The Full Program for TIFF 2025 Has Been Released!

Opens with a Relatable Story

The Norwegian feature film Everything must go by Arild Østin Ommundsen and Silje Salomonsen has been selected as the opening film for the Tromsø International Film Festival 2025. This family drama combines humor, warmth, and melancholy to explore a family confronting their past.

- It's an honor to be invited as the opening film at TIFF. It's heartening to feel that our film is wanted, and it's a great opportunity for us to showcase it to a film-loving audience before its release in our hometown and the rest of the country in March, says Salomonsen.

In Everything must go, siblings Ellen, Amund, and Carl-Olav move into their childhood home to pack and prepare it for sale following their father's funeral. Along the way, they relive both joyful and painful childhood memories, leading them to reassess their life choices.

- It’s a very engaging film with excellent writing and direction. The music by Thomas Dybdahl also deserves recognition. The film portrays sibling relationships in a way that I believe many will relate to. We are thrilled to present it as this year's opening film, says Festival Director Lisa Hoen.

The film is not just about loss but also about discovery. Through laughter, arguments, and tentative reconciliations, it captures the universal essence of sibling relationships. It’s a story that will encourage audiences to reflect on their own family bonds, memories, and the importance of addressing unresolved issues before it's too late.

- Everything must go is a film that heavily relies on relatability. I've tried to create a sense of what it's like to be in this specific house while also leaving the story open enough for audiences to project their own memories and experiences onto it, says Ommundsen.

A Competition Program Filled with Award-Winning Films

This year's festival boasts a highly competitive lineup, featuring several already award-winning films such as The Brutalist by Brady Corbet, Bound in Heaven by Xin Huo, and Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti.

- We are incredibly pleased with this year's competition program, both in terms of diversity and quality. It features artistically strong films from around the world, with renowned directors like Mike Leigh, Brady Corbet, and François Ozon delivering top-notch work, says Deputy Program Director Henning Rosenlund.

Happy Holidays, a family drama about the destructive power of strict social control, explores how self-imposed rules can limit lives and inflict unnecessary shame. This all unfolds against the explosive backdrop of a Middle East on the brink.

- Scandar Copti is a Palestinian director and screenwriter from Jaffa, Israel. His first feature film, Ajami, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2010. Happy Holidays is already making waves at international award ceremonies, and Copti will be one of several directors attending this year's festival, says Rosenlund.

Powerful Documentaries with Unique Stories

The competition program also includes cinematic gems such as Gaucho Gaucho by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw and Afternoons of Solitude by Albert Serra.

- These documentaries impress with their artistic expression, offering insights into two distinct worlds: the life of gauchos in Argentina and the bullfighting culture in Spain, says Hoen.

In the sidebar East Side Stories, which features films from our eastern neighbors, we find two strong documentaries, including Intercepted by Oksana Karpovych.

- Intercepted offers a unique perspective through audio recordings of Russian soldiers' phone conversations with their families at home, combined with footage of the destruction caused by the Russians in Ukraine. The film provides a striking glimpse into the soldiers’ daily lives and reflections, both good and bad—deeply moving, says Hoen.

The other documentary in this sidebar, Mother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never Complete by Lana Gogoberidze, is one of the Festival Director’s personal favorites. Using an essay format, it combines film clips from several generations of female filmmakers in the family, including resistance against Stalin’s authoritarian regime by Nutsa, Lana’s mother and Georgia’s first female director.

- It’s a hauntingly relevant documentary that raises important questions about what defines our humanity and our responsibility as global citizens in the face of oppressive regimes, says Hoen.

A Special Sidebar Focused on Iran

Iran has long been one of the most significant countries in a region currently ravaged by conflict. Despite the oppressive regime, the country boasts a rich film culture—often sanctioned by the authorities.

- Iran has a tradition of delivering strong cinematic art—offering compelling stories and high artistic quality. Many of these films use allegories and symbols to critique the dictatorship. This is undoubtedly a political program that reveals much about contemporary Iran, says Hoen.

This year, several exciting films delve into the societal situation, exploring themes such as the oppression of women and class divisions.

- The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof is a must-watch for audiences. His film There Is No Evil won the Norwegian Peace Film Award at TIFF 2021, and his latest work is equally captivating and thought-provoking, says Rosenlund.

Timothée Chalamet Shines as Bob Dylan

The closing film of the 35th edition of the festival is James Mangold’s latest work, A Complete Unknown, which the Festival Director believes will resonate widely. With Bob Dylan’s timeless music and Timothée Chalamet in top form, the film has the potential to captivate both younger and older generations. Mangold, who previously impressed with Walk the Line, the critically acclaimed Johnny Cash biopic, once again demonstrates his unique ability to capture the essence of iconic musical legends in this highly anticipated production.

- Chalamet spent five years immersing himself in the life of this music legend, breathing new life into Dylan’s character, music, and vocals. The film also brilliantly captures the vibrant spirit of the 1960s, says Hoen.

The festival also releases its staple side programs, including Horizons, showcasing the best films currently making waves on the festival circuit; Overdrive, for those who enjoy extreme cinematic experiences; Critics’ Week, featuring international films selected by film critics; and Special Screenings, offering the festival’s distinctive special presentations.

Ticket sales start on Monday, January 6th.