13-19 January
2025
Program 2024
At this site you can have a look at the program from the 34th edition of TIFF, which took place on 15th-21st of January 2024.
Opening/Closing Film
Competition
A selection of internationally acclaimed and artistically challenging films are competing for the Aurora Prize. The films in competition are also eligible for the FIPRESCI International Critics’ Award and the FICC Don Quixote Prize. All films have their Norwegian premiere at the 34th Tromsø International Film Festival.
Focus Norway
TIFF has always turned its gaze towards the rest of the world. In this section, we highlight two Norwegian films that we want to give special attention to. These two documentary films paint strong portraits of people in vastly different life situations, and both films align with the festival's ambition to open the world to the audience. We are proud that both of these films have their Norwegian premiere with us.
Horizons
The Horizons sidebar features a selection of top-quality films from all over the world, covering a wide range of genres and styles. The only criterion here is quality. This program is based on the festival’s vision: to challenge and contribute to human beings' personal growth through the films we are presenting to our audience.
East Side Stories
Tromsø International Film Festival has since its beginning promoted cultural exchange with our Eastern neighbors. Starting with a selection of some of the last Soviet-produced films at the first festival edition in 1991, we have since continued to present titles from a region that is otherwise often neglected. Since 2002, this program has been a regular sidebar for feature films and documentaries from former Soviet republics, including Russia. In these times we find it more important than ever to give room to critical voices and stories from the region.
How to Have Sex
Female directors are on the rise in the international film world, and we see a strong increase in the percentage of women at major festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, etc. With their own approach, many of these directors create films about female sexuality—both in terms of sexual expression, boundaries, dominance, submission, body, desire, shame, and joy. Several directors in the program base their stories on personal experiences. In film history, it is said that many films are made from a male perspective—do these films offer a specifically female gaze?
Coen Brothers: Crime and Human Comedy
Ethan and Joel Coen represent some of the finest aspects of American film culture. Known for helming great achievements from all the different apartments of cinema - visuals, sound, editing, acting - the amalgam is masterful storytelling and iconic films that stand tall in the history of cinema. This retrospective presents a cross-section of works with an exceptional ability to blend genres and create distinct filmic expressions.
Ethan Coen and editor Tricia Cooke, who has worked on several of the most prominent films here, are guests of honour at the festival.
Films from the North Features
Films from the North Features presents a prime selection of new documentaries and fiction films from the High North, including a broad representation of northern Indigenous filmmakers. Eligible areas are Sápmi, northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Canada, as well as Alaska, Iceland and Greenland.
Films from the North
Films from the North showcases the best of the High North, including a broad representation of northern Indigenous films. FFN presents a prime selection of short docs and fiction films made in northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Canada, as well as Sápmi, Alaska, Iceland and Greenland. The Tromsø Palm Award is presented to the best short or documentary (under 60 minutes) in competition.
Critics' Week
The Critic’s Week is organized by the Norwegian Film Critics' Association and presents five international feature films. The selection is based on the individual film critic's personal preference. The sidebar also includes four Norwegian features, selected by TIFF and the film website Montages.no, and presented by critics and film scholars at the screenings. Note that introductions by Norwegian critics will be held in Norwegian.
Overdrive
As the name indicates, these films are set in overdrive: they are a bit rougher, crazier, funnier – and in some cases a bit sicker than the average festival film. So buckle up, and hang on for dear life.
Special Screenings
A special screening is not like other screenings, to point out the obvious. This section offers a whole range of unique film experiences, like film concerts, singalongs and screenings for everybody at our outdoor Winter Cinema at Vervet. Most of these screenings are also singular in the sense that they take place only once during the festival, so this might be the place to start planning your schedule.
TIFF UNG
Welcome to TIFF UNG, our program for youth aged 15-19 years!
In collaboration with TVIBIT, we gathered a group of teenagers to watch films for our festival, with a mission to choose the four films that make up TIFF UNG 2024. The Youth Culture Discount applies to all young people in Tromsø aged 13-19 years (from the age of 13 until the age of 19).
Off Screen
Tromsø International Film Festival offers more than high-quality films. During the week, we host a range of Off Screen-events that aim to stimulate and inspire. Here you will have the chance to meet filmmakers and attend debates about trends in film and cinema.
Winter Cinema
Tromsø International Film Festival takes pride in offering outdoor screenings to all audiences at Vervet. This is the coolest venue in town. The screenings take place every morning and afternoon for the whole festival week. You can experience Films From the North, music videos, ski, snowboarding and surf films as well as other great films at this year's Winter Cinema.
TIFF Digital
This year you can watch seven of our films at home on demand. The online screenings will have a limited number of tickets available per film, and all screenings will have a fixed start time. After the scheduled start, the film can be seen within 48 hours. Available in Norway only. TIFF Digital FAQ
