Award Winners at
Tromsø International Film Festival 2026
During the 2026 Tromsø International Film Festival, films from around the world – and from the North – were honoured for their artistic courage, human insight, and ability to reflect our time. This year’s award winners span the intimate and the political, the local and the universal, highlighting a festival that places strong cinematic voices at its core.
Publisert 25.01.2026 — TIFF
Aurora Award – Best Film
The Aurora Award is TIFF’s main prize and is presented to the best film in the main competition. All films in the competition had their Norwegian premiere at the festival. The winning director receives EUR 5,000.
The Aurora Award 2026 was awarded to A SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD
directed by Cyril Aris (Lebanon).
This year’s jury consisted of screenwriter, director and producer Eliza Hittman (USA), director and producer Johannes Vang (Norway), and producer and Artistic Director of Giornate degli Autori at the Venice Film Festival, Gaia Furrer (Italy).
Jury Statement:
Cinema has always loved stories of unhappy love – from Romeo and Juliet to Antony and Cleopatra. The film that captured the jury’s hearts continues this tradition with humour and charm, carried by nuanced and effortless performances. With both intensity and intimacy, it portrays two lovers struggling with their emotions against a backdrop of uncertain and unpredictable futures.
FIPRESCI Prize – International Critics’ Award
The FIPRESCI Prize is awarded by an international jury of professional film critics and is considered one of the most prestigious critics’ awards worldwide.
The FIPRESCI Prize 2026 was awarded to BROKEN VOICES directed by Ondřej Provazník (The Czech Republic).
The jury consisted of Ida Madsen Hestman (Norway), Sarah-Louise Pelletier-Morin from Le Devoir Weekly (Canada/Québec), and Tadeusz Szczepański from Monthly Film Magazine KINO (Poland).
Jury Statement:
The FIPRESCI jury awards its prize to a film that gives young girls a voice. Through strong performances and striking 16 mm cinematography, the film explores how ambition and discipline can slip into coercion and abuse. With a restrained yet deeply unsettling expression, the film made a powerful impression.
The Norwegian Peace Film Award
The Norwegian Peace Film Award is presented to a film that highlights direct, structural or cultural violence, and which through its artistic expression contributes to reflection and prevention. The award is presented in collaboration with the Centre for Peace Studies at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the Student Network for Peace.
The Norwegian Peace Film Award 2026 was awarded to IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT directed by Jafar Panahi (Iran).
The jury consisted of actor, author, producer and director Gørild Mauseth; Head of the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) at UiT Marcela Douglas Aranibar; and UiT master’s student Sara Cordesco.
Jury Statement:
The jury has chosen a film that invites reflection on the profound moral dilemma between revenge and forgiveness. With subtle humour, the director encourages us to understand reconciliation as a demanding act of humanity. The film promotes peace not through idealisation, but through an honest confrontation with injustice, insisting on empathy as a fundamental political and human principle.
Tromsø Palm – Shorts
The Tromsø Palm – Shorts is awarded to the best short film (under 60 minutes) in the Films from the North programme. The winning director receives EUR 5,000, awarded by the film centres of the Barents Region.
Winner 2026: BORDERLINE directed by Johannes Vang (Norway/Sápmi).
The jury consisted of director and screenwriter Liselotte Wajstedt (Sweden/Sápmi), Artistic Director of Hålogaland Theatre Morten Kjerstad (Norway), and theatre artist and co-founder of ISKRA Production Prokhor Gusev (Norway).
Jury Statement:
The jury wishes to honour a film that feels both close and local, yet undeniably global – and wise enough to cross borders with a smile.
Tromsø Palm – Features
The Tromsø Palm – Features is awarded to the best feature-length film in the Films from the North competition. The winning director receives EUR 5,000.
Winner 2026: THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET directed by Yrsa Roca Fannberg (Iceland).
The jury consisted of documentary filmmaker Åse Svenheim Drivenes (Norway), Artistic Director of Nordic Film Days Lübeck Hanna Reifgerst (Germany), and film student and member of TIFF Young Curators Adrian Kristiansen (Norway).
Jury Statement:
This year’s winner tells a story that unfolds far away, yet feels remarkably close. The director’s craftsmanship is both visible and tangible through a unique and poetic visual expression, exquisite editing rhythm, and a remarkable warmth towards the film’s protagonists.
Faith in Film Award
The Faith in Film Award highlights films that invite reflection on religion, belief and spirituality, while maintaining high artistic quality. The award consists of an icon painted at the Carmelite Monastery in Tromsø.
The Faith in Film Award 2026 was awarded to LITTLE TROUBLE GIRLS, directed by Urška Djukić.
The jury also gave a Special Mention to THE LITTLE SISTER, directed by Hafsia Herzi.
The jury consisted of documentary filmmaker and journalist Clara Behnke (Germany), Bishop of Nidaros Herborg Finnset (Norway), and director and editor Margareta Orkan (Norway).
Jury Statement:
This is an honest film portraying a young girl on the threshold of her own sexual identity. The film invites reflection on personal dignity, desire, and the act of taking a stand in relation to one’s faith. The music adds depth to the intimate narrative and to the girl’s inner process.
Arctic Film – Young Directors' Award
The winner is an enigmatic film. With rather simple but fascinating means, it creates a completely unique universe, which is supported by a distinctive visual expression. The film is based on a clear core idea that leaves plenty of room for interpretation and wonder, and is told with both elements of humour and exemplary uncompromisingness.
The winner is WOOLGOD / ULLGUDEN by Sirin Sponga.
Tromsø Audience Award
TIFF is, first and foremost, a festival for its audience. Throughout the festival week, audiences have voted for their favourite film.
The winner of the vote is CALLE MÁLAGA by Maryam Touzani
Award Winners – Overview
- Aurora Award – Best Film
A SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD – dir. Cyril Aris
- FIPRESCI Prize – International Critics’ Award
BROKEN VOICES – dir. Ondrej Provaznik
- The Norwegian Peace Film Award
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT – dir. Jafar Panahi
- Tromsø Palm – Films from the North / Shorts
BORDERLINE – dir. Johannes Vang
- Tromsø Palm – Films from the North / Features
THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET – dir. Yrsa Roca Fannberg
- Faith in Film Award
LITTLE TROUBLE GIRLS – dir. Urška Djukić - Arctic Film – Young Directors Award
WOOLGOD / ULLGUDEN – dir. Sirin Sponga
- Audience Award – Tromsø Audience Award
CALLE MÁLAGA - dir. Maryam Touzani
