Overview
Tromso International Film Festival (TIFF) is the world's northernmost A-list film festival, held annually in January above the Arctic Circle in Tromso, Norway. The 36th edition took place January 19 to 25, 2026, recording 68,795 total visits including 62,864 cinema admissions. The festival programmed 203 films from around the world, with the programme committee watching more than 400 films before selecting just over 80 titles for the main program. The 37th edition is scheduled for January 18 to 24, 2027.
For international filmmakers, TIFF offers something no other festival can match: outdoor screenings in the polar night. The festival sets up an outdoor cinema at Stortorget, the main square in the heart of Tromso, where screenings take place every morning and afternoon throughout the festival week in the dark Arctic winter. The outdoor cinema welcomed 3,500 children during the 2026 festival week.
The festival's main competition is the Aurora Prize, awarded to the best film in the main competition by an international jury. All films in the competition must have their Norwegian premiere at TIFF. The winning director receives EUR 5,000. The 2026 Aurora Prize went to A Sad and Beautiful World directed by Cyril Aris (Lebanon/Germany). If you are a filmmaker with an international feature seeking a European festival premiere in a distinctive setting, TIFF accepts film submissions through their website. Use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator to evaluate submission costs.
Key Sections
- Main Competition (Aurora Prize) - 12 international films competing for the Aurora Prize (EUR 5,000), all having their Norwegian premiere at TIFF. The 2026 jury included director Eliza Hittman (USA), director Johannes Vang (Norway), and Gaia Furrer, Artistic Director of Giornate degli Autori at Venice.
- Films from the North - the festival's most popular side program, now in its 26th year, presenting films from the Barents Region and other circumpolar areas. The 2026 edition included 16 world premieres and set a new audience record with more than 10,000 attendees.
- TIFF Digital - online screenings offering six films available on demand during the festival.
- Outdoor Cinema - free outdoor screenings at Stortorget, taking advantage of the polar night darkness.
- Special Screenings - gala screenings, silent film concerts, and special events at unique venues.
- Industry Programme - networking and professional development for Nordic and international film professionals.
Submission Details
International feature films: TIFF screens international feature films from all over the world, selected based on the festival's knowledge of world cinema. The submission deadline for the 2027 edition is November 1, 2026. Submit through the TIFF film submission page.
Films from the North: This is the only section where TIFF accepts shorts and documentaries, as well as features. The submission deadline for the 2027 edition is October 9, 2026. Films are qualified if the subject, production, or director is connected to Sapmi, northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Canada, as well as Alaska, Iceland, and Greenland. The Tromso Palm is awarded to the best short (EUR 5,000) and best feature (EUR 2,500) in this program.
Nordic filmmakers: Filmmakers from the Nordic countries who want to present their feature films at TIFF should contact Festival and Programme Director Lisa Hoen or Programme Director Henning Rosenlund directly.
Submission fees: TIFF does not charge a submission fee for international feature films or Films from the North submissions.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Attendance and audience: TIFF 2026 recorded 68,795 total visits during the festival week, with 62,864 cinema admissions. The outdoor cinema alone welcomed 3,500 children. Films from the North set a new audience record with more than 10,000 attendees. For filmmakers, this means your film screens to engaged, enthusiastic audiences, not just industry professionals.
FIPRESCI Prize: TIFF is accredited by FIPRESCI (the International Federation of Film Critics), and the festival hosts an international jury of professional film critics who award the FIPRESCI Prize. The 2026 FIPRESCI Prize went to Broken Voices directed by Ondrej Provaznik (Czech Republic/Slovakia), praised for its "strong performances and striking 16 mm cinematography."
European Youth Capital 2026: As Tromso was European Youth Capital 2026, youth perspectives were integrated into the festival structure. TIFF launched the Young Curators initiative, where nine young curators participated in programme development and introduced films throughout the festival week.
Arctic setting as programming advantage: The polar night provides TIFF with a unique programming advantage. Outdoor screenings in the dark Arctic winter create a festival atmosphere that cannot be replicated. The festival also uses unconventional venues, including the empty swimming pool at Alfheim for silent film concerts.
Major Awards
- Aurora Prize - best film in the main competition, awarded by an international jury. EUR 5,000 to the winning director.
- FIPRESCI Prize - international critics' award, presented by a jury of professional film critics.
- Tromso Audience Award - voted by festival audiences. The 2026 winner was Calle Malaga by Maryam Touzani.
- Norwegian Peace Film Award - the 2026 winner was It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi.
- Tromso Palm (Short Film) - best short in Films from the North, EUR 5,000. The 2026 winner was Borderline by Johannes Vang.
