Northern Lights - Fantastic Film Festival is a short film festival based in Akureyri in the North East region of Iceland. The festival selects and showcases around 40 international fantasy films, horror and sci-fi included. The festival also hosts many other fantastic events during the festival.

The goal is to bring something fantastic to the cinema for all age groups of fantasy film lovers in the beautiful Icelandic North!

The festival’s mission is to encourage and support filmmakers to let Icelandic folkloric heritage inspire their films. The festival invites and rewards a guest of honor for their contribution to fantasy films and/or the use of folktale heritage in their works. That person can be of any nationality.

Keywords: Fantastic films, intimate people, colorful sky, inspiring experience, and a lot of fun!

Fantastic Short Award - 1.500 EUR
Nexus Award for Best Fantastic Animation - 1.500 EUR

The festival is only open to international short films of the fantasy genre, including adventure, fantasy, horror, and sci-fi. They can be both live-action or animated fiction, as well as documentaries. The festival is all about encouraging the inspiration from folklore and things that go beyond everyday realism, magic realism included.

Maximum length: 25 minutes.

You may submit multiple entries but each must be accompanied by a submission form and entry fee.

Screening requirements for films selected for the exhibition:
Kind: MPEG-4 movie
H.264
High Bitrate ( Minimum 20 Mbps )
Dimensions: 1080x1920 / 1998x1080 / 2048x858
Burned-in subtitle - English ( If not in English spoken language )

Entry fees are non-refundable and must be in U.S. dollars. We reserve the right to disqualify any submission if eligibility requirements are unmet.

Films that have had public or festival screenings in Iceland are ineligible, this includes theatrical, TV, VOD, or internet play. *Icelandic films that have not been shown on TV, VOD, or internet play in Iceland are eligible.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • ivan miguel

    “The Untranslatable Forest”despite being part of the Official Selection was unable to attend to the festival but thanks to all the communication it felt a cozy festival where to celebrate the love and awe for fantastic genre without letting aside the real world. The communication was very friendly and they answered any possible question we had. If you have a great fantastic pieces you should 100% submit it to the festival!

    December 2024
  • Matteo La Capria

    Very happy to have been selected with my film "Another Alice". So sad I couldn't attend, but I hope to come in person one day! Thank you

    November 2024
  • Shima Omidvar

    I cannot express how grateful I am for the opportunity to participate in this festival. Ársæll and Marzibil have been exceptional hosts, and without their incredible support, my attendance would have been nearly impossible. I feel so fortunate to have gained a new family in Iceland, and I sincerely hope to return next year <3

    November 2024
  • Rebecca Thomson

    Unfortunately I was unable to attend in person (next time!) but Northern Lights had great communication and the imagery I saw of the festival looked so great.

    November 2024
  • john dilworth

    It was a magical experience in a magical land and the honor NLFFF bestowed to me by these magical people shall ever remain in my spirit.

    November 2024