Göteborg Film Festival 2025: disobedience in focus
In 2025, defiance will be brought sharply into focus at the Göteborg Film Festival. Under the heading Focus: Disobedience, the power of civil resistance will be explored, as well as questions like: when does rebellion become a moral obligation? When can it go too far? And is the flouting of laws and regulations a reasonable price to pay for change in a democratic society?
History is made up of acts of disobedience, both big and small, that started chain reactions of consequences. One man who said "no" when everyone else was saying "yes"; a woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus; a girl who started a school strike on Fridays, and another who kept going into class. In a world which has become characterized by increasing polarization, tendencies towards authoritarianism, and the climate crisis, unruliness has become a decisive factor on the global agenda.
In a world marked by increasing polarization, authoritarian tendencies, and climate crisis, civil resistance has become a crucial factor in the global conversation. In this context, the line between protest and lawful resistance can blur, as acts of resistance often require a certain degree of disobedience.
The history of cinema also contains countless stories of people who dared to break the rules, question authority, and stand up for their convictions: even when the risks in doing so were great. And film has always been a powerful medium through which we can challenge norms, question authority, and process the currents that shape society.
"During the 48th Göteborg Film Festival, we will explore the concept of disobedience by showing contemporary films that explore the theme, and highlighting their significance in society. We look forward to discussing, problematizing, and mobilizing our defiance during the festival," says Pia Lundberg, artistic director of the Göteborg Film Festival.
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The festival's poster has been designed by Britta Marakatt-Labba
The festival's poster has been created by Sámi artist Britta Marakatt-Labba, an artist who has herself been engaged with activism for a long time.
"I was born into a fight. My artistry began in Alta in northern Norway, when we were demonstrating for the rights of the Samí people. I've always believed that being disobedient is the right thing to do when you are righting wrongs, and I'll fight for these things for as long as I live. That's why it feels great to collaborate with the Göteborg Film Festival," says Britta Marakatt-Labba.
"Britta Marakatt-Labba is an inspiration for the festival's theme. Her artistry and story are permeated by bravery and a struggle against injustice. She has lived and breathed resistance and insubordination in a way that few others have, and her perspective and commitment give the festival's focus a solid grounding in genuine struggle and civil courage," says Pia Lundberg.
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Four films included in Focus: Disobedience
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Little Jaffna
A young French police officer of Tamil origin infiltrates a criminal gang with links to the Tamil Tigers in an endlessly suspenseful, complex, and vibrant debut.
When newly graduated officer Michael is tasked with infiltrating a gang in the Paris neighborhood known as “Little Jaffna,” he sees a chance to be accepted as a true Frenchman. Alongside its illegal activities, the gang raises funds for the Tamil Tigers’ resistance movement back home in Sri Lanka. But the path ahead isn’t as straightforward as Michael anticipated. Beyond the risk of exposure, he faces growing feelings of belonging and loyalty — toward former Tiger leader Aya, his henchman Puvi, and his own heritage. Lawrence Valin, who also stars in the lead role, delivers a classic nail-biting thriller, expertly seasoned with ethnographic elements and Tamil film influences.
Director: Lawrence Valin
France, 2024
100 min.
Swedish premiere
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Once Upon a Time in a Forest
Young Finnish activists in love fight against unfeeling commercial interests in this captivating documentary, where the Finnish old-growth forest takes center stage.
Ida and Minka’s love for the forest has turned them into activists. Driven by conviction, they fight within Extinction Rebellion against multinational corporations, authorities, and politicians. Virpi Suutari follows them through the planning and execution of their actions, interspersed with enchanting, contemplative shots of animals and nature; escaping the harsh reality for a moment and recharging through purifying dips in the dreamlike forest has become a survival strategy. Once Upon a Time in a Forest is a politically urgent film that thoughtfully contrasts biodiversity, youthful awareness, and idealism with generational divides, toxic masculinity, and capitalist power structures.
Director: Virpi Suutari
Finland, 2024
93 min.
Swedish premiere
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April
A female doctor risks everything in a relentless struggle against patriarchal forces and invisible power dynamics in this acclaimed, award-winning drama.
Groundbreaking Georgian filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili follows up her festival hit Beginning (GFF, 2021) with a quiet yet unforgiving drama. Obstetrician Nina works in a society where women’s rights are often ignored. We delve into her isolated life in the countryside, where she performs illegal abortions and each patient visit becomes a silent protest against societal norms. But something happens, and as inner demons take physical form, an eerie presence emerges, blurring the line between reality and illusion. Kulumbegashvili relies on her characteristic minimalist storytelling, with slow, lingering shots that reveal more than the sparse dialogue. April is an exquisite yet uncompromising study of power and resistance.
Director: Dea Kulumbegashvili
Georgia, France, Italy, 2024
134 min.
Swedish premiere
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No Other Land
An award-winning and critically urgent portrayal of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, where a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist resist with the camera as their weapon.
Since childhood, Basel Adra has documented the ongoing displacement and destruction in Masafer Yatta. His earliest memories are of Israeli soldiers storming his home and arresting his father. As an adult, his daily life continues to be marked by evictions and bulldozers leveling homes, schools, and entire villages. During his work, he meets Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, forming an unexpected alliance. However, their friendship is tested by the profound inequality between them: Basel lives under constant military occupation, while Yuval experiences a completely different freedom. No Other Land, created by a Palestinian-Israeli collective, is an act of creative resistance and an unyielding pursuit of justice. Awarded Best Documentary at the Berlin Film Festival and nominated for Best Film at the European Film Awards.
Directors: Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor
Palestine, Norway, 2024
96 min.
Swedish premiere
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48:e Göteborg Film Festival
24 jan – 2 feb 2025
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