- Tromso Palm (Feature Film) - best feature in Films from the North, EUR 2,500. The 2026 winner was The Ground Beneath Our Feet by Yrsa Roca Fannberg.
- Faith in Film Award - the 2026 winner was Little Trouble Girls by Urska Djukic.
- Arctic Film Young Directors Award - the 2026 winner was Woolgod / Ullguden by Sirin Sponga.
Festival History
Tromso International Film Festival was first held in 1991, with a total attendance of 5,200. The festival was created to bring high-quality international cinema to the Arctic region of Norway, taking advantage of the polar night to create a unique winter festival experience. The outdoor cinema at Stortorget, using the dark Arctic winter as a natural backdrop, has been a defining feature since the early years.
The festival grew steadily through the 1990s and 2000s. The Aurora Prize was established as the festival's main competition award, with the first winner being Y Tu Mama Tambien by Alfonso Cuaron in 2002. Films from the North was launched as a side program and has grown into the festival's most popular section, now in its 26th year, providing a platform for Arctic and Indigenous filmmaking that has no equivalent at other major European festivals.
The festival has been an early adopter of digital programming. TIFF Digital offers online screenings of selected films during the festival, extending the festival's reach beyond those who can travel to Tromso. The 37th edition will take place January 18 to 24, 2027.
Past Winners
2026 Aurora Prize: A Sad and Beautiful World (Cyril Aris, Lebanon/Germany) - a romantic drama following childhood sweethearts across three decades of Lebanese history. World premiered at Venice's Giornate degli Autori, winning the Audience Award. Lebanon's Oscar submission for 2025. US distributor Watermelon Pictures released it theatrically in July 2026.
2025 Aurora Prize: Happy Holidays (Scandar Copti, Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar) - a family drama exploring Palestinian life in Israel. Premiered at Venice's Orizzonti section, winning Best Screenplay. Distributed by Film Movement in the US (theatrical December 2025, streaming March 2026).
2024 Aurora Prize: Housekeeping for Beginners (Goran Stolevski) - a queer family drama that premiered at Venice, winning the Queer Lion. North Macedonia's Oscar submission. Shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. Distributed by Focus Features.
2023 Aurora Prize: Women Talking (Sarah Polley, USA) - won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Distributed by United Artists Releasing. Grossed over $9 million domestically.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- Y Tu Mama Tambien (Alfonso Cuaron, 2002 Aurora Prize winner) - nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards. Grossed over $33 million worldwide.
- The Truffle Hunters (Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw, 2021 Aurora Prize winner) - acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards.
- Lykkelige Lazzaro (Alice Rohrwacher, 2019 Aurora Prize winner) - won Best Screenplay at Cannes. Nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.
- Atlantis (Valentyn Vasyanovych, 2020 Aurora Prize winner) - Ukraine's Oscar submission. Won the Horizons section at Venice.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
TIFF favors art-house international cinema with strong directorial vision. The Aurora Prize competition typically selects European co-productions and films that have premiered at major festivals like Venice, Cannes, or Berlin. If your film has already premiered at a top-tier festival, TIFF is an excellent next stop for European exposure.
For Films from the North, the key is the Arctic or circumpolar connection. Films about Indigenous communities, northern environments, or stories from the Barents Region resonate strongly with this section. The Tromso Palm award carries meaningful prize money (EUR 5,000 for shorts, EUR 2,500 for features).
TIFF does not charge submission fees, which removes financial barriers. However, the selection is curated, not open. The programme committee watches over 400 films to select approximately 80 titles. Quality and artistic distinction are the primary criteria.
Industry Reputation Notes
TIFF occupies a distinctive position in the European festival circuit. Compared to Gothenburg Film Festival, which is the largest Nordic festival by audience, TIFF is smaller but more internationally focused in its competition programming. Gothenburg emphasizes Nordic cinema, while TIFF's Aurora Prize draws from global art-house cinema.
Compared to Helsinki International Film Festival, which runs in September and focuses on audience-oriented programming, TIFF leverages the polar night as a programming advantage. The outdoor cinema at Stortorget creates an experience no other festival can replicate.
The Aurora Prize has demonstrated strong predictive value for awards-season success. Two recent winners (Women Talking and Housekeeping for Beginners) achieved Academy Award recognition, establishing TIFF as an early indicator of international feature contenders.
Watch
See Also
For Arctic and Nordic cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy and submission planning, see Film Festival Strategy. To calculate whether festival submission fees are worth it for your budget, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator. For independent filmmaking strategies, see Independent Filmmaking.
