Experiencing Interruptions?

Maybe Just For You

Ruben (11), Mia (6) and their mother live in a suburb outside Bergen, Norway. In the midst of hopelessness and everyday poverty, the desire for normalcy leads to a fateful shopping trip and a surprising theft.

  • Alexander Ophaug
    Director
    Distilling a dream, The New Normal, The Analog Resurrection, Power Of Concern
  • Trude Refsahl
    Producer
    The Man Who Knew 75 Languages, Jonah's Animal World, Draumen om Grønland
  • Alexander Ophaug
    Writer
  • Mirabelle Pinker-Spilde
    Key Cast
    "Mia"
  • Rami Al-Khafaji
    Key Cast
    "Ruben"
  • Ime Suhr
    Editor
  • Haakon Laastad
    Cinematographer
  • Alicia M. Eidesund
    Casting
    Alicia Casting
  • Audun G. Vassdal
    Composer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Kanskje, for deg
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    60,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Norway
  • Country of Filming:
    Norway
  • Language:
    Norwegian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
    Clermont-Ferrand
    France
    February 2, 2024
    International premiere
    Young Audience Competition
  • LES PERCÉIDES - Festival international de cinéma et d'art
    Percé, Quebec
    Canada
    August 22, 2024
    Local premiere
    Best Youth Short Film Award at the 2024 edition
  • Busan Int'l kids and youth film festival (BIKY 19th edition)
    Busan
    Korea, Republic of
    July 10, 2024
    Asian premiere
    Official Selection & Competition. 2024: Nominated for a Starlight Award (BIKY (Busan) Starlight Award is given by BIKY, along with filmmakers from around the world, to "good films that share emotions and feelings" with children, teens, and adults.
  • REGARD – Saguenay International Short Film Festival
    Saguenay
    Canada
    March 24, 2024
    North-American Premiere
    Official Selection & Competition
  • Norwegian Short Film Festival (The 46th)
    Grimstad
    Norway
    June 9, 2023
    Norwegian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF)
    Bergen
    Norway
    October 22, 2023
    Local premiere
    Official Selection & Competition
Distribution Information
  • Spor Media
    Distributor
    Country: Denmark
  • Untold Film
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
  • Norwegian Film Institute & Public Libary
    Distributor
    Country: Norway
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand
Director Biography - Alexander Ophaug

Alexander Ophaug (b. 1993) is a screenwriter and director renowned for his dedication to exploring personal narratives and bringing to light local stories that are often overlooked. He is actively involved in a variety of projects in both short and feature-length formats. His previous works have been recognized at esteemed film festivals, including the Norwegian Short Film Festival in Grimstad, Bergen International Film Festival, Minimalen, and the Norwegian Documentary Film Festival

A pivotal moment in his career came in 2022 when he won a pitching competition arranged by the Norwegian Film Institute. This achievement led to the production of 'Maybe Just For You,' a short film that holds great personal importance to him. Recently, this film was selected for the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2024, a significant event in the short film arena, where it stood out among 400 films selected from a pool of 9,400 submissions.

Ophaug, a Lillehammer University College alumnus with a bachelor's degree in documentary directing, has amassed over a decade of experience in the film and TV industry. His portfolio is diverse, including short films, music videos, commercials, documentaries, reality TV, and content production for various commercial outlets.

Throughout his filmmaking journey, Alexander Ophaug remains dedicated to creating stories that are not only impactful and relatable but also add meaningful insights to the cinematic world.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My deepest personal drive in creating the short film 'Maybe Just For You' stems from a heartfelt need to shed light on a hidden reality: the daily struggle of poverty that affects so many children in Norway, a truth often unseen. This film is not just a project for me; it's a journey back to my childhood as an older brother, where financial hardship was our constant companion.

Consider this: In Norway, a country known for its wealth, a staggering 115,000 children live beneath the poverty line. This figure represents 11% of our youth, growing up in the shadows of affluence. Yet, their stories remain untold, their hardships invisible to the public eye. I've always felt a profound absence of true, heartfelt depictions of what it means to grow up poor in a land of plenty.

Through 'Maybe Just For You,' I seek to bring this narrative to life, portraying the challenges and resilience of living in poverty from the perspective of two siblings. My own experiences, woven into the fabric of this film, aim to paint an authentic picture. It's a story that needs to be told, a voice that demands to be heard.

- Alexander Ophaug (30)