Take a seat in Harstad’s beautiful cinema from 1954, a building that was completed 10 years before the Festival first took shape on a napkin. On stage, a sofa hosts a people's panel consisting of individuals with extensive experience of the Festival—from the outside, the inside, and perhaps even the backstage. We have chosen both women and men who are not known to sit quietly at the back row.
On the big screen, we will showcase 12 iconic moments from the 60 years of the festival. Here are scandals and successes, artists, volunteers, the audience, and the streets and squares of the festival city. Our pre-party hosts will lead the session, ready both on stage and in the auditorium with a microphone for anyone who wishes to offer clarification, share a fresh comment, or express a little sigh.
The pre-party is also a tribute to all the great photographers of Harstad—of whom there are quite a few. Photography serves as a crucial balance point in a world full of flickering videos and digital designs. Last year, "AI-generated" was the word of the year. We look at flashing screens at work, watch video clips on our phones during lunch breaks, and often sink into the couch to stream one to four episodes after dinner and news.
Photography as a format is different. It captures the moment and is in many ways the closest relative of painting.
Join us for a jubilee pre-party with a relaxed jacket and a photo album featuring 12 images from 60 years of the Northern Norwegian festival!
Hosts: Ida Holten Worsøe and Kim Jøran Olsen
