At the heart of the Göteborg Film Festival (24 January-2 February) lies a new mission to amplify the voices of filmmakers defying oppression and facing profound personal risk. By supporting artistic expression and providing a platform for dissent, the festival not only highlights the power of storytelling, but also takes tangible steps towards safeguarding its future.

The Göteborg Film Fund, launched in 2021 to assist filmmakers in regions grappling with economic and political instability, takes centre stage this year. Since its inception, the fund has supported filmmakers in Brazil, Sudan, Ukraine and Kurdish territories, enabling projects that challenge narratives in areas where free expression faces existential threats. Its previous focus on Ukraine in response to the ongoing war underscores the fund’s agility and commitment to the most pressing needs of the global film community.

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In 2025, the festival introduces a new initiative – a fundraiser to establish residencies for filmmakers living in regions with restrictions on freedom of speech. Visitors purchasing festival tickets can opt to contribute directly by rounding up their purchases, adding SEK 10 (approximately 87 cents) or more through a dedicated “Support Artistic Freedom” product. Non-attendees can participate via Swish, making the initiative accessible to a broader audience. The funds collected will finance residency programmes, offering filmmakers a space for creative freedom away from the oppressive realities of their homelands. Open calls and an expert selection process will ensure the residency extends support to the most deserving artists.

Furthermore, the gathering’s thematic focus, “Disobedience” (see the news), resonates powerfully through its annual vignette film (watch it below). Created by Forsman & Bodenfors, directed by Lode Kuylenstierna and produced by Rio, this year’s vignette introduces audiences to a fictional dictator. His vitriol, laced with an unsettling mix of menace and denial, underscores the grim realities faced by filmmakers who risk their lives to confront uncomfortable truths. The vignette encapsulates the transformative power of film, revealing why regimes that fear its potency so aggressively attempt to silence it.

Behind every film showcased lies a story of resilience and bravery, and an unshakable belief in the power of narrative. From documenting atrocities to offering nuanced perspectives that inspire global change, filmmakers stand on the frontlines of artistic resistance. The Göteborg Film Festival reminds audiences that watching these films is an act of solidarity with those who face unimaginable challenges to create them.

Through initiatives like the Göteborg Film Fund, audiences not only bear witness to these stories, but also actively participate in their creation. As the festival emphasises, artistic freedom is not a passive right, but a collective responsibility – one upheld through acts of support, no matter how small. The 2025 residency initiative is an invitation to align with this vision and take a stand for those who dare to disobey.

Watch the festival’s vignette below: