who hire a world-renowned cellist to secure their future. When the celebrity musician proves to be thoroughly unpleasant and fate intervenes before their fundraising concert, the orchestra faces a macabre decision that could save or destroy everything. The all-star Icelandic cast includes Hilmir Snaer Gudnason and Helga Braga Jonsdottir in this delightfully twisted tale.

The Last Paradise on Earth

The Last Paradise on Earth proves that home isn’t just where the heart is—sometimes it’s worth fighting for, even when everyone else wants to leave. This Faroese gem from the 2025 Göteborg Film Festival follows Kári, a young man who finds beauty in his isolated island community while others dream of escape. When the local fish factory faces closure, threatening the only livelihood his village knows, Kári must choose between following his friends to greener pastures or staying to defend what he believes is paradise. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Faroe Islands, this poignant drama explores what it means to call somewhere home when the world seems determined to make you leave. It’s a quiet masterpiece about finding purpose in simplicity and strength in staying put.

The Mountain

Iceland’s commitment to sustainability takes centre stage with The Mountain, the country’s first officially vetted sustainable production. Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney, daughter of Björk and Matthew Barney, makes her feature debut in this visually stunning drama about a family whose life changes after a twist of fate. When a planned stargazing trip goes awry, the cosmos and a journey to the Icelandic highlands become sources of comfort and reflection. The film earned prestigious Green Film Sustainability certification while delivering breathtaking highland cinematography.

100 Litres of Gold

Finnish comedy 100 Litres of Gold celebrates the legendary sahti, Finland’s traditional brew, in this summery tale of sisterly chaos. When middle-aged sisters Taina and Pirkko drink their way through 100 litres of their famous home-brewed beer meant for their sister’s wedding, they face a race against time to replace it. The result is a tribute to Finnish countryside culture and local pride, packed with misadventures and massive hangovers as the duo scrambles to save both the wedding and their reputation as master brewers.

Never Alone

Klaus Härö shines a light on a lesser-known chapter of World War II history in Never Alone. Ville Virtanen stars as Abraham Stiller, a pillar of Helsinki’s Jewish community who risked everything to help Jewish refugees escape Nazi persecution. Set against Finland’s complex wartime alliance with Germany, the film reveals the inspiring humanitarian efforts of one man who refused to remain silent. Based on real events and adapted from Rony Smolar’s book Uncle Stiller, this powerful drama showcases the courage required to protect others when the world seems to have lost its moral compass.

Live a Little

Swedish director Fanny Ovesen makes her feature debut with Live a Little, a vibrant exploration of consent and self-discovery. Best friends Laura and Alex embark on a couch-surfing adventure across European capitals, seeking carefree cultural immersion. When Laura wakes up beside a stranger with no memory of the previous night, their trip takes an unexpected turn that forces difficult questions about boundaries, relationships and personal agency. The film navigates these complex themes with both boldness and sensitivity.

Jalla! Jalla!

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Swedish romantic comedy Jalla! Jalla! remains as fresh and relevant as ever. Josef Fares’ directorial debut stars his brother Fares Fares as Roro, a Lebanese-Swedish man torn between love for his Swedish girlfriend and his family’s traditional expectations. When his family arranges his marriage to help a Lebanese woman avoid deportation, comedic chaos ensues. The film’s exploration of cultural identity, generational conflict and the challenges of balancing personal desires with familial duty continues to resonate in 2025.

When the Light Breaks

Rúnar Rúnarsson’s award-winning drama When the Light Breaks earns special encore status after claiming Best Nordic Film at the 2025 Göteborg Film Festival. Shot on luminous 16mm film, this poignant tale follows young arts student Una through 24 hours that will change everything. When a terrible road accident involving her boyfriend rocks Reykjavik, Una must navigate swirling emotions while keeping a secret that prevents her from expressing her true feelings. The film finds fleeting beauty in grief’s ripple effects across a close-knit community.

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