From 5 to 16 November 2025, Stockholm once again transforms into a global stage for cinema as the Stockholm International Film Festival celebrates its 36th edition. With 135 premieres, gala events, international guests and a packed programme of screenings, talks, industry events and parties, this year’s festival promises something for every film-lover in the city. Your Living City was present at the press conference this morning where we were welcomed by Film Festival’s Director Git Scheynius and introduced to this year’s program by Beatrice Karlsson, Program Coordinator. And here’s what you can expect during the Stockholm International Film Festival 2025.
The 2025 programme opens with Tarik Saleh’s Eagles of the Republic, the conclusion to his Cairo trilogy, starring Fares Fares. Over its twelve days, filmgoers can delve into new works by both emerging and established talents, attend Face2Face sessions with directors, and lose themselves in festival parties that stretch into the early hours.
No Other Choice, this year’s centerpiece film, received a nine-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, along with the Audience Award for Best International Film. The festival closes with Lynne Ramsay’s Die, My Love, already praised on the festival circuit for its raw energy and emotional precision, with Jennifer Lawrence rumoured to be an Oscar contender for her leading performance.
This edition is dedicated to the late David Lynch, a fitting tribute as Lynch inaugurated the very first festival in 1990. Throughout the programme, Lynch’s memory will be honoured via film retrospectives, stage talks, and a themed “Lynchified” Bio Skandia space. Isabella Rossellini will attend and take part in a Face2Face conversation following a screening of her breakthrough film Blue Velvet, directed by Lynch. The festival will also screen the Lynch classic Mulholland Drive in 35 mm, followed by a Lynch-o-mania party at Spy Bar.
One of the standout features this year is the Spotlight: Be Kind Rewind section, which embraces a sense of cinematic nostalgia – films that look back, rewind, remix, or interrogate memory and media. Titles include Videoheaven, Peter Hujar’s Day, Remake, among others.
The festival also underscores its commitment to television narrative by featuring a Stockholm Series section on the big screen, showcasing select premium series with strong cinematic qualities.
A new competitive ribbon is another highlight: Stockholm Nordic Shorts. This platform is specifically for Nordic short filmmaking, aiming to spotlight the next generation of storytellers closer to home.
Music is a central theme throughout this year’s festival. The brand-new documentary It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley sheds new light on the short but influential life of Jeff Buckley, and Swedish film Egghead Republic bursts with punky indie sleaze energy in a stylised science fiction setting. Jennifer Lopez shines in a musical, campy reinterpretation of Kiss of the Spider Woman, and from Catalonia comes the drama Forastera, with original music composed by Swedish duo Anna von Hausswolff and Filip Leyman, who were nominated for a Guldbagge Award for Best Original Score in 2022.
Every year the festival honours visionary voices and Swedish talent and this year will not be the exception, among the festival’s honours this year:
- Benny Safdie will receive the Stockholm Visionary Award 2025. Safdie, known for helming films such as Good Time and Uncut Gems (in collaboration with his brother Josh Safdie), will attend the festival with his new film The Smashing Machine, in which Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson portrays MMA legend Mark Kerr.
- Alexander Skarsgård is the recipient of the Stockholm Achievement Award 2025. Skarsgård, who has moved fluently between Hollywood blockbusters, European cinema, and prestige television, will present his film Pillion at the festival.
These awards bring extra buzz to the festival, adding red carpet glamour, an opportunity to meet the artists during the Face2Face events and deepening the draw for both Swedish and international audiences.
What to Watch & Where to Start
Here are a few highlights not to miss:
- Opening Night: Eagles of the Republic — the grand opener.
- Lynch Retrospective & Mulholland Drive screenings in 35 mm, plus a “Lynch-party” at Spy Bar.
- Featured Films: No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook (centrepiece) , Die, My Love by Lynne Ramsay (closing film)
- Spotlight & Short Films: Don’t skip the Be Kind Rewind selection and Stockholm Nordic Shorts for local surprises.
- Honour Screens & Gala Moments: The awards for Safdie and Skarsgård will be focal points in the festival programme.
But keep a close eye on our site, because just as every year I will be publishing my curated list of the MUST-SEE-FILMS from the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival repertoire.
Tips for Navigating the Festival
- Plan ahead. With 135 premieres and multiple tracks (fiction, documentary, short, TV, series), map your must-sees in advance.
- Get your festival pass. It grants a reduced ticket price per screening to access more screenings and talks.
- Arrive early at venues. Popular films or gala showings can sell out quickly.
- Mix big and lesser-known films. Balance the heavy hitters with unexpected festival gems.
- Use public transport. Many cinemas and venues are well served by Stockholm’s excellent transit system.
The Stockholm International Film Festival 2025 offers English-speaking residents and visitors alike an invitation to dive into compelling cinema, engage with global storytelling and join Stockholm at its most cinematic. Be ready – Stockholm will shine in November.
