Sections

The Competition section is a showcase for all varieties of narrative filmmaking. The films presented in the section from the Nordic and Baltic states draw on their cinematic roots and traditions, while still evolving and pushing the envelope of the film medium.

The movies chosen for this section are intended to reflect and re-cast issues, discussions, and reality in their respective countries and at the same time, open a dialogue between them. The selection ranges from mainstream productions to arthouse films, from cinematic experiments to straight-up narratives, and from genre movies to writer-director independents.

The Competition provides a platform to both established, lauded filmmakers and newcomers. It is about what kinds of stories interest the directors and how they choose to tell them. The result is a representative cross-section of the year’s cinematic output that highlights the diversity and innovative power of the Nordic and Baltic cinematic arts. 

This competition section focusses on films that deal with topical issues, deconstruct them, and provide a new perspective on social and political subject matter. The section provides an outlet for all the myriad forms of documentative filmmaking – from classic documentaries to investigative formats, as well as portraits, and cinematic essays.

The selection leans towards films meant for theatrical viewing that take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the big screen. But there are also works that examine their own form, that explore the boundaries of documentation, or that deliberately transgress them to try to look deeper into reality.

The Filmforum is dedicated to all kinds of filmmaking in northern Germany, bringing together narrative and documentary shorts and features, independent films, and large-scale theatrical movies. The section offers audiences an opportunity to see new work by established directors, as well as to discover unknown talent and artistic films outside the mainstream.

The section was launched in 1988 with the aim of providing the film scene in Schleswig-Holstein a space within the international festival to showcase their creative work. As the film scene and funding opportunities evolved over the years, the section has grown and expanded its horizons. The Filmforum accepts submissions from any production with local funding, works by northern German filmmakers, and any film that was shot in the region or deals with issues pertinent to life in the north.

This section, which has been a part of the festival since 2016, is dedicated the various forms of episodic TV, with a focus on its creators. The series format has a fascinating ability to tell complex stories and develop characters, representing the broad spectrum of both cinematic creativity and the Nordic and Baltic film industries. The cross-pollination of dramatic and aesthetic concepts between TV series and theatrical films benefits not only both formats, but also audio-visual storytelling in general. 

The Nordic Film Days festival embraces binge watching and is open to all formats, regardless of length, number of episodes, style (anthology or serial), or budget, and to both domestic series and international co-productions.

The Retrospective works with the film archives of the Nordic and Baltic states to present a curated selection from the region’s rich cinematic legacy. With a different leitmotif each year, audiences have a chance to see a range of digitally restored and 35mm vintage films.

The Retrospective partners include the Lübeck Academy of Music and the trade publication Journal of Scandinavian Cinema. The Academy’s Professor Franz Danksagmüller and his students develop music to accompany silent films. Anders Marklund of Lund University also organises the “Lübeck Film Studies Colloquium”, a series of public events featuring discussions with film historians and experts from Germany, and the Nordic and Baltic states.

The Nordic Shorts section is aimed at anyone who casts an adventurous and yearning eye on cinema. Beyond the boundaries of genre and category, the selected shorts boast the entire bandwidth of cinematic possibility. Whether deep diving at full volume, or quietly observational, short films are in sync with the zeitgeist, presenting an artistic exploration of various issues.

The selection of the films and their grouping into thematic programmes is a balancing act between profound entertainment and cinematic insight, while providing momentum for the future of cinema. Shorts by established filmmakers as well as up-and-coming young directors represent the current film scene in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Special presentations include cooperations with other festivals, film collectives, or archives.

This section presents a selection of Nordic and Baltic films made for the younger generation that deal in innovative and imaginative ways with the issues of growing up. It covers the entire spectrum of storytelling and formal options – whether it’s family-fun genre films, ingenious animation, or sensitive documentaries. They are aimed at all ages, from first-time movie-goers of kindergarten age to young adults, and their family and friends.

In addition to the regular screenings for festival audiences, which includes domestic and international industry visitors, the festival organises a series of screenings for school classes and other groups. The film showings are complemented by a programme of participative and educational events to foster enthusiasm in the next generation for movies and the cinema as a cultural venue.

The films are all shown in their original language with English subtitles. For films recommended for children under the age of 14, German translation is supplied live via headphones.

On the German scene, the phrase “go in instead of look at” has taken hold as the credo for art, including … in fact, particularly … for moving pictures. The Immersion 360° section showcases new and innovative work made for formats other than classic projection. 

With its own venue, the InfinityDome at Klingenberg Square, with an exterior diameter of almost 20 metres and a 360ᵒ projector,  Fulldome videos / 360-degree Films (for VR headsets or virtual tours), with virtual or expanded reality and interactive 3D experiences are accessible to a broader public. 

The section introduces established and newer artists with roots in the North who have dedicated themselves to developing their own immersive forms of the audio-visual experience. The newest technology merges with creative energy to create unique and captivating experiences.

The Lübeck Meetings are the central hub for industry guests at the Nordic Film Days Lübeck. The events are a gathering point for filmmakers, producers, distributors, financing entities, and representatives from other creative industries, where they can present their projects, forge partnerships, and explore new business opportunities.

A variety of activities, including pitching sessions, panels, workshops, and individual meetings are aimed at bolstering professional networks, facilitating co-production plans, and fostering international distribution of Nordic and Baltic films. The focus is on subjects like financing, distribution, marketing, and innovative technologies.

Since 2023, the Lübeck Meetings have also mounted the Future North programme for young talent. To foster young talent, it brings seven directors from the Baltic countries, Greenland, the Sámi community, the Faroe Islands, and Schleswig-Holstein to Lübeck. Each of the directors from these often-underrepresented regions of northern Europe will show a clip from the project they are currently working on and receive feedback and constructive criticism from industry experts and the audience.