Nordic International Film Festival is based in New York City at the renowned Scandinavia House (The Nordic Center) on Park Avenue.

We accept International and Nordic films (competing in two different categories).

NIFF celebrates Nordic and international films and we strive to find new and upcoming independent films as well as honoring great work from already established filmmakers. We screen the nominated films in the official selection at a grand theatre inside the Nordic Center for press, distribution, filmmakers and general admitted audience.

We focus on finding diverse independent films with strong characters and storylines, and encourage all filmmakers to submit their films, regardless of ethnicity, religion or worldview.

One part of our program highlights nordic films and Nordic productions. We welcome and judge all films equally and with great respect and consideration. Please take the Bechdel Test into consideration.
Awards & Prizes

AWARDS

Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short
Best Nordic Narrative Feature
Best Nordic Narrative Short

Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Cinematography

PRIZES

2016's prizes included and round trip to Iceland from Iceland air, a light packade for filmmakers, a sounds mixing studio session, bags from Sandqvist, watches from Daniel Wellington and products for Face Sthlm.
Rules & Terms

RULES AND TERMS

Categories

Short documentaries and narratives are preferable under 22 min long but not longer than 45 min.

Feature films are 45 min and up.

International films:
are very welcome to compete in the Best Features and Best Short category.

Nordic films:
are films shot in the Nordic countries or if the majority of the spoken language in the film is from any Nordic or Scandinavian country. You can also qualify for the Nordic submissions if the Director or Producer is from a Nordic or Scandinavian country, please e-mail us for more details. If you are unsure, please submit in the Nordic category and our programmers will make the judgement of moving it to a different category if needed and notify the submitter.

Qualifications and Premiere Status

NIFF does not demand a world or national premiere requirement.

We accept any films completed after January 1, 2016.

Films that have debuted online or been official released outside of a festival are ineligible.

Subtitles: Please submit subtitles on all work except English spoken films..

WORK IN PROGRESS OR ROUGH CUTS:

Rough cuts of films will be considered as long as the completed version will be ready by October 29th, 2017. If your film is a rough cut, please label it as such and list what needs to be completed.

REVIEW POLICY

All films are viewed by the festival programmers and/or the jury. Each film is viewed a minimum of two times, rated, and will move on to the next stage based off of those ratings. Our programmers and jury will make final decisions and notify filmmakers accordingly.

All decisions are final and feedback for individual films is not available.

DCP AND BLU-RAY FESTIVAL SCREENING

All films will screen at the festival in DCP or BLU-Ray at the Victor Borge Hall Cinema at Scandinavia House. We will nominate according to categories listed above and select the winning film in each category in the official selection. Winner is entitled to use to laurels on poster and all marketing material. DCP's, Blu-Rays and awards can be picked up our shipped towards postage up to no later than one month after the festival.

NIFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in regulations or scheduling.
- Films selected may not be withdrawn from the festival program after its registration.
- All submission fees are non-refundable. We will not return your screening and exhibition copies.
- The festival Directorate may deny participation to any film unable to meet the technical requirements for a public screening of good quality.
- Not all winning films will be screened. The festival has the right to screen and not to screen the winning films.
- Only producers, directors, and main actors/actress can receive the physical awards at the award ceremony. Regardless of their winning status, winning filmmakers who can't attend the Awards Ceremony in New York, will only receive laurels. We reserve the right to decide which nominated films that will be a part of the screening of 2016 based on the quality of their showcase Blu-Ray or DCP as well as program scheduling. Winners will be announced online and in press. The festival has the right to work with any institution and partner festivals for all kind of cooperation, including joint events or promotions.

LIABILITY
You agree to indemnify us and hold us and our employees, owners, affiliates, and partners harmless from all claims and liability associated with your participation or entry to the NIFF.

REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT
Submission of an entry gives the festival permission to have accepted work exhibited, photographed, locally telecast, and reproduced either in part or whole, for educational or festival purposes. Filmmakers can request in writing that their material not be used for such purposes after the festival.

CHANGES AND ALTERATIONS
The festival Management reserves the right to make changes in the profile of the festival, if it becomes necessary to do so due to circumstances beyond his/her control.

LEGAL NOTICE
The duration of this agreement shall commence as of the date of submission by Owner and terminate at the close of the current years festival.

Winners 2016

Best Documentary Short:

Raised by Krump

Motivation: A gorgeous film which captures a unique movement, and that celebrates both the art, the story and the people behind it.

Best Nordic Short:

The Art of Not Appearing

Motivation: Whimsical and honest, told with heart and humor.

Best Narrative Short:

¡Mais Duro!

Motivation: Compelling, heartfelt and funny, telling a story full of love and integrity about one of the defining moment in our lives.

Best Documentary Feature:

Ghost Rockets

Motivation: Told with love and sincerity, this documentary beautifully navigates both the story, and the story behind the story.

Best Nordic Feature:

Autumn Fall

Motivation: Flirting with a greek tragedy, this unexpected story tells us about the beauty and conflict with human connection.

Best Narrative Feature:

The Salton Sea

Motivation: Intriguing, tense and thrilling, this fine-tuned and subtle film aces in every aspect of independent filmmaking.

Best Cinematography:

Arnar Thor Thorisson (A Reykjavik Porno)

Motivation: Through outstanding work, the cinematography heightened and seduced the jury, creating gorgeous layers in an entangled story.

Best Director:

Veena Sud (The Salton Sea)

Motivation: With tenderness and integrity, the relationship between both the characters and their surroundings gets told with utmost proficiency and nuance.

Best Male Actor:

Albert Halldórsson (A Reykjavik Porno)

Motivation: A brave and completely committed performance, connecting to a troubled character and creating a layered inner life.

Best Female Actor:

Diarra Kilpatrick (The Salton Sea)

Motivation: For her strong choices and commitment to the craft and her extraordinary way of living through the life of her character.

Honorable Mention:

Box

Motivation: Truly innovative and brave, this film chose to strip away everything but the communication between two people. Exceptional in forward thinking filmmaking.