Norway is coming to Aotearoa, and it’s bringing trolls, dark humour, science fiction and some seriously sharp short filmmaking with it.
The Show Me Shorts Film Festival has announced the Kingdom of Norway as its 2026 Country of Honour, with eight Norwegian films set to feature across this year’s programme, alongside four filmmakers and industry representatives travelling to New Zealand to take part in screenings, educational events and networking opportunities.
It’s a fitting cinematic exchange. Both Norway and Aotearoa are countries defined by dramatic landscapes, ancient mythology and a healthy fascination with the strange and supernatural. Where New Zealand has taniwha and Māori legends, Norway has trolls and Vikings. The result is a short-film showcase that promises to be as atmospheric as it is eclectic.
Norwegian Stories, From Trolls to the Future
The Norwegian Short Film Focus collection brings together seven films exploring everything from animation and satire to family, friendship and dystopian science fiction.
Among the highlights is Det Siste Norske Trollet (The Last Norwegian Troll), an animated tale directed by Pjotr Sapegin, while André Øvredal, best known internationally for his work in genre cinema, turns his attention to an overcrowded future in the science-fiction short Tunnelen (The Tunnel).
Odveig Klyve’s Vind (Wind) takes a documentary approach, examining wind turbines, while Smulene (The Crumbs) from Michael Mellemløkken Renjo explores the complicated dynamics of a step-parent.
There’s also plenty of Norwegian wit on display. Vegard Dahle’s Ego delivers satire through the increasingly awkward territory of a double date, while Trio, directed by Fridtjof Stensæth Josefsen and Morten Borgestad, explores friendship and the universal struggle to fit in.
Johannes Vang’s På Grensa (Borderline) rounds out the collection with a comedy about communication set on the border between two homelands.
For younger audiences, Natalia Malykhina Bratli’s animated Bug’s Story will screen as part of the festival’s Whānau Friendly collection.
A Cinematic Exchange
The festival will welcome filmmakers Odveig Klyve, Bjorn Gulbrandsen and Natalia Malykhina Bratli, alongside Arna Marie Bersaas from the Norwegian Film Institute.
Their presence will give Kiwi filmmakers and audiences the opportunity to engage directly with the Norwegian creative community, offering a glimpse into the filmmaking culture of a country whose cinematic voice has increasingly made an impact on the international stage.
Show Me Shorts Festival Director Gina Dellabarca says the similarities between Norway and New Zealand made the partnership a natural fit.
“Aotearoa and Norway have much in common,” says Dellabarca. “Both are lands famous for majestic mountains, rivers and fjords. While we have legends of taniwha and Māori warriors, they have tales of trolls and Vikings.”
She adds that the selected films combine “dark humour and drama with thoughtful satire and dreamy landscapes” and says she is excited to share the collection with Kiwi audiences.
Arna Marie Bersaas of the Norwegian Film Institute describes the Country of Honour selection as a “great honour”, highlighting the similarities between the two countries while noting the considerable distance that separates them.
Norwegian Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Erik Svedahl says the programme offers New Zealand audiences the chance to discover new perspectives on Norwegian society and culture, while exploring the universal experiences that connect us all.
Tickets are already on sale for the Norwegian Short Film Focus, with screenings taking place across three New Zealand cities:
- Auckland — 9 October, 7:00pm at Capitol Cinema
- Wellington — 12 October, 6:00pm at Light House Cuba
- Christchurch — 15 October, 6:20pm at Alice Cinemas
The full Show Me Shorts Film Festival 2026 programme will be unveiled on Monday, 14 September, with tickets expected to move quickly.
For anyone who likes their cinema short, sharp and just a little bit strange, Norway’s arrival at Show Me Shorts looks like one of the festival’s most intriguing excursions yet; a cinematic journey from fjords to Aotearoa, and from trolls to taniwha.
Images: Show Me Shorts
