Nordic Film Festival: Riverside Studios, Ciné Lumière and ICA

With the success of television shows like Borgen and The Killing, UK audiences hungry for fresh and gripping entertainment are increasingly turning their attention towards a new region: Scandinavia. And where better to find the best in such cutting-edge talent than the Nordic Film Festival, returning to London for its second year. 

Scandinavia is known for it's dark and brooding crime dramas, but the films on offer here show us that it has a much wider range. The selection is impressively eclectic: we've got You and Me Forever , a boozy, hedonistic coming of age drama, Odboy and Erordog Suite , an eccentric animation about a boy and his dog, and My Stuff , a documentary about a man who puts everything he owns in storage, and attempts to build an alternative life. Those who think that Nordic entertainment starts and stops with Wallendar , will have to think again. 

But those looking for classics of Scandinavian cinema wont be disappointed either. Bleeder, an early film by Nicolas Winding Refn is showing, along with a documentary looking at how the great director works. Bleeder is an early example of Winding Refn employing the same dark, psychological style that he later perfected in films like Drive and Only God Forgives.  Audience members should expect to be disturbed, shocked, horrified, and, most importantly, thrilled. I wont say any more; just go and see it.  

Finally, if you're a fan of Icelandic rock giants Sigur Ros you'll have a lot to look forward to: two films made by the band are being screened.

The festival, running until the 4th December, is being spread over three venues: the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, with its beautiful terrace and award winning restaurant; the Ciné Lumière , at the tres chic Institut Francais in South Kensington, and the ICA , housed  near Pall Mall. 

Riverside Studios:  1 Crisp Rd, London W6 9RL

Ciné Lumière:  17 Queensberry Pl, London SW7 2DT

ICA:  The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH