Abloom Film Festival – Norway

A leading Nordic film festival dedicated to disability, inclusion, and children’s voices – connecting filmmakers with engaged audiences and meaningful impact.

Founded in 2012 by Faridah S. Nabaggala, the festival takes place in Oslo, Lillestrøm, and Drammen, bringing together filmmakers and audiences through screenings, workshops, and community events.

Our 2026 theme is “Autism: Understanding and Inclusion,” exploring the experiences, perspectives, and strengths of autistic children and young people. Films engaging with disability, neurodiversity, and inclusion are especially encouraged.

We are particularly interested in films that:

highlight children and youth perspectives
amplify underrepresented voices
engage with inclusion, diversity, and accessibility
connect with audiences through strong storytelling and emotion

We also welcome a wide range of genres, including documentary, animation, short and feature films, as well as artistic and cross-cultural storytelling.

Abloom offers filmmakers:

screenings in professional cinemas
an engaged and diverse audience
networking, panels, and discussions
awards and international visibility

Abloom offers filmmakers a meaningful platform to connect with engaged audiences and gain international visibility.

While we accept a broad range of films, those that align with our theme and audience are more likely to be selected.

Awards & Prizes

The Abloom Prize is awarded to films that best reflect the festival’s mission of inclusion, diversity, and empathy, with special attention to stories that highlight the experiences of children and young people with disabilities.

**Criteria:**
• Strong storytelling with authentic representation
• Engagement with themes of disability, autism, inclusion, identity, and social impact
• Ability to inspire dialogue, understanding, and awareness among diverse audiences

**Awards include:**
• Best Film – selected by the festival jury
• Audience Choice Award – voted by festival audiences, including children and families
• Children’s Jury Award – selected by a dedicated children’s jury, highlighting films that resonate with young audiences
• Special Jury Mention – for exceptional achievement in storytelling, creativity, or social relevance

Winners of the Abloom Prize receive official festival laurels, certificates, and promotion across Abloom’s platforms, helping filmmakers reach wider audiences and contribute to meaningful social impact through cinema.

Abloom Film Festival is supported by the City of Oslo (Oslo kommune) and has received support from the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI), recognizing its contribution to arts, inclusion, and community engagement.

Rules & Terms

Abloom Film Festival welcomes submissions from filmmakers around the world and accepts a wide range of genres and styles, including short films, feature films, documentaries, animation, and experimental work.

We are particularly interested in films that demonstrate strong storytelling, artistic vision, and emotional impact.

Abloom is a leading Nordic festival dedicated to diversity, inclusion, disability, and children’s voices. Our 2026 theme is “Autism: Understanding and Inclusion,” and we especially encourage films that explore disability, neurodiversity, identity, belonging, and social impact.

At the same time, we welcome films with unique perspectives, creative storytelling, and cross-cultural relevance.

All submissions are carefully reviewed by the Abloom Selection Committee. Selected films will be part of a curated international program presented to audiences including children, families, educators, and industry professionals.

Accessibility is central to Abloom:

All films must include subtitles in English (or Norwegian where applicable)
Films with clear, readable subtitles are required
We strongly encourage films with closed captions (CC/SDH) to support deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences

Please note:

Films suitable for youth and family audiences are more likely to be selected
Submission fees are non-refundable
Early submission is encouraged

Selected films must be available in a high-quality screening format upon request.

By submitting, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights and grant Abloom Film Festival permission to screen the film during the festival.