The SAXO Scandinavian Film Festival is back for 2023 boasting a packed month of cinematic treats. Palace Cinemas across the country will be giving you an experience out of the Nordic regions. Including the best picks from international film festivals such as Göteborg, Cannes and Berlin.
It’s certainly a festival for everyone. If you’re looking for something a little frightening you can find your heart racing in the Scandi Screams selection. Six films that examine the mysterious folklore traditions and mythology over the last fifteen years. Including Ari Aster’s Midsommar where a group of friends travel to a remote Swedish village to participate in a seemingly innocent midsummer festival that gradually turns into a disturbing and nightmarish experience.
If you’re looking for a drama to sink your teeth into, look no further than the opening night feature, Let the River Flow. Winner of the Audience Award at both the Göteborg Film Festival and Tromsø International Film Festival in 2023. The story follows a young woman drawn into a protest to stop a dam that could flood Indigenous Sámi land. Based on true events that inspired a generation of young Norwegians.
And if that isn’t enough for your winter getaway, out of Denmark is a summer vacation to the Camino, which also happens to be the name of the film. Between the awkward silences and drunken oversharing, the father-daughter duo reconcile their differences.
From Finland, you can help a grumpy old man find an Escort in, The Grump: In Search of an Escort. In this comedy-drama, an ageing widower travels to Germany to buy a 1972 Ford Escort but ends up settling accounts with his past. A warm and fuzzy tale about forgiveness and reconciliation.
The festival runs from July 13th until August 9th at Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Byron Bay. Head to your local Palace Cinema or visit the festival’s website for further details here
