Experience the TIFF Artist of the Year at the Closing Party

The Closing Party Returns to Kulturhuset

One of the New Year’s biggest highlights is returning to the heart of Tromsø. As one of the festival’s key venues, Kulturhuset is a familiar spot for TIFF audiences, and longtime attendees might recall the last Closing Party held there in 2014.

- Closing Party is the best party of the year at TIFF! We’re excited to return to the city center and this fun venue. We’re especially looking forward to using multiple floors and spaces in ways people don’t typically experience, says festival director Lisa Hoen.

The Closing Party for TIFF 2025 will feature multiple concerts, including performances by Ugress, a cozy lounge area, activities across several floors, and a DJ set at Sånn. Much of the venue will be utilized, providing spaces for both intimate conversations in its many nooks and crannies, and high-energy dancing on the floor.

One of the highlights will be a live performance by this year’s TIFF artist, High Heeled Giants, who have been invited by the festival to shape this year’s sound profile. Their music will be featured in many of the festival’s trailers and mood videos, and the duo will perform live at various events during the festival.

- Throughout the festival, High Heeled Giants will be the sound of TIFF, and I know they’ll create an incredible festival atmosphere, says Hoen.

Brand New Material

High Heeled Giants is a duo composed of Helle Larsen and Øivind A. Sjøvoll. Their collaboration began when Sjøvoll saw Larsen perform with Jadudah, the indie-rock band for which Larsen is both singer and composer. Sjøvoll has released albums and singles under the artist name Kohib and previously participated in TIFF with the silent film concert STRIKE! in 2021.

- We’ve been searching for a standout song that matches TIFF’s profile. When we got the chance to hear some of High Heeled Giants’ unreleased material, it was clear they were perfect for the job. This is an incredibly cool band that blends electronic and indie-rock elements, which I personally love. They’ve recorded brand-new material, and it’s exciting that TIFF can be a catalyst for bringing this to the public, says Hoen.

For both Sjøvoll and Larsen, being named the TIFF artist has been a huge motivator to create new music.

- I’ve always admired this festival and was lucky to work with it before when I composed music for a silent film concert three years ago. Now being the TIFF artist is a huge honor, says Sjøvoll.

Musical Collaboration Across the Country

Sjøvoll’s background lies in the electronic underground music scene, while Larsen’s roots are in rock. This contrast has created exciting potential for their musical collaboration.

- We come from two very different camps, and I think that’s been a strength because it means we challenge each other creatively. This kind of pushback can be very fruitful in a musical partnership, says Sjøvoll.

The two musicians spend most of their time in different cities. Often, Larsen and Sjøvoll work separately, allowing the music’s expression to evolve as it passes between them.

- It’s amazing how much we’ve been able to achieve despite living on opposite sides of the country. Øivind teaches me a lot about electronic music, but also about having patience with music. From my background, I’m used to entertaining from the first second, but Øivind has shown me other ways a song can unfold and how to stay in a groove for a while, Larsen explains.

The first taste of new music from High Heeled Giants will come when Tromsø International Film Festival releases its initial program trailers. The full track will be featured in this year’s festival trailer, and audiences can look forward to hearing the duo perform at several of the festival’s events in January.

Get a ticket to this year's Closing Party!