About AMIFF

The conventional films that will be screened will primarily consist of new and older international "quality films," meaning engaging feature films, short films, and documentaries of high artistic quality that provoke thought, aimed at both adults and younger audiences. A selection of older popular films will also be shown. All films are chosen based on their artistic and/or societal significance. Additionally, films from Northern Norway and the rest of the Arctic will be featured.

The moving images (video art, experimental films, and time-based installations and sculptures) will consist of both Norwegian and international works. Various art curators will be responsible for different programs within this part of the festival.

The festival's concept arises from the relatively short history of the film medium, which has begun to expand, and the fact that film, as we encounter it through public and private spaces such as cinemas, TV, the internet, our own smartphones, and galleries, has become a part of our identity. For instance, it is now possible to reflect upon multiple generations using archival films. In addition, the film medium looks towards the future through new technologies such as Virtual Reality and video mapping. In today’s society, film is a powerful art form, which is evident in some countries where directors and visual artists utilizing the film medium are persecuted and imprisoned. The festival therefore aims to explore the various artistic expressions of the film medium in its entirety, through history, to examine which stories are being told and how, including the Arctic narrative, which has received limited exploration. Furthermore, the combination of conventional film and moving images within the same festival allows for an exploration of the intersection between these two, which is also a relatively uncharted territory.

The film festival aims to be a meeting place that inspires and engages the general public, the professional sphere within film and visual arts, as well as stakeholders in the themes addressed by the films. The festival also seeks to strengthen the identity of those of us living in Harstad and its surroundings by providing opportunities to see films from our own region, and to showcase our culture to visitors through film and moving images. Furthermore, the festival intends to contribute to