The ‘Amanda Conversation’ with the three actresses/directors will be one of the highlights of the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund unspooling August 20-26.

On Thursday August 25, the international stars Liv Ullmann and Pernilla August and newcomer Iram Haq will take centre stage at Haugesund’s Scandic Maritim Hotel and share their experiences as actresses turned directors.

“It will be a unique opportunity for festival delegates to hear these top Scandinavian talents from three different generations discuss their works,” commented Gyda Myklebust, head of New Nordic Films, the Nordic mini-market held parallel to the Norwegian Film Festival. Pernilla August will also be in Haugesund to promote her period drama A Serious Game, alongside Sofie Gråbøl, co-star of the Danish orphanage drama The Day Will Come. The two films will be among ten titles screening in the festival’s Nordic Focus.

Two Norwegian films will open and close the 44th Norwegian Film Festival, respectively The Lion Woman by Vibeke Idsøe and the action thriller The Cave by emerging director Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken.

The Next Nordic Generation sidebar will screen ten graduation films by up and coming directors who will vie for the Next Nordic Generation Award. Among them are Alexander Turpin (Norwegian Film School) and Lauri Randla (ELO Helsinki Film School) also selected for Nordic Talents in Copenhagen (August 31-September 2). The Norwegian Film Festival headed by Tonje Hardersen will close on August 26 with the Amanda Awards ceremony hosted by actor Jakob Oftebro.

For the festival’s full programme check:  http://www.filmfestivalen.no/