Goteborg Film Festival Announces Nominees for the 2026 Ingmar Bergman Competition

Dec. 30, 2025

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 Goteborg 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.