Göteborg Film Festival Announces Nominees for the 2026 Ingmar Bergman Competition

The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award was established in 2007 by Ingmar Bergman himself together with Göteborg Film Festival when he served as Honorary Chairman of the festival. The award celebrates artistic courage and innovation in filmmaking and is presented to a debut film that captures the spirit of Bergman’s groundbreaking and existentially explorative work.

This year’s eight nominations showcase an impressive range of artistic voices, perspectives, and themes, with stories emerging from different parts of the world. The selection highlights some of the most personal and artistically ambitious debut films—ranging from brand new productions to films that have premiered in recent months.

James Schamus will serve as Head of the Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award Jury at this year’s Göteborg Film Festival. Schamus is an Academy Award–nominated producer, award-winning screenwriter, and former CEO of Focus Features, where he oversaw titles including Brokeback Mountain, Lost in Translation, Milk, Dallas Buyers Club, and The Pianist.

This Year’s Nominees

Little Creatures
Original title: Pequenas criaturas
Director: Anne Pinheiro Guimarães
Country: Brazil

Shape of Momo
Original title: Chhora jastai
Director: Tribeny Rai
Country: India, South Korea

On Your Lap
Original title: Pangku
Directed by: Reza Rahadian
Country: Indonesia, Saudi Arabia

Karla
Director: Christina Tournatzés
Country: Germany

Bouchra
Directors: Orian Barki, Meriem Bennani
Country: Italy, Morocco, USA

Solitary
Director: Eamonn Murphy
Country: Ireland

Terra vil
Director: Luís Campos
Country: Portugal, Italy

Memory
Director: Vladlena Sandu
Country: France, Netherlands

The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award

The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award was established in 2007 to honor Ingmar Bergman’s creative legacy and his impact on film history. The prize is awarded annually to a debut or second feature that distinguishes itself for originality, artistic quality, and bold exploration of existential themes. It is presented by Göteborg Film Festival in collaboration with the Bergman Foundations – the Bergman Center on Fårö, the Ingmar Bergman Foundation, and the Bergman Estate on Fårö Foundation.

Previous award winners include Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine), Emma Dante (A Street in Palermo), Fernando Guzzoni (Dog Flesh), Alice Rohrwacher (Corpo Celeste) and Denise Fernandes (Hanami), among others.