About the festival – Västerås Filmfestival

Festival 2024, May 8 – 12

During the festival week, we will have many different events for the public and the interested filmmaker.

There will be films in different genres to suit different tastes. The films will also have a quality that makes them attractive to the discerning viewer. Films that you haven’t seen anywhere else. You will see new and interesting films by filmmakers from around the world!

Let yourself be drawn into the film’s fantastic world! Do not miss next year’s film fest!

In addition to great films, there will be workshops, debates, interviews, and other events. The Film Festival concludes with an awards ceremony.

Join us on this journey and help us make Västerås into a centre for great film!

History

Västerås Film Festival was founded in 2015 by Carlos Morén. The festival’s mission is to strengthen interest in quality film and production regionally, nationally and internationally. During the first round, we only received short films, both fiction and documentaries.

In 2016 we showed feature films for the first time. Best documentary, short film, directing, photography, female and male actors were divided up and are now also awarded to Swedish recipients.

In addition, three completely new prices were established; The New Star Award, which aims to find a new rising talent, as well as the Miniroom.se children and youth talent prize, to draw attention to a child actor who have particularly distinguished themselves that year.

The third prize that premiered was the Honorary Prize, which from this year onward has been awarded to fantastic Swedish actors. The first actor to be honoured was Lennart Jähkel.

For 2019 edition, we opened the doors for music videos, our own category in the field of film.

We are right now preparing the festival for its 8th edition. The festival will be held between Aug 19th to 26th., in 2023

The Contents of the Festival

Screening different genres of films in cinemas and different kinds of showrooms, such as galleries, libraries, etc.
Workshops covering different and various areas like screenwriting, acting, directing, etc.
Lectures and debates with different themes regarding filmmaking, films, business.
Social vulnerability is a recurring theme. Other themes focus on genres, film culture in different countries, and cultural policies.
Exhibitions with film themes.
Feature films, short films, documentaries, animated films, and music videos.
Parties and mingle.
Award ceremony for short films.
Award ceremony for feature films.

The Aims of the Film Festival

Stimulate filmmaking locally, nationally, and internationally.
Encourage the viewing of quality films in different genres regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Encourage and provide recognition for filmmakers by awarding prizes in various categories such as creative, qualitative and unique films at four levels; secondary level, regional level, national level and international level.

To give Västerås a place in the film world as a cultural city and carrier of film culture.

Prizes awarded

We have presented a lot of awards to talented and creative filmmakers and actors in our first seven years.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2021

2022