Stavanger Indie Film Festival

Wednesday 26 to Saturday 29 August 2026

Main Hall

Stavanger Filmmakers presents the second edition of Stavanger Indie, a film festival dedicated to fearless independent cinema and the people who make it happen.

Following a successful inaugural edition at Folken in 2025, Stavanger Indie returns bigger, bolder and more ambitious. Last year, the festival screened 25 films from 14 countries and welcomed more than 100 attendees, alongside filmmakers and guests from Norway and abroad. The response was overwhelmingly positive, proving that Stavanger has a passionate audience for daring, personal and unconventional filmmaking.

This year, Stavanger Indie goes beyond screenings. The festival brings internationally recognised filmmakers, writers and artists directly to audiences in Rogaland for an intimate and accessible celebration of independent film culture.

Among this year's guests are Alexander Watson, whose breakthrough indie horror film became a major streaming success following a grassroots crowdfunding campaign; acclaimed novelist and visual artist Dennis Cooper and filmmaker Zac Farley, presenting their latest feature collaboration, Room Temperature; and Kelly Davis, whose work spans HBO, Netflix, BBC and Apple Studios, leading a workshop for emerging writers and directors.

The festival will also welcome Espen Aukan, screenwriter of the Netflix hits Troll and Troll 2, offering a rare opportunity for local filmmakers to hear directly from a Norwegian writer whose work has reached a global audience.

Stavanger Indie remains committed to championing low-budget, no-budget, deeply personal and boundary-pushing cinema from around the world. Alongside film screenings, audiences can expect Q&A sessions, networking events, workshops and conversations that bring filmmakers and film lovers together in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Whether you are an emerging filmmaker, a devoted cinephile or simply curious about cinema beyond the mainstream, Stavanger Indie is a place to discover bold new voices and connect with a growing creative community.

Awards & Prizes

• Best Feature

• Best Short Film

• Best Actor

• Best Actress

• Best No-Budget Film

• Best Soundtrack