Goteborg Film Festival 2026 Shines a Light on the Truth

Nov. 07, 2025

In a time when the boundaries between fact and fiction become blurrier, Göteborg Film Festival 2026 takes a look at the truth. Under the year’s banner of Focus: Truth, the festival will examine how truth itself is shown, shaped, manipulated and questioned – on-screen, and off.

The so-called “post-truth era” in which we live is characterized by the notion that facts, scientific evidence and objective truth can take second place to emotions and personal beliefs. When truth erodes, trust is undermined and, ultimately, so is democracy. With this year’s focus, the festival seeks to raise the question of what happens in a society where facts lose their power.

Pia Lundberg, Artistic Director of Göteborg Film Festival said:

"We live in a time when the very Idea of truth is being put under pressure. Where the boundaries between fact and fiction often become blurred: in news feeds, on social media, and in political rhetoric. With Focus: Truth, we want to explore how film can both reflect and influence our understanding of reality."

 

Film plays with the truth. From documentary pursuits of objectivity to fiction that can tell even deeper - and sometimes, truer - stories. Throughout history, film has been used as a tool for enlightenment and a means of propaganda, but also as a way of making hidden perspectives and moral dilemmas visible. In today's film culture, the boundary between reality and fiction continues to be challenged: via true crime narratives, autofiction and meta-cinema, where film makers scrutinize their own stories. Meanwhile, AI is creating new questions around authenticity, and politically-engaged filmmakers use the truth as a weapon in the fight for justice.

Pia Lundberg said:

"With Focus: Truth we want to give our audience new perspectives on truth and lies, while encouraging reflection on how we tell our stories and what we choose to believe. The theme is acutely relevant, and deeply human. In January, we want to examine the truth with curiosity and playfulness."