Today we are proud to announce 15 film/TV titles for 2026; an incredible mix of new Swedish and international films, TV series and documentaries. Among them: four world premieres, several Nordic and Swedish premieres, and a unique cinematic live concert with Gabel/Ossler and filmmaker Göran Hugo Olsson.
Rojda Şekersöz’s drama Blir du ledsen om jag dör – based on Nicolas Lunabba’s bestselling book – follows youth worker Nic and 14-year-old basketball talent Elijah in Malmö. It’s a story about what it means to take responsibility for another person. Director Rojda, author Nicolas, actors Peshang Rad and Rudwan Socdal, and artist Imen ‘Imenella’ Mohamed – making her acting debut – will all be at the festival for the screening.
My Sandström’s documentary Carola! gets its world premiere at Way Out West Film – a portrait of the icon Carola Häggkvist – from her 1983 breakthrough to her place as a national symbol in Swedish culture today. Carola herself will be present at Way Out West.
Iván Blanco’s documentary Första blatten på månen – winner of the documentary prize at Göteborg Film Festival this winter – follows rapper Dogge Doggelito in the middle of a struggle around identity, fame and belonging. Dogge will also attend the festival.
Among the international titles: Annemarie Jacir’s historical drama Palestine 36 – Palestine’s Oscar submission – takes us to 1936 when Palestinian villages rose against British colonial rule. We’re also presenting the Nordic premiere of Olivia Wilde’s The Invite (with Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, Edward Norton and Wilde herself) and the Nordic premiere of Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma – a queer feminist horror film that opened Cannes, starring Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder.
Way Out West is also offering a preview of the internationally acclaimed Swedish TV series Maffia, set in 1990s Sweden – a thriller about organized crime and those trying to stop it. Directors and actors Helena af Sandeberg, Peshang Rad, Katia Winter and Christian Hillborg will all be present at Cinema Slottsskogen.
Documentaries: It Pays to Belong – by Gothenburg directors Björn Fävremark and John Boisen – gets its world premiere and tells the story of band The Embassy and the Gothenburg electronic indie scene; Nästan Forever by Lia Hietala and Hannah Reinikainen (Swedish premiere after a celebrated run at CPH:DOX) follows a group of young friends in Stockholm navigating adulthood; I Become More With You by Farah Yusuf and MyNa Do portrays two lifelong friends’ antiracist activism and the healing power of art; Siri Hustvedt – Dance Around the Self by Sabine Lidl offers a deep portrait of the celebrated author (Nordic premiere).
Closing out the festival on the final evening: Gabel/Ossler perform their debut album in full at Bio Capitol while filmmaker Göran Hugo Olsson creates the visuals on the cinema screen in real time. The concept grew out of an album listening session at a cinema in Stockholm, and lands somewhere between concert, film screening and shared experience.
More titles, including Way Out West’s short film program, will be announced before the festival. The full program will comprise around 35 titles. As in previous years, the heart of the film program is Cinema Slottsskogen, built inside the festival grounds together with Film i Väst. Films will also screen at Bio Capitol.
Read more about the film program at wayoutwest.se/film-2026.
