FFN SHORTS 5: The crucial moment

USA, Norway, 2025
Regi: Ismaele Tortella

Driven by the dream of filming the iconic wolffish in Northern Norway's kelp forests, an Italian photographer moves north. His quest quickly turns into a chilling discovery: the ocean floor is stripped bare, and the thriving sea forests have almost vanished. As the filmmaker investigates the mystery of the missing kelp, he uncovers how exploding sea urchin populations and human impact have pushed the Arctic coast to the edge.

Sweden, 2025
Regi: Viktor Johansson

Yoshi is preparing for one final attempt at becoming an artist in New York. Before he leaves, however, he must undertake the painful task of explaining to his 11-year-old son why the boy will be left behind in Tokyo. Dreams collide with obligations in this sensitive, poetically portrayed short about the relationship between father and son, told through Viktor Johansson’s truly distinctive cinematic language.

Norway, 2026
Regi: Marte Vold

Akkurat nå is the latest instalment in a series of shorts, featuring Marte and Ole, an artsy, middle-class couple in Oslo. As Ole pursues a deeper connection with his spiritual self, the now middle-aged Marte finds herself unmoored and can’t seem to catch a break. Akkurat nå plays out in both mundane and surreal fragments, continuing the series' exploration into the droll discomforts of togetherness.

Sweden, 2025
Regi: Emelina Hedman, Ture Andersson

The film chronicles the life of Madeleine Renhuvud, a South Sámi artist and language teacher, tracing her journey through artistic heritage and cultural preservation. The documentary offers a sincere portrait, touching on universal themes of language, history, and cultural reclamation. As culture and art are downplayed, passing this heritage to future generations is all the more important.

Denmark, Greenland, 2025
Regi: Christoffer Rizvanovic Stenbakken

When his dog is stolen, Kaali, a young autistic boy, embarks on an intensive search for the thief across the East Greenland town of Tasiilaq. During his determined quest, Kaali is repeatedly confronted with the reality of being different from his peers. When he finally locates his dog, he plans to steal it back, but he must weigh the truth: Is the dog truly stolen, and is his mission worth losing his only friend?