19-25 January
2026
Driven by curiosity, a single mother gets tangled up in a web of lies while searching for the identity of her son's sperm donor.
When Edith suddenly finds herself single, she chooses to have a child with the help of a sperm donor. But the joy of being a single mother to Sigurd is challenged by a creeping uncertainty when her son begins to ask questions about his absent father. When her friend, who has a daughter with the same donor, tracks down his name, Edith chooses to cross ethical boundaries to find out more about this man and the genetic material that has shaped her son.
Solomamma is a sensitive drama about identity and belonging, providing a rich portrayal of how modern family ties extend beyond the purely biological. Director Janicke Askevold explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding anonymous sperm donation and modern motherhood. Lisa Loven Kongsli and Herbert Nordrum embody their roles perfectly, bringing out the vibrant tension in their encounters. The film was the first Norwegian film since 1975 to be selected for the main competition at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival.
Join the Opening Reception at Tromsø Library after the screenings on Monday!
Janicke Askevold is a Norwegian director educated at the Atelier Theatral de Création in Paris. After directing several plays in Paris, Askevold began her film career with the short film The Contract (2020). Solomamma is her first feature film, developed through the Norwegian Film Institute's debutant scheme, Neo.
2020 Le Contrat (short)
Kl 18:45
Opening ceremony (30m)
Fokus 1
| Programme: | Opening/Closing Film |
| Director: | Janicke Askevold |
| Country: | Latvia, Norway, Lithuania |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Run time: | 1h 39m |
| Screenplay: | Janicke Askevold, Jørgen Færøy Flasnes, Mads Stegger |
| Photo: | Torjus Thesen |
| Cast: | Lisa Loven Kongsli, Herbert Nordrum, Nasrin Khusrawi, Trude-Sofie Olavsrud Anthonsen |
| Dialogue: | Norwegian |
| Subtitles: | English |
| Producer: | Magnus Nygaard Albertsen, Gary Cranner, Magne Lyngner, Rebekka Rognøy |
| Age limit: | 15 |