This year’s annual Scandinavian Film Festival delivers some of the best recent films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to cinemas around the nation.

Running from July 12 to August 10, the program ranges from comedies to thrillers, modern day docu-dramas to historical sagas, along with the Scandi Screen Sirens program showcasing some much-loved international classics.

As well as the opening night’s film, the Australian premiere of the lavish historical drama Margrete – Queen of the North, here’s our quick guide to a suitably Scandi selection.

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A Taste of Hunger
Maggie (Katrine Greis-Rosenthal) and Carsten (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau – you may recognise him from Game of Thrones) are the power couple behind Denmark’s most popular restaurant, Maus. With a seemingly perfect family and a thriving business, they appear to have it all. But their drive for perfection – and a Michelin star – soon pushes them to breaking point and beyond in this gripping, thought-provoking relationship drama.

Nordic by Nature
Located halfway between Iceland and Norway, the Faroe Islands are home to stunning landscapes, a thriving seafood industry and, perhaps most surprisingly, the two-star Michelin restaurant Koks. Filmed over an 18-month period, director Rasmus Dinesen’s documentary focuses on young local chef Poul Andrias Ziska, who’s part of the team behind what may be the most isolated fine-dining experience in the world.

Tuesday Club
After 40 years of marriage, Karin (Marie Richardson) makes a discovery that turns her life upside down. Fortunately, her friends have a plan: they’re all going to sign up for a cooking class hosted by Henrik (Peter Stormare). Soon, Karin finds herself rediscovering more than one of her old passions. This heartwarming film is a tale of second chances and fresh starts.

Quake
When Saga (Anita Briem), a single mother, suffers a massive epileptic attack while walking with her six-year-old son, she’s left with near-total memory loss. Afraid that seeking medical help will mean her son is taken from her, she instead tries to piece her life together on her own, only to uncover repressed memories from her childhood. Adapted from the best-selling novel by Auður Jonsdóttir, Quake is both a gripping drama and a thoughtful examination of the fuzzy lines dividing fact, fantasy and identity.

So Damn Easy Going
On the cusp of adulthood, 18-year-old Joanna (Nikki Hanseblad) is managing both her ADHD and her father’s (Shanti Roney) depression, while also tasked with finding the money needed for her medication. Then she meets Audrey (Melina Benett Paukkonen), and suddenly young love is thrown into the mix. With a striking visual style and innovative audio effects, director and co-writer Christoffer Sandler’s debut feature brings the world of ADHD to life in this sweetly funny and touching coming-of-age tale.

More details and book tickets.

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