Elise wakes up one morning with a strange feeling... there is something special about this day, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. Unsuccessfully, she tries to explain to her family and friends that this day is different from any other day. So Elise sets out on an incredible journey on her own and through new and unexpected friendships, she rediscovers the joy of Christmas. Now it’s up to her to make sure her whole village experiences a Christmas they will never forget. But the clock is ticking - will she make it before it’s too late?
»When diving into the universe of Forgotten Christmas, it was important to take the Alf Prøysen and the Norwegian fairytale heritage seriously by not trying to modernize the storyand the universe too much. The effort was to continue the successful essence from the firstfilm, Santa Swap. It became important to adopt the same warmth, humor and the joy of Christmas traditions from the first film further into the second film. /.../ In other words, what we see within the frame should come across as real and authentic, things you can touch and feel. Not glossy imagery filled with bright colors and perfection, but warm and cozy imagery with a hint of quirkiness. A traditional fairytale with a dash of magic feel. /.../ Teaching empathy to our children is important. So as a director I feel responsible to createcharacters with diverse features who portrays a variation of feelings. To communicate thecharacter’s feelings to the children watching the film, rather than telling them explicitly whatto feel, is essential in this story and to me as a director.«
- Andrea Eckerbom, the director
Forgotten Christmas Snekker Andersen og Julenissen: Den vesle bygda som glømte at det var jul
What's On
Sandbag Dam Zečji nasip
Čejen Černić
Wednesday, 17. 06. 2026 / 21:30 / Kinodvorišče
A story of forbidden love in the Croatian countryside, Sandbag Dam won the Kinotrip Youth Jury Award at Ljubljana International Film Festival (Liffe), as well as four awards at the Pula Film Festival.
Whispers in the Woods Le chant des forêts
Vincent Munier
Thursday, 18. 06. 2026 / 16:50 / Main Hall
Following his film The Velvet Queen, in which he searched the Tibetan highlands for the elusive big cat, nature photographer Vincent Munier now invites us on an intimate journey to his native Vosges Mountains. Together with him, we will immerse ourselves in the sounds, textures, and scents of ancient forests. The film won the César Award for Best Documentary.
God Will not Help Bog neće pomoći
Hana Jušić
Thursday, 18. 06. 2026 / 21:30 / Kinodvorišče
The second feature film from Hana Jušić (Quit Staring at My Plate) is a darkly poetic neo-Western about a mysterious Chilean woman who brings unrest to a traditional Croatian shepherding community at the beginning of the 20th century. Blending elements of Wuthering Heights, Croatian folklore, and Jane Campion’s The Piano, the film earned its two leading actresses an award at Locarno.