Three film production students from Noroff have had their documentary “What About the Countryside?” selected for the Norwegian Documentary Film Festival in Volda.
The festival, also known as Dokfilm, is Norway’s oldest and largest documentary film festival. Each year, it gathers both established and emerging filmmakers for screenings, discussions, and professional development – and is considered an important arena for young talents looking to make their mark in the industry.
– A great opportunity for us
Behind the film are director Emil Sjøberg, editor Kaisa Holm, and cinematographer Daniel Blaker. For the Noroff students, the selection was a major boost.
- We were incredibly happy to be selected for the festival and shared the news with our loved ones right away, they say.
For them, participating in the festival is about much more than just screening the film.
- This nomination means a lot to us. We get the opportunity to showcase ourselves as filmmakers, build networks, and hear what others think about what we’ve created, they explain.
Having the film shown in a professional setting also provides important validation of the work they have put in during their studies.
Shining a light on life in rural areas
The documentary explores what it is like to live outside the cities, and the consequences centralization can have on local communities.
- The film follows three different perspectives that explain what the countryside means to them. We show both the positives, like nature and community, and challenges such as poor public transport and school closures, the students explain.
The idea for the film emerged when the director wanted to explore the topic more deeply. Coming from a city background, he contacted the cinematographer, who has personal experience from rural life and understands the challenges firsthand.
- We want the audience to have a more open perspective. Centralization can be positive, but it also impacts rural areas heavily. We hope people are left with greater understanding, and maybe even hope.
From school assignment to festival film
The project started as part of their coursework at Noroff, where students were tasked with creating a documentary film. Although they were initially somewhat skeptical of the genre, that quickly changed during the process.
- We were a bit unsure about documentary filmmaking at first, but the assignment made us very interested and open to creating more in the future, the students say.
They highlight the practical teaching as crucial to the final result.
- We receive solid training in equipment, storytelling, and collaboration. It’s a very hands-on education with access to great equipment and teachers who are still active in the industry, they add.
Even without a dedicated producer, the team managed to divide responsibilities and work efficiently together towards a shared goal.
Cold, challenges – and a clear vision
The production took place under demanding conditions, where the winter cold in particular created challenges.
- The biggest challenge was the cold. Batteries drained quickly, both in our equipment and the car, which caused delays, they explain.
Nevertheless, the team had a clear vision from the start, which made the process smoother.
- We knew what we wanted to create and planned thoroughly during pre-production. That ensured we got what we wanted during filming and that the final edit matched our vision.
The result is a film that highlights challenges while also conveying hope for rural communities – and which will now meet audiences at one of Norway’s most important documentary film stages.
Do you want to learn how to create films that reach a wider audience? Read more about film production at Noroff Vocational School and how you can develop your own projects.
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