The Patron

Source: Goteborg

‘The Patron’

Goteborg Film Festival has unveiled the full programme for its 49th edition, which runs from January 23 to February 1, spanning 266 films from 76 countries.

The Swedish festival’s main international competition comprises 16 films, including the world premiere of Alex Camilleri’s Malta-set drama Zejtune.

As a project, Zejtune previously won the Grand Prize at Jerusalem’s Sam Spiegel International Film Lab. It is Maltese-American director Camilleri’s second feature, after Luzzu, which debuted at Sundance in 2021.

Sundance premiere How to Divorce During the War by Andrius Blaževičius is also selected for international competition, as is Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut The Chronology of Water, which premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard.

Goteborg has another eight films playing in its Nordic Competition, including world premieres for Swedish director Julia Thelin’s The Patron, about a woman who invents a new identity as an art patron.

Finnish director Alli Haapasalo follows up festival hit Girl Picture with period drama Tell Everyone, while Norway’s Maria Sødahl will premiere drama The Last Resort.

Also playing in the Nordic competition is Butterfly, directed by Norwegian filmmaker Itonje Søimer Guttormsen, and starring Sentimental Value actor Renate Reinsve, which world premieres at Rotterdam. Meanwhile Cannes premiere The Love That Remains, by Iceland’s Hlynur Pálmason is also in Nordic competition.

Goteborg will present Noomi Rapace with its Nordic Honorary Dragon Award and will host director Agnieszka Holland as its international honorary guest.

Goteburg 2026 line-up

International Competition

  • Zejtune, Dir. Alex Camilleri (Malta-Ger-Qat)
  • How to Divorce During the War, Dir. Andrius Blaževičius (Lith-Lux-Ire-Cz)
  • Kokuho, Dir. Sang-il Lee (Jap)
  • A Loose End, Dir. Daniel Hendler (Uru-Arg-Sp)
  • Super Nature, Dir. Ed Sayers (UK)
  • Love Me Tender, Dir. Anna Cazenave Cambet (Fr)
  • Calle Malaga, Dir. Maryam Touzani (Mor-Fr-Sp-Ger-Bel)
  • Out of Love, Dir. Nathan Ambrosioni (Fr)
  • The Chronology of Water, Dir. Kristen Stewart (Fr-Lat-US)
  • Broken Voices, Dir. Ondřej Provazník (Cz-Slo)
  • Hen, Dir. György Pálfi (Gr-Ger-Hun)
  • Blue Heron, Dir. Sophy Romvari (Can-Hun)
  • The Baronesses, Dir. Nabil Ben Yadir & Mokhtaria Badaoui (Bel-Lux-Fr)
  • Becoming, Dir. Zhannat Alshanova (Fr-Kaz-Neth-Lith-Swed)
  • The Good Daughter, Dir. Júlia de Paz Solvas (Sp)
  • The Condor Daughter, Dir. Álvaro Olmos Torrico (Bol-Per-Uru)

Nordic Competition

  • The Quiet Beekeeper, Dir. Marcus Carlsson (Swed)
  • The Patron, Dir. Julia Thelin (Swed)
  • Weightless, Dir. Emilie Thalund (Den)
  • The Love That Remains, Dir. Hlynur Pálmason (Ice-Den-Swed-Fr)
  • Tell Everyone, Dir. Alli Haapasalo (Fin)
  • The Last Resort, Dir. Maria Sødahl (Den-Nor-Sp)
  • Redoubt, Dir. John Skoog (Swed-Den-Neth-Pol-Fin-UK-Switz)
  • Butterfly, Dir. Itonje Søimer Guttormsen (Nor-Swed-UK)

Ingmar Bergman Competition

  • Little Creatures, Dir. Anne Pinheiro Guimarães (Bra)
  • On Your Lap, Dir. Reza Rahadian (Ind-Saudi)
  • Shape of Momo, Dir. Tribeny Rai (Ind-S Kor)
  • Karla, Dir. Christina Tournatzés (Ger)
  • Bouchra, Dir. Orian Barki & Meriem Bennani (It-Mor-US)
  • Solitary, Dir. Eamonn Murphy (Ire)
  • Terra Vil, Dir. Luís Campos (Port-It)
  • Memory, Dir. Vladlena Sandu (Fr-Neth)

Nordic Documentary Competition

  • A Song for Love, Dir. Hogir Hirori (Swed)
  • Celtic Utopia, Dir. Dennis Harvey & Lars Lovén (Swed-Ire)
  • The End of Quiet, Dir. Mikael Lypinski & Kasper Bisgaard (Swed)
  • The Underdog, Dir. Iván Blanco (Swed)
  • Silent Legacy, Dir. Jussi Rastas & Jenni Kivistö (Fin-Fr-Bur Fas)

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