Six Films to See at Stockholm International Film Festival

Stockholm’s largest film festival, Stockholm International Film Festival, is now in its 28th year. The festival showcases over 150 films from 60 countries. Taking place from 7 – 18 November, this year’s festival has a range of exciting films, lectures, and events for film-lovers in the city.

The festival has everything from documentaries to narrative films, feature-length to shorts, and both international and domestic production. With such a large number of films and genres, there’s bound to be something you’ll find exciting!

Here are our recommendations for films to see during the Stockholm International Film Festival:

Sibel

This Turkish film follows Sibel, a mute woman who can only communicate through whistles. She is cast out from her community and spends her time caring for her family, or wandering the woods nearby her home. When she meets a wounded fugitive, her life changes forever.

Blindspotting

What is buddy-comedies contained insightful social commentary? Blindspotting takes the genres and gives it a much-needed injection of purpose. This is the story of Colin, a man on the final days of his probation, and his friend Miles, in Oakland, California. Colin witnesses a police shooting, an event which threatens both his own freedom and his relationship with his friend. The screenplay was written by Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, who play the two main characters; this film has been making the festival rounds to massive acclaim.

Searching for Ingmar Bergman

It could be said this film is less about searching and more about a tribute to what is already found. Margarethe von Trotta, the German director considered the driving force behind the New German Cinema movement, explores her deep love for Swedish director Ingmar Bergman’s work with this moving documentary. If you’re a fan of Bergman’s work, this is a must-see.

Legend of the Demon Cat

This Chinese fantasty-drama made a big splash when it was released in China in 2017. The plot, set during the Tang dynasty (618 – 907), follows a poet, Bai Leitan, and a monk, Kukai, as they investigate the death of a concubine. During this time, a demon cat comes to the capital city, causing chaos, and leading the two heroes on an incredible journey. The set of this movie is so elaborate and fantastical that it’s reportedly being made into a theme park!

Twin Flower

This Italian film has already received accolades for its realistic, brutal subject matter and vulnerable performances from the two leads – neither of whom had ever acted in a movie before. Twin Flower is the story of a young girl who escapes human traffickers who have murdered her father, and a young boy from Cote d’Ivoire who is trying to avoid falling into the hands of Italian immigration agents. The two meet on the run, forming a beautiful and deep relationship.

Short Film Competition: Mystery

See six short films ranging in length from 6 – 32 minutes, with the theme of “mystery.” If you’re interested in emerging filmmakers, festival shorts are a great entry-point. And we love the idea of having to capture the tension of a mystery in a shorter timeframe!

See the full 2018 program here.