There are 144 films in the professional and student Nordic-Baltic preselection with submissions from all 8 countries in the region. This year there are 27 submissions from Norway and 25 from both Finland and Sweden. Notable this year, there are 5 co-productions from two of more Nordic-Baltic countries showing the collaboration in the region.
This year's preselection includes writer and producer, Simon Österhof, writer and journalist, Rebekah Villon and creative director of FAF, Anders Narverud Moen.
Simon Österhof is a writer and producer with animation studio Soja, where he’s produced original stories like Topp 3 (2019) and Sånger med Superkompisarna (2020) and client work for companies like Marvel and Netflix.
Rebekah Villon is a freelance writer, journalist, and animation industry advocate with nearly 20 years experience spanning production, storytelling, and business development. Her work reflects a passion for animation, both as an art form and as a powerful medium for communication and innovation. Her multifaceted career underscores her ability to bridge the worlds of creativity, business, and community, making her a valued contributor to the animation industry. Although she is originally from the US, Rebekah is now a citizen of the Netherlands, where she writes, crafts, and spends too much time online.
Fredrikstad Animation Festival is dedicated to bringing Nordic-Baltic talent to the world stage - creating meaningful connections between emerging and established filmmakers, international audiences, and industry professionals. As the festival draws closer, exciting updates are on the way - so stay tuned.