The full program of the 2026 Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival has dropped, with cinematic legends, award winners and distinctive voices all set to feature over the three-week festival run.
The festival runs from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, August 16, at Palace Cinemas Raine Square, Luna Cinemas Leederville and Luna on SX Fremantle.
The best new cinema from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden make up the line-up, showcasing cinematic legends, breathtaking landscapes and the unique storytelling that characterises Nordic cinema.
Icelandic drama Árru opens the festival, the debut film from director Elle Sofe Sara. Following a family of Sàmi reindeer herders whose way of life is disrupted by a proposed mining project, the film weaves together grounded drama, traditional song, and cultural expression to explore a genuine connection to the environment.
One of this year’s Special Presentations is Icelandic comedy/drama The Love That Remains from director Hlynur Pálmason. It captures a year in the life of a family of five, navigating separation, love, family and memory with tenderness.
The second Special Presentation stars Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value, Fjord) in another standout performance. Butterfly is an intriguing drama about a pair of estranged sisters who reunite and travel to the Canary Islands after their mother’s mysterious death.
Closing the festival is Ingmar Bergman’s Persona, being screened for its 60th anniversary. Liv Ullmann plays an actress who has become mute, while Bibi Andersson is the talkative young nurse assigned to her care.
The 2026 Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival screens at Palace Cinemas Raine Square, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, August 16. For the full program, head to nordicfilmfestival.com.au