During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all gotten used to the idea of social distancing. While in most cases, this isn’t particularly pleasant, a Swedish film festival is offering one movie fan the perfect opportunity. The lucky person will get to spend a week watching the films from the festival on an isolated Swedish lighthouse island, namely Hamneskär Island. This is all very Scandinavian as, while Norway has its slow TV, it seems Sweden has its lonely film-watching!
Göteborg Film Festival and The Isolated Cinema
With the ongoing pandemic making life difficult all over the world, Göteborg Film Festival is going digital. This year, it is putting its entire film festival online. While doing so, a new initiative has been formed, called The Isolated Cinema.
One person will be chosen to stay on the remote Hamneskär Island, which is home to the famous Pater Noster Lighthouse. The isolated and tiny island is off Marstrand on the west coast of Sweden. The lighthouse got its name due to the extremely hazardous waters surrounding the island. It inspired seafarers to read the Lord’s Prayer (Pater Noster in Latin) whenever their ships approached the perilous reefs.
Pater Noster Lighthouse
Constructed in 1868, the lighthouse was given the name Pater Noster in tribute to the sailors’ prayers. However, in September 2020, a new luxury hotel opened on the site of the former lighthouse master’s home. The hotel was designed by Erik Nissen Johansen’s design agency, Stylt.
These comfortable accommodations are where the chosen person will stay. But worry not, while the person is left alone to watch the films, there will be one other person around for safety reasons.
Göteborg Film Festival 2021
The festival organizers said in a statement, “For seven days you will spend your time alone on the island where you will be given full access to the entire film program at Göteborg Film Festival 2021.”
“You will get supplies for seven days and be transported by boat to and from the island. But once there, it’s just you. And the films. During your stay, you’ll be able to talk about your experience in a video diary that the outside world can follow.”
When is the festival on?
The Göteborg Film Festival starts on January 29 and runs for eleven days, until February 8. It will include 60 gala premieres and film-maker introductions.
While only seven days long, the Hamneskär Island experience isn’t the only one, as two other isolated cinema experiences will take place at now deserted Gothenburg venues – namely, the Scandinavium Arena and the Draken Cinema. These cinema experiences start on January 30 and run through February 6.
Get an idea of how this experience might feel from the video included here. Do you dare to spend seven days alone on this isolated island, with 60 films to watch? Hopefully, there is also plenty of popcorn to enjoy!
Anyone interested in applying for this unique experience should check out the official website.
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