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
Zejtune Żejtune
Alex Camilleri
Friday, 04. 09. 2026 / 18:00 / Main Hall
When Mar’s estranged mother passes away, she sees her way out of Malta by selling off her inheritance: three pieces of farmland in the countryside. On her journey to claim her land, she meets Nenu, a spirited 80-year-old għana singer whose vibrant folk music pulls her into the colourful traditions of the island she’s been so eager to escape… Directed by the Maltese-American filmmaker Alex Camilleri (Luzzu).
Bitter Christmas Amarga Navidad
Pedro Almodóvar
Friday, 04. 09. 2026 / 20:30 / Main Hall
Bitter Christmas tells two alternating stories. One takes place in 2004 and stars an advertising director Elsa during a long weekend in December. The other, set in the present, features Raúl, a cult director working on a new script. Soon we discover Raúl is writing about Elsa, her boyfriend Bonifacio, and her friends Patricia and Natalia… Almodóvar’s—always stylish—latest comes straight from Cannes!